Wikipedia

Delhi FC

Delhi Football Club is an Indian professional football club founded in 1994 in Delhi.[1] The club competes in both the I-League and the Delhi Premier League.[2][3] The club debuted in 2023–24 I-League, the second tier of Indian football, following promotion after winning 2022–23 I-League 2 season.

Delhi
Full nameDelhi Football Club
Short nameDFC
Founded1994; 30 years ago (1994)
Ground
Capacity35,000
16,000
OwnerRanjit Bajaj
Head coachYan Law
LeagueI-League
Delhi Premier League (Reserves)
Websitehttps://delhifootballclub.com/
Current season
Departments of Delhi FC
Football
(Men's) 		Football
(Women's) 		Futsal
(Men's) 		Futsal
(Women's) 		Football
(Reserves & academy)

History

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Delhi FC was founded in 1994 and competed in lower local divisions until 2009, when it was promoted to FD Senior Division.[4] Affiliated with Football Delhi,[5] the club is regularly participating in the top division of Delhi Football League system, Delhi Premier League.[6]

In August 2020, Minerva Academy owner Ranjit Bajaj took over Delhi FC by buying 90% stake in the club after selling Punjab FC to RoundGlass completely.[7][8][9]

 
Delhi FC players in training, April 2023

Delhi FC participated in the 130th edition of Durand Cup and reached the quarter-finals, after beating ISL side Kerala Blasters in their final group match.[10][11]

In May 2023, the club clinched their first ever I-League 2 title and gained promotion to the I-League for the first time, becoming the first team from Delhi to achieve promotion to I-League on sporting merit.[12][3][13][14] The club appointed Yan Law as head coach for their debut season in I-League.[15] In September 2023, the club took part in the inaugural edition of Climate Cup in Ladakh, in which they clinched title, defeating Tibet National Sports Association 6–0 in final.[16][17]

Stadium

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Ambedkar Stadium

Ambedkar Stadium, located in New Delhi, is the home ground of Delhi FC for the DPL. The club also plays some matches at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium or Chhatrasal Stadium. However, the club played the home matches of their inaugural I-League season at Namdhari Stadium in Punjab.[18][19] They named Mahilpur Football Stadium as home ground for the second I-League season.

Kit manufacturers & shirt sponsors

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Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2021—2023 Spartan —
2023 Astro Colordesign India[20]
2023—2024 Nivia Sports[21] Forza Football
2024— King Sports
Vallion Sports (Reserves) 		—

Players

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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   IND Pawan Kumar
3 DF   IND Gurtej Singh
6 MF   IND Vanlalhriatzuala K.
8 MF   IND Dhruv Sharma
11 FW   IND Himanshu Jangra
15 FW   IND Balwant Singh
17 DF   IND Kitboklang Khyriem
21 GK   IND Nitish Mehra
22 FW   IND Bali Gagandeep
26 MF   IND Gaurav Rawat
27 FW   IND Ankit Singh
No. Pos. Nation Player
28 MF   IND Naorem Tondomba Singh (on loan from Mumbai City)
32 GK   IND Naveen Kumar
47 DF   IND Raju Gaikwad
49 MF   IND Girik Khosla
60 MF   IND Suprodip Hazra
67 MF   IND Rahul Rawat
84 MF   IND Bhupinder Singh
— MF     NEP Laken Limbu
— DF   BHU Dawa Tshering
— MF   GHA Stephen Acquah
— MF   CMR Stephane Dang
— FW   NGA Nelson Okwa

Personnel

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Current technical staff
Position Name
Owner   Ranjit Bajaj
Head coach   Yan Law
Technical director   Surinder Singh
Goalkeeping coach   John Burridge
Physio   Bhusan Dahikar

Statistics and records

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Seasons

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Season League
League Level P W D L GF GA Points Position
2021 Delhi 2nd Division Qualifiers III 6 4 1 1 25 9 10 2nd
2021 I-League Qualifiers II 7 5 1 1 18 4 16 3rd
2021-22 FD Senior Division III 16 13 1 2 62 11 40 1st
2022-23 Delhi Premier League IV 20 12 3 5 47 28 39 2nd
2022-23 I-League 2 III 12 7 2 3 26 9 23 1st
2023-24 I-League II 24 11 2 11 44 40 35 6th

Honours

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Football

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Domestic leagues

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Domestic cups

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  • Bordoloi Trophy
    • Champions (1): 2022[24]
  • Climate Cup
    • Champions (1): 2023[16]
  • Principal Harbhajan Singh Memorial Tournament
    • Champions (1): 2022[25]
  • Shandar Football Tournament
    • Champions (1): 2021[26]
  • Shaheed Bhagat Singh Cup
  • Chakradhar Deka Memorial Cup
    • Champions (1): 2022[29]
  • All Open Football Tournament
    • Champions (1): 2022[30]

Futsal

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Affiliated clubs

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The following clubs are currently affiliated with Delhi FC:

Futsal

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Delhi FC player in action during the 2021 AIFF Futsal Club Championship

The club's futsal team takes part in the Delhi Futsal League,[32][33] and won the 2021 edition.[34][35] They also won the inaugural edition of the AIFF Futsal Club Championship,[36][37][38][39] becoming the first Indian team to qualify for AFC Futsal Club Championship, which was eventually cancelled.[40][41]

