ISL 2024-25 Complete Guide: Explore the new rules, team insights, competition format, and records. Stay tuned and get ready to cheer—let’s football!
The 11th edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) has officially kicked off on September 13, 2024, and runs through May 4, 2025. This season features a thrilling lineup of 13 teams, including the defending champions Mumbai City FC and the ISL Shield holders Mohun Bagan SG. With the stage set for an action-packed football extravaganza, fans can look forward to another exciting season of top-tier Indian football.
Since its debut in 2013, the ISL has become a cornerstone of Indian football, amplifying the sport’s appeal and fueling the passion of fans across the country. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the ISL 2024-25 season. From the latest new rules and the competition format to detailed insights on each team, their owners, and key player records, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re a long-time ISL enthusiast or just tuning in, this article will keep you informed and engaged with the latest developments and thrilling action of the Indian Super League.
ISL 2024-25 New Rules and Changes
The Indian Super League 11th season is set to introduce several significant changes aimed at enhancing the league’s competitiveness and overall experience. Here’s a rundown of the key updates:
- Asian Quota Removal: Teams are no longer required to include an Asian player, allowing for greater flexibility in squad composition and more diverse international signings.
- Increased Salary Cap: The salary cap has been raised to ₹18 crore, with the provision to sign up to two additional high-salary players, giving teams more financial leeway to attract top talent.
- Homegrown Player Category: Clubs can now include up to three homegrown players under the age of 23, who have been with the club for a minimum of three years, without affecting the salary cap. This move aims to foster local talent and strengthen team development.
- Concussion Substitutions: Each team is now allowed one concussion substitution per match. This rule prioritizes player safety by ensuring that players who suffer head injuries can be substituted without affecting the team’s substitution limit.
- Mandatory Indian Assistant Coach: All teams are now required to have at least one Indian assistant coach on their staff. This change is designed to provide valuable coaching experience to local talent and support the growth of Indian football.
- Appeal Against Wrongful Red Cards: Teams now can appeal against “wrongful” red card decisions. This new provision is aimed at ensuring fairness and addressing potential errors in officiating.
- No Relegation for This Season: In a notable deviation from the AFC’s 2019 roadmap, the AIFF has decided not to impose relegation at the end of this season. This change provides stability and allows teams to focus on performance without the immediate pressure of relegation.
These updates mark a significant shift in the ISL’s operational framework, setting the stage for a dynamic and engaging 2024-25 season.
Competition Format
Regular Season
The ISL season runs from September to March, featuring 24 rounds. During this period, each team plays every other team twice, once at home and once away. Teams earn points based on their performance in each match: 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw, with no points awarded for a loss. This format fosters a competitive atmosphere as teams vie to accumulate the highest number of points to secure favourable standings.
League Shield and ISL Championship Title:
- The team that finishes first in the regular season standings is awarded the ISL Shield and advances directly to the playoffs.
- The ISL Championship Title is decided through knockout rounds, culminating in a final.
Playoff Format
- The top two teams from the regular season qualify directly for the semifinals.
- Teams ranked 3rd to 6th compete in single-elimination matches to secure a place in the semifinals.
- Semifinals are played over two legs, with the higher-ranked team hosting the first leg.
- The final is held at the home stadium of the higher-ranked team from the regular season.
Continental Qualification
The ISL champions qualify for the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two. Mohun Bagan, as the 2023-24 champions, will represent India in the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Two.
