Kerala football team

Football team representing Kerala State

Football club

Kerala
കേരള

Full name| Kerala State Football Team
Founded| 1948; 77 years ago (1948)
Ground| Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Capacity| 41,000
Owner| Kerala Football Association
Head coach| Biby Thomas
League| Santosh Trophy
2024–25| Runner-up

Home colours

Away colours

Third colours

|
|

Current season

The Kerala football team (Malayalam: കേരള കാൽപന്തുകളി ഗണം), formerly known as Travancore-Cochin football team, is an Indian state level semi-professional football team representing Kerala in Indian state football competitions including the Santosh Trophy and National Games of India.[1][2]

The team appeared in the Santosh Trophy finals 15 times, and have won the trophy 7 times. Kerala last won the Santhosh Trophy in 2022 by defeating Bengal in the final on 2 May at the Payyanadu Stadium in Malappuram. The Kerala team was captained by Jijo Joseph under head coach Bino George, being unbeaten during the tournament.

## Statistics and records

[edit]

### Season-by-season

[edit]

As of 15 February 2024

Champions    Runners-up    Semifinal

Season  | Santosh Trophy | Qualifiers | Top Scorer

|
|
|

Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Player  | Goals
1959–60 | 3  | 0  | 2  | 2  | 1  | 9  | Final round  | 3  | 1  | 2  | 0  | 2  | 1
1963–64  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 0  | 3  | First round  |
1968–69 | 1  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 0  | 3  | First round  |
1969–70 | 1  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 1  | 7  | First round  |  | Joseph Raju  | 1
1973–74[3] | 6  | 5  | 1  | 0  | 18  | 8  | Champions  |  | TKS Mani  | 7
1981–82 | —  | —  | —  | 2  | —  | —  | Semifinal  |  | Appukuttan  | 9
1983–84 | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | Semifinal  |  | Ranjith  | 6
1984–85 | 2  | 1  | 1  | 0  | 5  | 0  | Preliminary league  |  | 5 players  | 1
1985–86 | 4  | 2  | 0  | 2  | 6  | 3  | Semifinal  |  |  |
1986–87 | 3  | 1  | 2  | 0  | 3  | 2  | Semifinal  |  |  |
1987–88 | 6  | 4  | 2  | 0  | 10  | 1  | Runners Up  |  | C. V. Pappachan | 5
1988–89[4] | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | Runners up  |  | —  | —
1989–90 | 6  | 3  | 1  | 2  | 11  | 9  | Runners Up  |  | I. M. Vijayan, Santosh  | 3
1990–91[5] | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | Runners Up  |  | —  | —
1991–92 | 4  | 3  | 0  | 1  | 12  | 0  | Champions  |  | PS Asheem, Harshan, Rajeev  | 3
1992–93 | 6  | 4  | 0  | 1  | 8  | 3  | Champions  |  | I. M. Vijayan | 3
1993–94 | 2  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 6  | 1  | Runners Up  |  | Jo Paul Ancheri | 3
1994–95  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | Semifinal  |  |  |
1995–96  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | Semifinal  |  |  |
1996–97 | 4  | 2  | 1  | 1  | 6  | 1  | Semifinal  |  | VP Shaji  | 3
1997–98 | 3  | 0  | 2  | 1  | 0  | 3  | Group Stage  |  | —  | —
1998–99 | 1  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 1  | 3  | Semifinal  | 2  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 5  | 1  | Asif Saheer | 3
1999–00 | 5  | 3  | 1  | 1  | 10  | 5  | Runners up  |  | Asif Saheer | 4
2001–02 | 4  | 4  | 0  | 0  | 16  | 8  | Champions  |  | Abdul Hakim  | 7
2002–03 | 4  | 3  | 0  | 1  | 10  | 7  | Runners Up  |  | Sylvester Ignatius  | 3
2004–05 | 4  | 3  | 1  | 0  | 9  | 4  | Champions  |  | Abdul Naushad  | 2
2005–06 | 3  | 2  | 0  | 1  | 4  | 1  | Semifinal  |  | Abdul Hakkim  | 2
2006–07 | 4  | 2  | 2  | 0  | 5  | 1  | Semifinal  |  | Pradeep | 3
2007–08 | 3  | 1  | 2  | 0  | 3  | 9  | Group Stage  |  | Asif Saheer
Abdul Naushad
Javed OK  | 1
2008–09 | 1  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 0  | 1  | Pre Quarter  | 2  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 8  | 0  | Zubair KP  | 3
2009–10 | 1  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 0  | 1  | Pre Quarter  | 3  | 3  | 0  | 0  | 18  | 3  | Javed OK  | 4
2010–11 | 1  | 0  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Pre Quarter  | 3  | 2  | 1  | 0  | 8  | 1  | NA  | NA
2011–12 | 5  | 3  | 2  | 0  | 8  | 4  | Semifinal  |  | Kannan  | 2
2012–13 | 5  | 3  | 2  | 0  | 8  | 4  | Runners Up  |  | Kannan  | 4
2013–14 | 4  | 2  | 0  | 2  | 6  | 4  | Group Stage  | 4  | 3  | 0  | 1  | 23  | 4  | NA  | NA
2014–15 | 5  | 3  | 1  | 1  | 4  | 4  | Semifinal  | 2  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 10  | 0  | V P Suhair | 3
2015–16 | did not qualify | 2  | 1  | 1  | 0  | 3  | 1  | Firos
Seesan
Askhar  | 1
2016–17 | 5  | 2  | 1  | 2  | 11  | 9  | Semifinal  | 3  | 2  | 1  | 0  | 6  | 2  | Jobby Justin | 5
2017–18 | 6  | 5  | 1  | 0  | 18  | 3  | Champions  | 2  | 1  | 1  | 0  | 7  | 0  | Rahul KP
Afdal VK
Jithin MS | 5
2018–19 | did not qualify | 3  | 0  | 2  | 1  | 0  | 1  |  |
2019–20 | Not held due to covid | 2  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 11  | 0  | Emil Benny | 3
2021–22 | 6  | 4  | 2  | 0  | 19  | 7  | Champions  | 3  | 3  | 0  | 0  | 18  | 1  | Jesin TK | 12
2022–23 | 5  | 2  | 2  | 1  | 9  | 8  | Final Round  | 5  | 5  | 0  | 0  | 24  | 2  | Nijo Gilbert  | 8
2023–24 | 6  | 2  | 3  | 1  | 7  | 5  | Quarter Finalist  | 4  | 3  | 0  | 1  | 12  | 2  | Nijo Gilbert  |

