Gokulam Kerala FC

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This article is about the men's football club. For the women's football club, see Gokulam Kerala FC (women).

Gokulam Kerala FC
File:Official Gokulam Kerala FC Logo.png
Full nameGokulam Kerala Football Club[1]
Nickname(s)Malabarians[2]
Short nameGKFC
FoundedJanuary 2017; 7 years ago (2017-01) (as Gokulam FC)[3]
GroundEMS Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode
Capacity80,000
OwnerSree Gokulam Group
ChairmanGokulam Gopalan
ManagerVincenzo Alberto Annese
LeagueI-League
Template:Indian football updaterTemplate:Indian football updater
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Gokulam Kerala Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Kozhikode, Kerala.[4] Founded in 2017, the club competes in the I-League, the co-existing primary tier of Indian football.[5] Nicknamed as Malabarians, the club represents the Malabar region of Kerala.[6] They won the 2020–21 I-League and became the first ever club from Kerala to do so.[7] Gokulam are also the first and the only club from Kerala to qualify for the AFC Cup.[8]

Departments of Gokulam Kerala FC
Football pictogram.svg Football pictogram.svg Football pictogram.svg
Football
(Men's) 		Football
(Women's) 		Football
Gokulam Kerala FC (Reserves)

History[edit]

On 20 September, after the second round of bidding invitations, the Bid Evaluation Committee decided to award Sree Gokulam Group the right to field their team in the Hero I-League 2017–18 season onwards from Kozhikode, Kerala.[9] Although the club did not have a good beginning, they went on to defeat clubs like East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Minerva Punjab by the end of the season. Gokulam Kerala FC hired Spaniard Fernando Andres Santiago Valera as head coach in March 2018.[10]

On 15 March 2018, Gokulam played the Super Cup qualifiers against North East United FC and was qualified with a 2 goal victory.[11] In the pre-quarterfinals of the Super Cup on 1 April 2018, they were leading against Bengaluru FC by 0–1 until 60 minutes with a goal scored by the striker Henry Kisekka but Bengaluru scored a stoppage time goal which led to a defeat of 2–1.[12]

Gokulam in 2019, for the first time went abroad and participated at the 2019 Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup in Bangladesh,[13] where they qualified for the Semi-finals after finishing 2nd in Group B. Gokulam finished as semifinalist after losing 3–2 to Chittagong Abahani.[14][15][16]

Gokulam Kerala won their maiden title under the coaching of Fernando Santiago Varela, the 129th edition of the Durand Cup on 24 August 2019, defeating Mohun Bagan AC 2–1 in Kolkata.[17][18]

In 2021, Gokulam Kerala won the 2020–21 I-League after defeating TRAU FC in the final game of the league.[19][20] With 29 points in 15 games, they were qualified for the 2022 AFC Cup group stage.[21][22] They are the first club from Kerala club to lift the trophy and the first ever Kerala club to participate in any AFC Competitions.[23]

In April 2021, Gokulam Kerala emerged as the champions of the 2020–21 Kerala Premier League, defeating Kerala State Electricity Board 2-1 at the Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium.[24][25]

Stadium[edit]

Gokulam Kerala FC plays all its home matches at the EMS Stadium, which is located in the heart of Calicut city.[26] West stand is the largest block and can accommodate most spectators. Currently the capacity of the stadium is limited close to 80,000.

Supporters[edit]

Fans supporting Gokulam Kerala in EMS Stadium, Kozhikode in I-League

Kerala is a state known for its passionate football fans.[27] Football in Northern Kerala (known as Malabar Coastal Region) has arguably one of the most passionate fanbases in the state. Gokulam Kerala is a club based on Kozhikode in the Malabar coastal region.[28] GKFC Battalia is the official supporters' group of Gokulam Kerala FC. Their support led them to be known as Malabarians.[29][30]

Rivalry[edit]

Rivalry with Kolkata clubs[edit]

An I-League encounter between Gokulam Kerala and Mohun Bagan at the EMS Stadium in Kozhikode, 2019.

