The Indian Super League (ISL) is a professional football league in India, founded in 2013 with the aim of developing the sport in the country and making it more popular among its vast population. Managed by the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the ISL has rapidly grown to become one of the top football leagues in Asia.
The league follows a franchise model similar to that of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in cricket. Initially, there were eight teams, but this has expanded over the years to include more teams from different regions, enhancing the league’s appeal and competitive nature.
The ISL season runs from October to March, featuring a regular season where each team plays home and away matches. The top teams then advance to the playoffs, culminating in a final to determine the champion.
Unlike many traditional football leagues around the world, the ISL does not have a system of promotion and relegation, though discussions about integrating this feature have been ongoing.
List of ISL Winners from 2014 to 2024
The ISL has seen a variety of champions since its inception in 2014. Each season has brought its own set of thrills and memorable moments, with different teams rising to the occasion to lift the coveted trophy. Here is a detailed look at the ISL winners list all season.
ISL season | Winners | Runner-up | ISL Final Score |
2023-24 | Mumbai City FC | Mohun Bagan Super Giant | 3-1 |
2022-23 | ATK Mohun Bagan | Hyderabad FC | 4-3 |
2021-22 | Hyderabad FC | Kerala Blasters | 1-1 (3-1) penalty shootout |
2020-21 | Mumbai City FC | ATK Mohun Bagan | 2-1 |
2019-20 | ATK | Chennaiyin FC | 3-1 |
2018-19 | Bengaluru FC | FC Goa | 1-0 |
2017-18 | Chennaiyin FC | Bengaluru FC | 3-2 |
2016 | Atlético de Kolkata | Kerala Blasters | 1-1 (4-3) penalty shootout |
2015 | Chennaiyin FC | FC Goa | 3-2 |
2014 | Atlético de Kolkata | Kerala Blasters | 1-0 |
1. Atlético de Kolkata 2014 Winner
The 2014 ISL was the first season of the league. The season featured eight teams, each playing 14 matches during the regular season.
The inaugural season of the ISL saw Atlético de Kolkata, led by coach Antonio López Habas and marquee player Luis García, clinch the title. The team defeated Kerala Blasters 1-0 in a dramatic final held in Mumbai, with a solitary goal from Mohammed Rafique in injury time securing the championship.
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2. Chennaiyin FC 2015 Winner
In the second edition of the league, defending champions, Kolkata, were eliminated in the semi-final. In the final, Chennaiyin FC emerged victorious under the guidance of Italian World Cup-winning defender Marco Materazzi.
In the final, they overcame FC Goa in a thrilling match, winning 3-2 with a last-minute goal by Stiven Mendoza. Mendoza was also the top goal scorer that season with 13 goals.
3. Atlético de Kolkata 2016 Winner
Atlético de Kolkata became the first team to win the ISL twice by claiming the 2016 title. Under the management of José Francisco Molina, they once again faced Kerala Blasters in the final.
The match ended 1-1 after extra time, leading to a penalty shootout, where Kolkata triumphed 4-3, thus entering ISL Cup winners list yet again.
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4. Chennaiyin FC 2017-18 Winner
In 2017-18, Chennaiyin FC won their second ISL title. Managed by Englishman John Gregory, they displayed consistent performances throughout the season. In the final, Chennaiyin FC defeated Bengaluru FC 3-2 in an intense match, with Mailson Alves and Raphael Augusto among the key contributors.
5. Bengaluru FC 2018-19 Winner
In 2018, the ISL paused for about a month to accommodate India’s participation in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. Bengaluru FC, one of the most consistent teams in the league, won their first ISL title in the 2018-19 season.
Coached by Carles Cuadrat, Bengaluru FC displayed strong defensive and offensive play. They defeated FC Goa 1-0 in the final, with Rahul Bheke scoring the decisive goal in extra time.
6. ATK 2019-20 Winner
In the 2019-20 ISL season, Hyderabad FC replaced the dissolved Pune City, while Delhi Dynamos relocated to Bhubaneswar and rebranded as Odisha FC.
ATK clinched their third ISL title in the 2019-20 season, making them the most successful team in ISL history. Led by Antonio López Habas, ATK defeated Chennaiyin FC 3-1 in the final, with goals from Javi Hernández and Edu García.