Team Profiles: Stadiums, Coaches, Owners and Key Players
Here’s an overview of each ISL team for the 2024-25 season, highlighting their coaches, home grounds, club owners, and standout players to watch:
Mohun Bagan Super Giant
- Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
- Coach: Jose Molina
- Owner: RPSG Group
- Player to Watch: Dimitri Petratos
Bengaluru FC
- Stadium: Sree Kanteerava Stadium
- Coach: Gerard Zaragoza
- Owner: JSW Group
- Player to Watch: Sunil Chhetri and Jorge Pereyra Diaz
Chennaiyin FC
- Stadium: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
- Coach: Owen Coyle
- Owner: Film actor Abhishek Bachchan, Cricketer MS Dhoni, and Vita Dani
- Player to Watch: Chima Chukwu
East Bengal FC
- Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
- Coach: Carles Cuadrat
- Owner: Emami East Bengal FC Pvt Ltd (Emami Group 77%, East Bengal Club Pvt. Ltd. 23%)
- Player to Watch: Dimitrios Diamantakos
FC Goa
- Stadium: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
- Coach: Manolo Márquez
- Owner: Jaydev Mody, Akshay Tandon, and cricketer Virat Kohli
- Player to Watch: Armando Sadiku and Sandesh Jhingan
Hyderabad FC
- Stadium: GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium
- Coach: Thangboi Singto
- Owner: Jindal Football Private Ltd, part of the BC Jindal Group
- Player to Watch: Alex Saji
Jamshedpur FC
- Stadium: JRD Tata Sports Complex
- Coach: Khalid Jamil
- Owner: Tata Steel Group
- Player to Watch: Javi Hernandez
Kerala Blasters FC
- Stadium: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
- Coach: Mikael Stahre
- Owner: Consortium including industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad, film star Chiranjeevi, Indian film producer Allu Aravind, and Anil Yerramreddy, CEO of Mouritech
- Player to Watch: Adrian Luna
Mohammedan SC
- Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
- Coach: Andrey Chernyshov
- Owner: Co-owned by Bunkerhill Private Limited (30.5%), Shrachi Sports (30.5%), and Mohammedan Sporting Club Private Limited (39%)
- Player to Watch: Alexis Gomes
Mumbai City FC
- Stadium: Mumbai Football Arena
- Coach: Petr Kratky
- Owner: City Football Group (65%), Ranbir Kapoor (18%), Bimal Parekh (17%)
- Player to Watch: Lallianzuala Chhangte
NorthEast United FC
- Stadium: Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium
- Coach: Juan Benali
- Owner: Co-owned by actor John Abraham and Jaya Balan
- Player to Watch: MS Jithin
Odisha FC
- Stadium: Kalinga Stadium
- Coach: Sergio Lobera
- Owner: GMS Group
- Player to Watch: Ahmed Jahouh
Punjab FC
- Stadium: Punjab Cricket Association Stadium
- Coach: Panagiotis Dilmperis
- Owner: RoundGlass Sports Pvt Ltd (Sunny Singh)
- Player to Watch: Luka Majcen
ISL 2023-24 Season Highlight
The ISL 2023-24 season concluded with Mumbai City FC clinching their second ISL title. On May 4, Mumbai City FC defeated Mohun Bagan Super Giant 3-1 in the final, held at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
During the regular season, Mohun Bagan SG finished at the top of the table, earning the League Winners Shield. However, they were edged out by Mumbai City FC in the final. FC Goa and Odisha FC were the semi-finalists in the playoff stage.
Key awards for the season were:
- Golden Glove: Phurba Lachenpa
- Golden Boot: Dimitrios Diamantakos with 13 goals
- Emerging Player of the ISL: Vikram Pratap Singh
- Player of the League: Dimitri Petratos
ISL Records and Stats
Team Records
- Most ISL Championship Titles: 3 – ATK Football Club
- Most Premiership/Shield Titles: 2 – Mumbai City FC
- Biggest League Winning Margin: 5 points (2019–20 Goa over ATK FC)
- Smallest League Winning Margin: 0 points (2020–21 Mumbai City over Mohun Bagan SG)
- Most Points in a Season: 48 – Mohun Bagan SG (2023–24)
- Most Home Points in a Season: 27 – Odisha FC (2023–24)
- Most Away Points in a Season: 28 – Mohun Bagan SG (2023–24)
- Fewest Points in a Season: 5 – NorthEast United FC (2022–23)
- Most Wins in Total: 92 – Mumbai City FC
- Most Wins in a Season: 15 – Mohun Bagan SG (2023–24)
- Most Consecutive Wins: 11 – Mumbai City FC (12 November 2022 – 27 January 2023)
Stadium Attendance
- Highest Attendance in a Single ISL Match: 68,340 – Atlético de Kolkata 2–1 Chennaiyin FC (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, 16 December 2015)
- Lowest Attendance in a Single Match: 361 – NorthEast United FC 2–2 Goa (Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, 15 January 2023)
Player Records
- Most Indian Super League Appearances: 162 – Pritam Kotal and Amrinder Singh
- Most Goals Scored in a Season: 18 – Coro (Goa, 2017–18) and Bartholomew Ogbeche (Hyderabad, 2021–22)
- Most ISL Goals: 63 – Bartholomew Ogbeche
- Fastest Goal in ISL: 12 seconds – David Williams (Mohun Bagan SG)
- Most Hat-Tricks in ISL: 4 – Bartholomew Ogbeche
- First Indian Super League Goal: Fikru Teferra (Atlético de Kolkata vs. Mumbai City, 12 October 2014)
- Most Goals at One Club: 54 – Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC)
- Oldest Goalscorer: 41 years and 15 days – Robert Pires (Goa vs. Delhi Dynamos, 13 November 2014)
- Youngest Goalscorer: 18 years and 43 days – Komal Thatal (ATK vs. Bengaluru FC, 31 October 2018)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Indian Super League?