Gokulam Kerala FC is known for pathbreaking the Kolkata clubs, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in some major matches in I-League and Durand Cup.[31][32] Gokulam Kerala FC won the Durand cup by defeating East Bengal in the semi-final and Mohun Bagan in the final match. Both Kerala and West Bengal states are also two dominant powerhouses of Indian Football.

Malabar Derby[edit]

Gokulam Kerala enjoyed an on field rivalry with another Kozhikode based side Quartz Calicut during their time at Kozhikode.[33] The first Kozhikode Derby match between the two teams took place in the group stage of 2017–18 Kerala Premier League, where Quartz Calicut were winners. Upon change of ownership, team shifted its base from Kozhikode to Malappuram District which introduced a new Malabar Derby in Kerala Premier League. First match after acquisition was in 2020–21 Kerala Premier League semifinals, where two teams locked horns. The match ended goaless draw even after full time. Gokulam won 4-2 on penalties.[34]

Statistics[edit]

Competition Played Kerala United wins Draws Gokulam wins Kerala United goals Gokulam goals
Kerala Premier League 4 1 1 2 3 6
Total 4 1 1 2 3 6

Results[edit]

No Date Competition Venue Score Kerala United FC scorers/red cards Gokulam Kerala scorers/red cards Attendance
4 19 April 2021 2020–21 Kerala Premier League Maharaja's College Stadium, Ernakulam 0–0 Closed Doors
3 3 June 2018 2017–18 Kerala Premier League Municipal Corporation Stadium, Thrissur 0–2 Brian Umony,  Arjun Jayaraj
2 10 May 2018 2017–18 Kerala Premier League EMS Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode 0–2 Mohamed Salah,  Usman Ashik
1 25 April 2018 2017–18 Kerala Premier League EMS Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode 3–2 Emmanuel Aidoo Sushanth Mathew,  Mama

Honours[edit]

Competition Kerala United Gokulam
Kerala Premier League 0 2
I-League 2nd Division 0 0
I-League 0 1
Super Cup (India) 0 0
Total 0 3

Crest, colours & kits[edit]

Crest[edit]

Theyyam is a popular ritual form of worship in North Kerala

The club logo incorporates elements from historical Theyyam,[35] a famous ritual art form that originated in North Kerala.[36] It encompasses dance, mime and music.

Colours[edit]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors[edit]

Period Kit manufacturer Main shirt sponsor Back sponsor Chest sponsor Sleve sponsor
2017–2018 Kaizen Sports[37] Aachi Group
2018–2019 Aqualine PVC Pipes Aqualine PVC Pipes
2019–2020 Gokulam Group CSB Bank[38] Gokulam Madinah
2020–present SEGA[39] Federal Bank

Broadcasting[edit]

On 24 October 2018, Gokulam Kerala FC signed an exclusive deal with local television channel Flowers. Gokulam Kerala FC home matches are televised on Flowers Channel. Due to issues with Star Sports Network, the broadcast was halted. I-League live telecast is on 1Sports[40] and Fancode.[41]

Players[edit]

Main article: List of Gokulam Kerala F.C. players

First-team squad[edit]

As of 4 September 2021[42]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK India IND Rakshit Dagar
2 DF India IND Ajin Tom
3 DF India IND Mohammed Jassim
4 DF India IND Alex Saji
5 DF India IND Pawan Kumar
6 MF India IND Charles Anandraj
8 MF India IND Rishad PP
9 FW India IND Sourav K
10 FW India IND Ngangom Ronald Singh
11 FW India IND Emil Benny
12 MF India IND Muhammed Rashid
13 FW Nigeria NGA Chisom Chikatara
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 MF India IND Zodingliana Ralte
15 DF Cameroon CMR Aminou Bouba (Vice-Captain)
16 DF India IND Muhammad Uvais
17 MF India IND Thahir Zaman
18 FW India IND Jithin M S
19 FW Ghana GHA Rahim Osumanu
21 MF Afghanistan AFG Sharif Mukhammad (Captain)
22 FW India IND Beneston Barretto
27 DF India IND Takhellambam Deepak
30 GK India IND Vicky
31 GK India IND Ajmal P. A.
42 MF India IND Abhijith K

Gokulam Kerala FC Reserves[edit]

Further information on the Reserve squads Gokulam Kerala FC (Reserves)

Statistics and records[edit]

Main article: List of Gokulam Kerala FC records and statistics
Ghanaian Daniel Addo has all-time most appearances with Gokulam Kerala in I-League.

