Kerala United FC

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Kerala United Football Club
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Full nameKerala United Football Club[1]
Nickname(s)The Hornbills
Founded1976; 50 years ago (1976) (as Calicut Quartz FC)
2020; 6 years ago (2020) (rebranded as Kerala United FC)
GroundSeethi Haji Stadium, Edavanna, Kerala
Capacity3,000
OwnerJan Van Winckel
United World Group
Head coachVacant
LeagueKerala Premier League
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Kerala United Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Edavanna, Malappuram, Kerala. Founded in 1975 as Calicut Quartz FC,[2] the club was an amateur and academy side during its early years. In December 2011, they announced their intention to turn professional and qualified for the I-League 2nd Division, the third tier of Indian club football.[3]

The club spent a season 2012-13 in the second division and later played in the Kerala Premier League in 2017–18 Kerala Premier League.[4] After the takeover of Quartz FC in 2020 by United World Group, the club was rebranded as Kerala United FC.[5][6] The home ground of the club is Seethi Haji Stadium at Edavanna.

History

Quartz Football Club was founded in 1976 in Kozhikode, Kerala and since has been growing up step by step from district to state to national level. The Quartz Academy started in 2009 and has shown good promise.

In December 2011, they were officially certified by the All India Football Federation to participate in the I-League 2nd Division, the third tier of football in India. I-League players like Rino Anto, Sabas Saleel, K. Noushad, Manoj Manoharan, Sherin Sam, Kamardeep Singh, Suji Kumar, J. Prasad, P.M. Britto, Salil Usman, Ajmaluddin and V.V. Farhad, the top-scorer and Player-of-the-Tournament at the last Santosh Trophy, were signed by the club for 2012 I-League 2nd Division but failed to gain promotion to the top tier.[7]

In November 2020, English Premier League Club Sheffield United have taken over Calicut Quartz and rebranded it as Kerala United FC. United World Group, the umbrella firm holding Sheffield, said in a statement that it envisages to make Kerala United a competitive, community-focused football club playing at the highest level possible in Indian football.

“Kerala is known to be the heart of Indian football and when it comes to passion and support, no fan base in India comes close to their love for the beautiful game. Our focus will be on cementing and strengthening the foundations of the club, building an academy and developing homegrown players,”

Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, CEO of United World Group, after the takeover and rebranding of Kerala United FC.[8]

P Haridas, who owned Calicut Quartz FC and is also the president of the Kozhikode District Football Association, said a Premier League club coming to the state will bring major changes to Kerala football. Company Director Akshay Das P said: “We’re looking for an overall development in the state, especially in Malabar.”

As Kerala United, they participated in the 2020–21 Kerala Premier League and qualified for the knockout stages after finishing second in the Group-B with 12 points. Their campaign came to an end after loosing 4-2 in the semifinal to Gokulam Kerala FC at the Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium.[9][10]

Crest and Colours

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Great Hornbill, the official state bird of Kerala, from which the crest of Kerala United has derived

The United World Group had unveiled the crest after rebranding the club which features the Great Hornbill, the official state bird of Kerala.

The primary colour of team is purple which dominates the team's home kit.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsor
2017–2018 Nivia ICL Fincorp
2018–2020 Ramco
2020–Present KESPO[11] Micro Health Laboratories

Stadium

From 1977 Kerala United FC played all its home matches in the EMS Stadium which is located in the heart of the Kozhikode.[12] The West stand is the largest and could accommodate the maximum number of people.

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EMS Stadium on a matchday

From 2021 Kerala United FC shifted their Base from Kozhikode to Malappuram District announced Seethi Haji Stadium, located in Edavanna, as their new home ground.[13]

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A view of Seethi Haji Football Ground

Support and rivalry

Supporters

During its time as Calicut Quartz FC, a club recognised Kozhikode fan club named Rose Brigade were the supporters since 2017.[citation needed] The EMS Stadium had seen an average attendance of 45,000. The players and the coach had often acknowledged the fans' support in the success and called them "The 12th Man". Since the rebranding into Kerala United FC and the move into neighbouring Malappuram the club is building a great fan following in the locality.

Rivalries

During their time at Kozhikode as Calicut Quartz FC, they enjoyed an on field rivalry with another Kozhikode based side Gokulam Kerala FC.[14] The first Kozhikode Derby match between the two teams took place in the final of 2017–18 Kerala Premier League, where Gokulam Kerala FC beat by two goals.[15]

  • (Including Friendlies & Non-competitive matches).