## Players

[edit]

### Current squad

[edit]

As of 14 February 2024:[6]

No. | Pos. | Player  | Date of birth (age)  | Caps  | Goals  | Club

|
|
|
|
|
|

| 1GK | Muhammed Azhar  |  |  |  |  Kerala Police FC
| 1GK | Hajmal Sakeer  |  |  |  |  Forca Kochi
| 1GK | Muhammed Niyas  |  (2000-01-20) 20 January 2000 (age 25) |  |  |  Calicut

* * *

| 2DF | Sanju Ganesh  |  |  |  |  Kerala Police FC
| 2DF | Muhammed Riyas  |  |  |  |  Calicut
| 2DF | Manoj M  |  (1996-08-21) 21 August 1996 (age 28) |  |  |  Calicut
| 2DF | Muhammed Aslam  |  |  |  |
| 2DF | Adil Amal  |  (2002-01-31) 31 January 2002 (age 23) |  |  |  East Bengal B
| 2DF | Joseph Justine  |  |  |  |  East Bengal B

* * *

| 3MF | Nijo Gilbert  |  (1999-10-16) 16 October 1999 (age 25) |  |  |  Forca Kochi
| 3MF | Arjun V  |  (1999-04-30) 30 April 1999 (age 26) |  |  |  Calicut
| 3MF | Christy Davis  |  (2000-10-20) 20 October 2000 (age 24) |  |  |  Gokulam Kerala B
| 3MF | Muhammed Arshaf  |  (2006-01-01) 1 January 2006 (age 19) |  |  |  Calicut
| 3MF | Salman Kalliyath |  (1995-11-15) 15 November 1995 (age 29) |  |  |  Diamond Harbour FC
| 3MF | Mohammed Rishad Gafoor  |  (2007-06-27) 27 June 2007 (age 18) |  |  |  Kannur Warriors
| 3MF | Muhammed Roshal  |  (2003-03-08) 8 March 2003 (age 22) |  |  |  East Bengal B
| 3MF | Muhammed Mushraf  |  (2000-05-09) 9 May 2000 (age 25) |  |  |  East Bengal B