Most appearances[edit]

Name Period I-League Super Cup Durand Cup IFA Shield Sheikh Kamal Cup Appearances
India Muhammed Rashid 2017– 35 01 05 03 04 48
India Mohammed Irshad 2017–2018, 2019–2020 29 01 04 01 04 39
Ghana Daniel Addo 2017–2019 36 02 00 00 00 38
India Naocha singh 2019–2021 24 00 05 03 04 36
India Arjun Jayaraj 2017–2019 30 02 00 00 00 32
Uganda Henry Kisekka 2019–2020 22 02 03 00 04 31
India Sebastian Thangmuansang 2019–2021 18 00 04 03 04 29
India Mayakkannan 2019–2021 23 00 02 03 00 28
India Ubaid CK 2019–2021 20 00 04 03 00 27
Trinidad and Tobago Marcus Joseph 2019–2020 17 00 05 00 03 25

Club captains[edit]

Period Name
2017–2018 India Sushanth Mathew
2018–2019 Uganda Musa Mudde
2019 Ghana Daniel Addo
2019–2020 Trinidad and Tobago Marcus Joseph
2020–2021 Ghana Mohamed Awal[43]
2021–present Afghanistan Sharif Mukhammad[44]

Top scorers[edit]

  Still active team players are highlighted
Top scorers record
# Player Career I-League Super Cup Durand Cup IFA Shield Sheikh Kamal Cup Total
1 Trinidad and Tobago Marcus Joseph 2019–2020 12 0 11 0 1 24
2 Uganda Henry Kisekka 2017–2018, 2019–2020 9 3 1 0 3 16
3 Ghana Denny Antwi 2020-2021 11 4 15

Season analysis[edit]

Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GF GA Pts. Super Cup Durand Cup AFC Cup
2017–18 I League 7 18 6 3 9 17 23 21 Round 16 – –
2018–19 I League 10 20 3 8 9 25 33 17 DNP – DNQ
2019–20 I League 5 15 6 4 5 20 19 22 Cancelled[lower-alpha 1] Champions DNQ
2020–21 I League 1 15 9 2 4 31 17 29 Cancelled[lower-alpha 2] Cancelled[lower-alpha 3] DNQ
2021–22 I League Quarter Finals Group Stage
  1. ↑ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown the I-League matches were cancelled after 14 March 2020, and Gokulam Kerala were positioned 5th in the points table after 15 match. The Super Cup wasn't also held for the lockdown and Durand Cup was promoted to the de facto league cup.
  2. ↑ Due to a busy schedule of the Indian national football team, the Super Cup was cancelled.
  3. ↑ Due to Covid-19 pandemic 2020-21 Durand Cup season cancelled.

Honours[edit]

League[edit]

Cup[edit]

International (South Asia)[edit]

Reserve team[edit]

  • Bodousa Cup
    • Champions (1): 2019[53]
  • Independence Day Cup
    • Champions (1): 2019[54]
  • Mayors Cup
    • Runners-up (1): 2019

Women's team[edit]

Technical staff[edit]

Current technical staff[edit]

As of 19 Aug 2021[56]
Vincenzo Alberto Annese, current head coach of Gokulam Kerala
Position Name
Head Coach Italy Vincenzo Alberto Annese
Assistant Coach Vacant
Technical Director Vacant
Goalkeeping Coach Nepal Manish Timsina
Fitness and conditioning Coach Brazil Djair Miranda Garcia
Reserve Team coach India Najeeb
Academy Manager Template:Country data GIB Joel Williams
Academy coach (under-18) India Baiju
Academy coach (under-15) Vacant
Academy coach (under-13) Vacant

Head coach's record[edit]