References

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  1. ^ "Delhi FC reach Durand Cup quarterfinals with 1–0 win over Kerala Blasters". The Indian Express. 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "The Groups for the Football Delhi Senior Division 2021 are out!". Twitter.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Delhi FC clinch second division title and promotion to I-League". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. New Delhi: The Times of India. PTI. 26 May 2023. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  4. ^ "About Delhi Football Club". DELHI FOOTBALL CLUB. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  5. ^ Josh, Sumit (8 May 2018). "Football Delhi: A Complete Revival of The Game in The Capital". www.thequint.com. The Quint. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Football Delhi Senior Division League: All clubs". footballdelhi.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Minerva Academy Owns 90 Per Cent Stake in Delhi FC: Details of the Takeover". News18. 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Exclusive | Minerva Takesover Delhi Based Delhi Football Club". IFTWC. 5 August 2020. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Minerva Academy enters into partnership with Delhi FC | Football News - Times of India". The Times of India. 6 August 2020. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Durand Cup: Delhi FC beats Kerala Blasters 1-0, reaches quarterfinals". Sportstar. 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Delhi FC reach Durand Cup quarterfinals with 1-0 win over Kerala Blasters". The Indian Express. 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  12. ^ Media Team, AIFF (26 May 2023). "Delhi FC crowned Hero 2nd Division champions, earn promotion to Hero I-League". the-aiff.com. New Delhi: All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  13. ^ Basu, Ritayan (26 May 2023). "Delhi FC Crowned 2nd Division Champions, Earn Promotion to I-League". News18.com. New Delhi. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Delhi FC secure maiden I-League berth". indianexpress.com. New Delhi: The Indian Express. PTI. 26 May 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ^ "Yan Cheng Law returns to Indian Football as Delhi FC head coach". thebridge.in. 26 June 2023. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  16. ^ a b "𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 of the #ClimateCup2023! 🤩🤩 Another trophy added to our illustrious cabinet!". Twitter.com. 7 September 2023. Archived from the original on 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Ladakh Climate Cup: Delhi FC rattle TNSA 6–0 to take trophy home". uniindia.com. Jammu. 7 September 2023. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  18. ^ "I-League 2023-24 Preview: New Teams and Renewed Ambitions Promises a Season Like No Other". News18. 26 October 2023. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  19. ^ "I-League 2023-24: Fixtures, format, telecast and more". Khel Now. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  20. ^ "About Us". ColorDesign India. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  21. ^ Saha, Rahul (3 November 2023). "I-league Commercial Guide: A Complete List of the 2023/24 I-League Team Sponsors". sportskhabri.com. Sports Khabri. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  22. ^ Arunava Chaudhary. "List of Champions of the Delhi Football League (DSA Senior Division)". Indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 1 May 2002. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  23. ^ "About Delhi Football Club". DELHI FOOTBALL CLUB. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  24. ^ "Bordoloi Trophy: Minerva Delhi FC edge Nagaland Police to clinch the title". Hindustan Times. 5 April 2022. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  25. ^ "Minerva Academy Football Club on Twitter: "Our #BrothersInNorth have also emerged Champions of the senior category defeating Khalsa Warriors in the final of the 59th All India Principal Harbhajan Singh Tournament". Twitter. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  26. ^ "Minerva Academy Football Club on Twitter: "CHAMPIONS‼️😍😍 Another trophy added to the cabinet!🏆 Our #Warriors have emerged as the champion of All India Shandar Football Tournament 2021 yesterday! 🤩". Twitter. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  27. ^ "Delhi Football Club wins Shaheed Bhagat Singh Football Cup 2022". thebridge.in. The Bridge News Desk. PTI. 10 August 2022. Archived from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  28. ^ "Delhi Football Club wins Shaheed Bhagat Singh Football Cup 2022". theprint.in. The Print. Press Trust of India. 11 August 2022. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  29. ^ "Delhi FC wins the 10th Chakradhar Deka Memorial Cup". Twitter. 27 September 2022. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  30. ^ "THE LADS HAVE DONE IT! Another 🏆 in the cabinet! Well done boys 💪🏼✨". Twitter.com (Delhi Football Club). 16 November 2022. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  31. ^ "Delhi FC wins Football Delhi Futsal League 2021". Sportstar. 18 September 2021. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  32. ^ "Inaugural edition of Futsal Championship to kick-off in New Delhi on November 5". www.aninews.in. ANI News. 14 October 2021. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  33. ^ "Inaugural edition of Hero Futsal Club Championship to kick-off in New Delhi on November 5". the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. 14 October 2021. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  34. ^ "Delhi FC wins Delhi Futsal League 2021". thebridge.in. 18 September 2021. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  35. ^ "Delhi FC wins Football Delhi Futsal League 2021". sportstar.thehindu.com. 18 September 2021. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  36. ^ "Futsal C'ship: Sporting Clube drawn alongside BFC". thegoan.net. Panaji: The Goan Everyday. 28 October 2021. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  37. ^ "Draw for Futsal Club Championship 2021–22 announced". aninews.in. New Delhi: Asianet News International. 29 October 2021. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  38. ^ "Delhi FC crowned inaugural champions of the Futsal Club Championship". www.sportskeeda.com. 14 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  39. ^ "Delhi FC crowned champions of inaugural Hero Futsal Club Championship". thebridge.in. 14 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  40. ^ "AFC Futsal Club Championship 2022 in UAE canceled". 8 May 2022. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  41. ^ "AFC Futsal Club Championship 2022 in UAE canceled | Sport". 8 June 2023. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.

Further reading

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