7. Mumbai City FC 2020-21 Winner
The 2020–21 ISL season was the seventh season of the league. It was hosted behind closed doors across three venues in Goa due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mumbai City FC won their maiden ISL title in the 2020-21 season, under the management of Sergio Lobera. The team also secured the League Winners’ Shield by finishing top of the table. In the final, they defeated ATK Mohun Bagan 2-1, with Bipin Singh scoring the winning goal.
8. Hyderabad FC 2021-22 Winner
Except for the final, ISL 2021 was also hosted behind closed doors across three venues in Goa because of COVID-19.
Hyderabad FC claimed their first ISL title in the 2021-22 season after delivering consistent performances throughout the season under coach Manuel Márquez. They defeated Kerala Blasters in the final via a penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 in regular time, marking a historic win for the club.
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9. ATK Mohun Bagan 2022-23 Winner
The 2022-23 ISL season saw ATK Mohun Bagan, a team formed through the merger of ATK and the historic Mohun Bagan club, claim the championship.
In a thrilling final against Bengaluru FC, the match ended 2-2 after extra time. The outcome was decided by a penalty shootout, where ATK Mohun Bagan triumphed 4-3, securing their first ISL title.
10. Mumbai City FC 2023-24 Winner
In the 2023-24 ISL season, Mumbai City FC faced Mohun Bagan Super Giant (the new name for ATK Mohun Bagan) in a crucial match for the ISL Winners Shield in Kolkata, where Mohun Bagan emerged victorious.
However, the result was different when the two teams met again at the same venue for the ISL title match a few days later. In the final held at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, Mumbai City FC executed an impressive comeback to win 3-1 over Mohun Bagan Super Giant, clinching the ISL championship.
ISL Golden Boot Winners List
The ISL Golden Boot is awarded to the top goal scorer each season and has celebrated some of the league’s most prolific strikers. Elano Blumer of Chennaiyin FC claimed the inaugural Golden Boot in 2014 with eight goals. The following year, Stiven Mendoza, also from Chennaiyin FC, netted 13 goals to secure the award and played a crucial role in his team’s championship run.
Season | Player | Nationality | Club | Goals | Matches | Rate | Assists |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Elano | Brazil | Chennaiyin | 8 | 11 | 0.73 | 1 |
2015 | Stiven Mendoza | Colombia | Chennaiyin† | 13 | 16 | 0.81 | 3 |
2016 | Marcelinho | Brazil | Odisha | 10 | 15 | 0.67 | 5 |
2017–18 | Coro | Spain | Goa | 18# | 20 | 0.9 | 5 |
2018–19 | Coro (2) | Spain | Goa | 16 | 20 | 0.8 | 7 |
2019–20 | Nerijus Valskis | Lithuania | Chennaiyin | 15 | 20 | 0.75 | 6 |
2020–21 | Igor Angulo | Spain | Goa | 14 | 21 | 0.67 | 0 |
2021–22 | Bartholomew Ogbeche | Nigeria | Hyderabad† | 18# | 20 | 0.9 | 1 |
2022–23 | Diego Maurício | Brazil | Odisha | 12 | 21 | 0.57 | 4 |
2023–24 | Dimitrios Diamantakos | Greece | Kerala Blasters | 13 | 17 | 0.76 | 3 |
Marcelinho of Delhi Dynamos topped the charts in 2016 with 10 goals. In the 2017-18 season, Ferran Corominas of FC Goa emerged as the leading scorer with 18 goals, setting a new league record. He repeated his success in the 2018-19 season, leading again with 16 goals. Nerijus Valskis of Chennaiyin FC claimed the Golden Boot in the 2019-20 season with 15 goals.
Nerijus Valskis of Chennaiyin FC claimed the Golden Boot in the 2019-20 season with 15 goals. Igor Angulo of FC Goa topped the scoring list in the 2020-21 season with 14 goals. The 2021-22 season saw Bartholomew Ogbeche of Hyderabad FC secure the Golden Boot with an impressive 18 goals. Most recently, in 2022-23, Kerala Blasters’ Dimitrios Diamantakos tied with Odisha FC’s Roy Krishna for the most goals but clinched the Golden Boot due to a superior goals-to-minutes ratio. In 2024, Diamantakos won the Golden Boot again.
Conclusion
The ISL has seen a diverse set of winners, each contributing to the league’s growing legacy. From the dominance of ATK to the emergence of new champions like Mumbai City FC and Hyderabad FC, the league continues to provide thrilling football matches.
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