As of 19 September 2021
Name Nationality From To P W D L GF GA Win%
Bino George  India 8 October 2017[57] 26 February 2019 40 10 11 19 45 58 025.00
Gift Raikhan  India 26 February 2019 1 July 2019 3 1 0 2 4 6 033.33
Fernando Santiago Varela  Spain 1 July 2019[58] 16 June 2020 20 11 4 5 25 10 055.00
Vincenzo Alberto Annese  Italy 19 August 2020 21 13 4 4 47 23 061.90

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Gokulam Kerala Football Club: history, stats and archive globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 27 March 2021
  2. ↑ "Hero I-League 2020-21 team profile: Gokulam Kerala". footballexpress.in. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  3. ↑ India - List of Foundation Dates RSSSF. Retrieved 17 August 2021
  4. ↑ "9 Keralites in Gokulam Kerala FC squad for Durand Cup". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala FC vs Chennai City FC | Match Details". I-League Official Website. Retrieved 17 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala taking the beautiful game forward together on the Malabar coast". I-League. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  7. ↑ Fujioka, Atsushi; Chaudhuri, Arunava. "India - List of National Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  8. ↑ Dey, Sayak Dipta (27 March 2021). "Gokulam Kerala FC win I-League, qualify for AFC Cup". sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  9. ↑ "I-League 2017: Gokulam Kerala FC squad analysis - Hopeful debutants to be the surprise package?". goal.com. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  10. ↑ "Spanish head coach for Gokulam Kerala FC". OnManorama.
  11. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala FC beat NorthEast United FC to enter Super Cup final round". Hindustan Times. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  12. ↑ "Bengaluru FC beat Gokulam Kerala FC to advance to Super Cup quarterfinals". Hindustan Times. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  13. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala FC to particpate[sic] in Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup 2019". The Fan Garage. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  14. ↑ "Sheikh Kamal Cup semifinals: Gokulam goes down in five-goal thriller". Sportstar.theHindu.com. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  15. ↑ "GOKULAM GO DOWN FIGHTING AGAINST CHITTAGONG ABAHANI IN SHEIKH KAMAL INTERNATIONAL CLUB CUP SEMIFINAL". Indiafooty.com. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  16. ↑ "Sk. Kamal International CLUB Cup-Bangladesh (SEMI FINAL & FINAL)". Kolkatafootball.com. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  17. ↑ The Durand Cup 2019 Final: Gokulam Kerala clinches title defeating Mohun Bagan AC sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 27 March 2021
  18. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala creates history, wins Durand Cup". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  19. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala FC Win I-League 2020-21, Become 1st Team from Kerala to Do So". News18 network. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  20. ↑ "I-League 2020-21: List of Award Winners as TRAU FC Win Maximum Accolades". News18. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "I-League: Gokulam Kerala crowned champions after comeback win over TRAU FC". Scroll.in. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  22. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala script incredible comeback to win maiden I-League title". The Indian Express. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala FC: hard-fought race in the I-League". Football Express. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  24. ↑ "KPL: Gokulam Kerala to meet KSEB in final". www.onmanorama.com/sports. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  25. ↑ "Kerala Premier League 2021: Gokulam Kerala defeat KSEB to be crowned champions". Goal.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  26. ↑ EMS Stadium: Our home Gokulam Kerala FC (official website). Retrieved 21 April 2021
  27. ↑ "Kerala: The paradoxical Indian state where football rivals cricket". Khel Now. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  28. ↑ Gokulam Kerala FC taking football forward on Malabar Coast The Times of India. Retrieved 7 May 2021