* * *

| 4FW | Gani Nigam |  (1998-05-01) 1 May 1998 (age 27) |  |  |  Calicut
| 4FW | Sajeesh E  |  (1997-01-29) 29 January 1997 (age 28) |  |  |  Kerala Police FC
| 4FW | Muhammad Ajsal |  (2003-03-28) 28 March 2003 (age 22) |  |  |  Gokulam Kerala
| 4FW | Shijin Thadhayouse  |  (1996-12-19) 19 December 1996 (age 28) |  |  |  Gokulam Kerala

## Current technical staff

[edit]

Team players on the ground

As of 14 February 2024

Position | Name

|

Head coach  |  Biby Thomas[7]
Assistant coach  |  Harry Benny
Goalkeeping coach  |  Nelson MV
Physio  |  Rodregues Nellissery
Manager  |  DR Sudhir Kumar

## Results and fixtures

[edit]

Gujarat v Kerala 11 October 2023 2023–24 Santosh Trophy|  Gujarat | 0–3|  Kerala | Benaulim

|
|
|
|

09:00 |  |  |

* Akbar  12', 33'
* Nijo Gilbert  36'

| Stadium: SAG Benaulim Ground

Kerala v Jammu and Kashmir 13 October 2023 2023–24 Santosh Trophy|  Kerala | 6–1|  Jammu and Kashmir | Benaulim

|
|
|
|

09:00 |

* Jithin  8', 54'
* Sajeesh  13'
* Ashiq  45+1'
* Abdhu Raheem  66'
* Riswan Ali  75'

|  |  | Stadium: SAG Benaulim Ground

Chhattisgarh v Kerala 15 October 2023 2023–24 Santosh Trophy|  Chhattisgarh | 0–3|  Kerala | Benaulim

|
|
|
|

09:00 |  |  |

* Sajeesh  6'
* Junain  56'
* Nijo Gilbert  68'

| Stadium: SAG Benaulim Ground

Kerala v Goa 17 October 2023 2023–24 Santosh Trophy|  Kerala | 0–1|  Goa | Benaulim

|
|
|
|

16:00 |  |  |  | Stadium: SAG Benaulim Ground

Assam v Kerala 21 February 2024 2023–24 Santosh Trophy|  Assam | 1–3|  Kerala | Yupia

|
|
|
|

14:30 | Dipu Mirdha 77' | Report | Abdu Raheem K  19'

Sajeesh E  67'

Nijo Gilbert  90+5' | Stadium: Golden Jubilee Stadium

Goa v Kerala 23 February 2024 2023–24 Santosh Trophy|  Goa | 2–0|  Kerala | Yupia

|
|
|
|

19:00 |  |  |  | Stadium: Golden Jubilee Stadium

Kerala v Meghalaya 25 February 2024 2023–24 Santosh Trophy|  Kerala | 1–1|  Meghalaya | Yupia

|
|
|
|

14:30 |  |  |  | Stadium: Golden Jubilee Stadium

Kerala v Arunachal Pradesh 28 February 2024 2023–24 Santosh Trophy|  Kerala | 2–0|  Arunachal Pradesh | Yupia

|
|
|
|

14:30 |  |  |  | Stadium: Golden Jubilee Stadium

Services v Kerala 01 March 2024 2023–24 Santosh Trophy|  Services | 1–1|  Kerala | Yupia

|
|
|
|

10:00 |  |  |  | Stadium: Golden Jubilee Stadium

Kerala v Railways 20 November 2024 Santosh Trophy Qualification|  Kerala | 1–0|  Railways | Kozhikode

|
|
|
|

TBD |  |  |  | Stadium: EMS Stadium

Kerala v Lakshadweep 22 November 2024 Santosh Trophy Qualification|  Kerala | 10–0|  Lakshadweep | Kozhikode

|
|
|
|

TBD |  |  |  | Stadium: EMS Stadium

Kerala v Pondicherry 24 November 2024 Santosh Trophy Qualification|  Kerala | 7–0|  Pondicherry | Kozhikode

|
|
|
|

TBD |  |  |  | Stadium: EMS Stadium

## Honours

[edit]

Santosh Trophy winning Kerala team with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi, November 2, 2004. Players of Kerala football team a Santosh Trophy match in Payynad Stadium in 2022

### State (senior)

[edit]