Players

First-team squad

As of 04 May 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF India IND Nidhin Krishna
3 MF Error creating thumbnail: File missing GHA Stephen Abeiku
4 DF India IND Muhammed Noufal K
6 MF India IND Adersh Mattummal
7 MF India IND Muhammed Shafeer
9 FW India IND Alocious Muthayyan
10 FW India IND H. A. Mohammedali
11 FW India IND Bujair Valiyattu
12 DF India IND Sachu Siby
13 MF India IND Hrishi Dath
15 MF India IND Arjun Jayaraj (captain)
16 FW India IND Arjun V
21 MF India IND Jinshad K
22 FW India IND Mousoof Naizan
24 DF India IND Siju Stephen
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF India IND Riswanali Edakkavil
— FW Error creating thumbnail: File missing GHA Aaron Awannorh
— - India IND Harisankar
— MF India IND Akhil Praveen
— FW India IND Jesin TK
— GK India IND Aryan Niraj Lamba (on loan from ATK Mohun Bagan FC)
— GK India IND Christurajan

Notable players

Had international caps for their respective countries whilst playing for Kerala United FC.

Managers

As of 19 October 2020
First Team Coaching Staff
Position Name
Head coach Vacant
Assistant Coach Vacant
Team Manager India Jewel Jose
Club Physio India Anas Paloli
Youth Academy
Position Name
Head of Grassroots Development India Shajirudheen Koppilan
Head of Youth Development India Suneer VP

Head coach's record

Name Nationality From To P W D L GF GA Win%
Frank Braner Error creating thumbnail: File missing Germany 1 January 2012 28 May 2012 7 0 1 6 4 29 000.00
Bino George  India 29 May 2012 29 December 2012 0 0 0 0 0 0 !—
Carlton Chapman  India 28 May 2017 12 October 2020 10 6 1 3 21 20 060.00
Shajirudheen Koppilan  India 15 January 2021 4 July 2021 6 4 1 1 16 5 066.67

Corporate Heirarchy

Position Name
Chief Executive Officer India Shabeer Mannaril[16]
Managing Director India Zakariya Koduvery[17]

Statistics and records

Season I-League 2nd Division Federation Cup/Super Cup KPL Kozhikode District League
2011-12 Group stage DNP - 1
2012-13 DNQ DNP -
2013-14 DNQ DNP Group Stage
2014-15 DNQ DNP DNP
2015-16 DNQ DNP DNP
2016-17 DNQ DNP Pulled Out from the League Runner-Up
2017–18 DNP DNP Runner-Up Runner-Up
2018–19 DNQ DNP DNP DNP
2019–20 DNP Tournament Cancelled DNP DNP
2020–21 - Tournament Cancelled Semi Final -
Key
  • Pos. = Position in league
  • Attendance/G = Average league attendance

Affiliated club(s)

The following club is currently affiliated with:

Honours

League

As Kerala United FC

Semi-finals (1): 2020–21

As Calicut Quartz FC

Group stage : 2012
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Runners-up (1): 2017–18[20]
  • Kozhikode District League
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Winners (2): 2011, 2012
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Runners-up (1): 2017, 2018

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kerala United FC: Calicut club renamed after United World Group takeover". Khel Now. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  2. ↑ Kumar, Ajith (26 September 2012). "Quartz SC goes on signing spree". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  3. ↑ "Football: Quartz Raises hope". Deccan Chronicle. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "KPL 2018-19 Matches". KFA. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  5. ↑ Muralidharan, Ashwin. "Indian football: Kerala's football passion gets the Sheffield United seal of 'approval'! | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "Sheffield Calicut Quartz' new owner, Kerala United name". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  7. ↑ Kumar P K, Ajith (26 September 2012). "Quartz SC goes on signing spree". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  8. ↑ "Sheffield Calicut Quartz' new owner, Kerala United name". New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "KPL: Gokulam Kerala to meet KSEB in final". www.onmanorama.com/sports. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  10. ↑ "Kerala Premier League 2021: Gokulam Kerala defeat KSEB to be crowned champions". Goal.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  11. ↑ "Kerala premier league football championship kickoff in March - Malayalam MyKhel". malayalam.mykhel.com (in മലയാളം). 8 February 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  12. ↑ "football in Calicut". Kozhikode.com. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  13. ↑ Kerala United FC at Seethi Haji Stadium in Edavanna Facebook.com. Retrieved 15 April 2021
  14. ↑ "football in Calicut". Kozhikode.com. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  15. ↑ "Welcome to Kerala Football Association". Kerala FA. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  16. ↑ Reporter, Staff (15 January 2021). "United World's soccer team begins training". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  17. ↑ Reporter, Staff (15 January 2021). "United World's soccer team begins training". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  18. ↑ "Indian football: Kerala's football passion gets the Sheffield United seal of 'approval'! | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  19. ↑ EPL side Sheffield United owners seal takeover of Indian club Calicut Quartz and rename it Kerala United FC spotik.in. Retrieved 15 April 2021
  20. ↑ Kerala Premier League 2017–18 Final Kerala Football Association. Retrieved 27 February 2021

External links

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