  29. ↑ ": Gokulam Kerala FC to honour former Indian football stars". Sports keeda. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  30. ↑ "When it comes to attendance figures, is the I-League better than the ISL?". Scroll.in. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  31. ↑ s.pai, vinayak. "I League 2017/18: Gokulam Kerala FC 1-1 Mohun Bagan: 5 talking points from the game". Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  32. ↑ Durand Cup final: Mohun Bagan vs Gokulam Kerala live update sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 5 July 2021
  33. ↑ "Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala, India - Kozhikode (Calicut) Hotels, Kozhikode (Calicut) resorts, Kozhikode (Calicut) tourism, Kozhikode (Calicut) real estate and Kozhikode (Calicut) businesses". kozhikode.com. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  34. ↑ "KPL: Gokulam Kerala to meet KSEB in final". OnManorama. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  35. ↑ "The Club: Gokulam Kerala FC". gokulamkeralafc.com. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  36. ↑ Kurup, K. K. N. (1990). "Teyyam - A Vanishing Ritual Dance of Kerala". In Kusuman, K. K. (ed.). A Panorama of Indian Culture: Professor A. Sreedhara Menon Felicitation Volume. Mittal Publications. p. 129. ISBN 9788170992141.
  37. ↑ Gokulam Kerala rope in Kaizen Sports as kit sponsor Outlook India. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  38. ↑ "CSB Bank becomes Gokulam Kerala FC's official sponsor". Gokulam Kerala FC. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  39. ↑ Gokulam Kerala roped SEGA as kit manufacturer Gokulam Kerala. Via Facebook. Retrieved 21 April 2021
  40. ↑ PTI (7 October 2020). "I-League: 1Sports roped in as I-League Qualifiers broadcaster". InsideSport. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  41. ↑ ETBrandEquity.com. "Hero I-League to exclusively live stream on FanCode - ET BrandEquity". ETBrandEquity.com. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  42. ↑ "9 Keralites in Gokulam Kerala FC squad for Durand Cup". Mathrubhumi.
  43. ↑ I-League: Mohammed Awal to Lead Gokulam Kerala FC, Goalkeeper Ubaid Named His Deputy News18. Retrieved 14 September 2021
  44. ↑ Afghan midfielder Sharif Mukhammad to lead Gokulam Kerala onmanorama.com. Retrieved 14 September 2021
  45. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala FC Stage Sensational Comeback To Win Maiden I-League Title vs TRAU". Outlook India. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  46. ↑ ഗോകുലം എഫ്.സി ഐ ലീഗ് ജേതാക്കളാകുന്ന ആദ്യ കേരളം ടീം; ചരിത്രനേട്ടം ട്രാവുവിനെ തകർത്ത്"Gokulam Kerala Wins ILeague". MalayalamNews18.com. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  47. ↑ Sen, Debayen. "Kerala's Gokulam FC get direct entry into I-League". espn.in. ESPN India. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  48. ↑ Kerala Premier League 2017–18 Final Kerala Football Association. Retrieved 27 February 2021
  49. ↑ Tennyson, Rayson (12 April 2017). "Future tense for state club champs, SBI Kerala". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  50. ↑ "Durand Cup Final, Mohun Bagan Vs Gokulam Kerala, Highlights: Marcus Joseph Brace Helps GKFC Win Title". outlookindia.com. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  51. ↑ "Durand Cup 2019: Gokulam Kerala beats Mohun Bagan to win title". jagranjosh.com. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  52. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala FC Dominate Chennai City FC to Reach Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup Semis". News18.com. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  53. ↑ "11th Bodousa Cup: Durand Cup Winners Gokulam Kerala FC Beat Former I-League Champions Minerva Punjab In Nerve-Wrecking Final". outlookindia.com. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  54. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala lift 71st Independence Day Cup". assamtribune.com. Assam Tribune. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  55. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala crowned new Hero IWL champions after thrilling finale". AIFF. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  56. ↑ "I-League: Gokulam Kerala set to sign Italian Vincenzo Alberto Annese as new head coach | Goal.com". goal.com. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  57. ↑ Chandran, M R Praveen. "Gokulam FC attempts to swim against tide". thehindu.com. The Hindu. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  58. ↑ നായര്‍, അനീഷ് പി. "പന്തെടുക്കാന്‍ പറയുന്നതുവരെ ആംഗ്യഭാഷയില്‍;ഒടുവില്‍ വലേര ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് പഠിച്ചു, ഗോകുലം കളിയും". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 30 April 2020.

External links[edit]

Template:Gokulam Kerala FC

Template:I-League Champions

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