* Santosh Trophy
* Winners (7): 1973–74, 1991–92, 1992–93,[8] 2001–02,[9] 2004–05, 2017–18, 2021–2022
* Runners-up (9): 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1993–94, 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2012–13, 2024–25
* National Games
* Gold medal (3): 1987, 1997, 2025
* Silver medal (2): 1994, 2022[10][11]
* Bronze medal (1): 2023

### State (youth)

[edit]

* B.C. Roy Trophy
* Winners (3): 1968–69, 1971–72, 1972–73
* Runners-up (5): 1973–74, 1974–75, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1985–86
* Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy
* Winners (2): 1981–82, 1983–84
* M. Dutta Ray Trophy
* Winners (1): 1995

### Others

[edit]

* Sait Nagjee Football Tournament
* Runners-up (1): 1986

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Kerala Football Association".
2. ^ "West Bengal, Kerala & Punjab drawn together in tantalizing group in 75th edition of Hero Santosh Trophy". the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. 6 January 2022. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
3. ^ "India - List of Santosh Trophy Finals". Retrieved 2 October 2023.
4. ^ "23rd Santosh Trophy". Retrieved 2 October 2023.
5. ^ "India - List of Santosh Trophy Finals". Retrieved 2 October 2023.
6. ^ "Sanju G to lead Kerala in Santosh Trophy".
7. ^ "Biby Thomas appointed as Kerala's Santosh Trophy Coach". Retrieved 14 November 2024.
8. ^ Bobrowsky, Josef; King, Ian (6 December 2006). "India 1993 – Santosh Trophy". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
9. ^ Chaudhuri, Arunava. "2001/02 Season in Indian Football". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
10. ^ "National Games: W Bengal hammer Kerala 5–0 to clinch gold in men's football". wap.business-standard.com. Ahmedabad: Business Standard India. IANS. 12 October 2022. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
11. ^ Sarangi, Y. B. (11 October 2022). "National Games: West Bengal routs Kerala 5–0, wins men's football gold medal after 11 years". sportstar.thehindu.com. Ahmedabad: Sportstar. The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.

* v
* t
* e

Santosh Trophy

Seasons|

* 1941–42
* 1942–43
* 1943–44
* 1944–45
* 1945–46
* 1946–47
* 1947–48
* 1948–49
* 1949–50
* 1950–51
* 1951–52
* 1952–53
* 1953–54
* 1954–55
* 1955–56
* 1956–57
* 1957–58
* 1958–59
* 1959–60
* 1960–61
* 1961–62
* 1962–63
* 1963–64
* 1964–65
* 1965–66
* 1966–67
* 1967–68
* 1968–69
* 1969–70
* 1970–71
* 1971–72
* 1972–73
* 1973–74
* 1974–75
* 1975–76
* 1976–77
* 1977–78
* 1978–79
* 1979–80
* 1980–81
* 1981–82
* 1982–83
* 1983–84
* 1984–85
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90
* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24

Qualifiers|

* 1999–00
* 2008–09
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2021–22

Group stage|

* 2021–22
* 2022–23

Finals|

* 2017
* 2018
* 2019

Teams|

* Andaman and Nicobar
* Andhra Pradesh
* Arunachal Pradesh
* Assam
* Bihar
* Chandigarh
* Chhattisgarh
* Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
* Delhi
* Goa
* Gujarat
* Haryana
* Himachal Pradesh
* Jammu and Kashmir
* Jharkhand
* Karnataka
* Kerala
* Ladakh
* Lakshadweep
* Madhya Pradesh
* Maharashtra
* Manipur
* Meghalaya
* Mizoram
* Nagaland
* Odisha
* Pondicherry
* Punjab
* Railways
* Rajasthan
* Services
* Sikkim
* Tamil Nadu
* Telangana
* Tripura
* Uttar Pradesh
* Uttarakhand
* West Bengal