The Indian Super League (ISL) is India’s top professional football league, established in 2013. It aims to elevate the profile of football in India by showcasing top domestic and international talent and providing high-quality football entertainment.
When does the ISL 2024 season start?
The ISL 2024-25 season commenced on September 13, 2024, and will conclude on May 4, 2025. This season features an exciting roster of matches and thrilling football action.
How many teams are competing in the ISL this season?
The 2024-25 season features 13 teams competing in the Indian Super League. This lineup includes both returning favourites and new entrants, promising a highly competitive season.
Who won the ISL 2023-24 Title and 2023-24 Shield?
Mumbai City FC won the ISL 2023-24 Season when they beat Mohun Bagan SG in the Final with a 3-1 scoreline. Mohun Bagan SG is the reigning Shield winner of the ISL. Both teams will be aiming to defend their crown in the current ISL 2024-25 season.
Where to watch ISL live matches?
Fans in India can watch ISL live matches on Sports 18 Network and stream them online via Jio Cinema.
Who owns the Indian Super League?
The Indian Super League (ISL) is an initiative of Football Sports Development Ltd (FSDL) and is supported by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The league is jointly owned by Reliance Industries Ltd, which holds a 65% stake, and Disney Star, which owns the remaining 35%.
How much of FC Goa does Virat Kohli own?
Virat Kohli holds a 12% stake in FC Goa, bringing a high-profile name to the club’s ownership group.
Which team has won the most ISL titles?
ATK Football Club holds the record for the most ISL titles, having won the championship three times.
Which is the richest club in the ISL?
Mohun Bagan Super Giant with a market value of ₹62.6 Cr is the most valued club in the Indian Super League.
Who is the most successful coach in ISL history?
Sergio Lobera is recognized as the most successful coach in ISL history, with multiple titles and consistently strong performances with his teams.
Who won the first Indian Super League title?
Atlético de Kolkata won the inaugural Indian Super League title in 2014.
What is Vision 2047?
AIFF’s Vision 2047 aims to significantly expand Indian football by establishing 40 clubs across various leagues by 2026. This includes 14 clubs in the national league, 14 in the I-League, and 12 in I-League 2. Additionally, five zonal leagues will feature 60 clubs, each with a minimum of 12 teams.
To Check ISL live scores, standings and schedules, visit the official ISL website.
Conclusion
The ISL 2024-25 season has arrived, and it’s shaping up to be an exhilarating journey for football fans! With changes in rules, an enhanced competition format, and intense rivalries, this season promises to deliver spectacular moments and unforgettable action. Whether you rally behind the defending champions Mumbai City FC, cheering for the Shield-winning Mohun Bagan SG, or excitedly supporting new contenders, there’s never been a more thrilling time to immerse yourself in Indian football.
Dive into the heart of the game, join the excitement, and experience the passion of the ISL 2024-25 season like never before as we celebrate the beautiful game together!
Also Read: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024: 5 Key points; Groups, Schedule, Warm-up Matches, India’s Fixtures and Squads.
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