* v
* t
* e

Indian state football teams

States|

* Andaman and Nicobar Islands
* M
* F
* Andhra Pradesh
* M
* F
* Arunachal Pradesh
* M
* F
* Assam
* M
* F
* Bihar
* M
* F
* Chandigarh
* M
* F
* Chhattisgarh
* M
* F
* Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
* M
* F
* Delhi
* M
* F
* Goa
* M
* F
* Gujarat
* M
* F
* Haryana
* M
* F
* Himachal Pradesh
* M
* F
* Jammu and Kashmir
* M
* F
* Jharkhand
* M
* F
* Karnataka
* M
* F
* Kerala
* M
* F
* Ladakh
* M
* F
* Lakshadweep
* M
* F
* Madhya Pradesh
* M
* F
* Maharashtra
* M
* F
* Manipur
* M
* F
* Meghalaya
* M
* F
* Mizoram
* M
* F
* Nagaland
* M
* F
* Odisha
* M
* F
* Pondicherry
* M
* F
* Punjab
* M
* F
* Rajasthan
* M
* F
* Sikkim
* M
* F
* Tamil Nadu
* M
* F
* Telangana
* M
* F
* Tripura
* M
* F
* Uttar Pradesh
* M
* F
* Uttarakhand
* M
* F
* West Bengal
* M
* F

Organisations|

* Railways
* M
* F
* Services
* M

* v
* t
* e

Football in India

* All India Football Federation
* State Football Associations

National teams|

| Men|

* India
* U-23
* U-20
* U-17

|

Women|

* India
* U-20
* U-17

Others|

* Beach soccer
* Futsal
* Men
* Women

League system|

| Men|

* Indian Super League
* I-League
* I-League 2
* I-League 3
* Futsal Club Championship

|

Women|

* Indian Women's League
* Indian Women's League 2

State|

* State Leagues
* Men
* Women

Youth|

* Youth League
* Reliance Foundation Development League

Cup competitions|

| International|

* Intercontinental Cup
* Tri-Nation Series
* Gold Cup

|

Club|

* Super Cup
* Durand Cup
* others

State (Senior)|

* Santosh Trophy
* Women's Championship
* National Games
* Beach Soccer Championship

State (Youth)|

* B.C. Roy Trophy
* Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy
* Junior Girl's NFC
* Sub–Junior Girl's NFC
* Subroto Cup
* JSW Youth Cup

Defunct competitions|

| Leagues|

* National Football League
* National Football League 2nd Division
* National Football League 3rd Division
* National Football League U19

|

Cups|

* Federation Cup
* Nehru Cup
* Indian Super Cup
* others

Sports complexes|

* AIFF National Center of Excellence

* History
* Champions
* Men
* Women
* Clubs
* Stadiums
* Asian competition
* Women's football
* Awards
* AIFF
* FPAI

* v
* t
* e

Football in Kerala

Kerala Football Association

State teams|

* Kerala football team
* Kerala women's football team

Clubs|

| ISL|

* Kerala Blasters

|

I-League|

* Gokulam Kerala
* Sports Academy Tirur (I-League 2)
* Kerala United FC (I-League 3)

KPL|

* FC Kerala
* Kerala United
* Kovalam
* Golden Threads
* Kerala Police
* Eagles
* SBI Kerala

SLK|

* Malappuram FC
* Calicut FC
* Thiruvananthapuram Kombans
* Thrissur Magic
* Kannur Warriors
* Forca Kochi

Indian Women's League|

* Gokulam Kerala Women
* Kerala Blasters W.F.C.

League competitions|

* Kerala Premier League
* Kerala Women's League

Cup competitions|

* Sait Nagjee Football Tournament
* Scissors Cup (defunct)
* Kerala State Club Football Championship (defunct)
* N.I. David Memorial Trophy

Stadiums|

* Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
* Kottappadi Football Stadium
* Calicut Medical College Stadium
* Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium
* EMS Stadium
* Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Kollam
* Malappuram District Sports Complex Stadium
* Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium

Others|

* Sevens football
* R B Ferguson Club
* Football in Thrissur

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in Kerala

Cricket|

Ranji Trophy
Kerala
IPL
Kochi Tuskers Kerala (now defunct)
CCL
Kerala Strikers

Football|

ISL
Kerala Blasters
I-League
Gokulam F.C.
Chirag United (now defunct)
I-League 2nd Division
Kerala Blasters (R)
F.C. Kerala
Kerala United FC
Indian Women's League
Gokulam F.C. Women
Elite League
Kerala Blasters (R)
Gokulam F.C.
F.C. Kerala
MSP Football Academy
Santosh Trophy
Kerala
KPL
F.C. Kerala
FC Thrissur
Gokulam F.C.
Kerala Blasters (R)
Kerala United FC
SBI Kerala
Sports Academy Tirur

Futsal|

APFC
Kerala Blasters FC
AFCC
Kerala Blasters FC

Volleyball|

Prime VL
Kochi Blue Spikers
Calicut Heroes
*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template