 | |
| Organising body | AIFF |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 (as I-League; succeeding the National Football League) |
| Country | India |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Indian Super League |
| Relegation to | I-League 2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Super Cup[1] Durand Cup |
| Current champions | Mohammedan (1st title) |
| Most championships | Dempo (3 titles) |
| Top goalscorer | Ranti Martins (214 goals) |
| TV partners | Sony Sports SSEN |
| Website | i-league.org |
| Current: 2024–25 I-League | |
The I-League is the men's second professional association football division of the Indian football league system behind the Indian Super League. Administered by the All India Football Federation, it is currently contested by 12 clubs. It operates as a system of promotion and relegation with the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League 2.[2]
The competition was founded in 2007 as the successor to the National Football League, with the first season starting in November 2007.[3][4] The league was launched as India's first top-tier professional football league with the aim to increase the player pool for the India national team.[4] I-League operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the I-League 2 and at first only promotion system with the ISL, from the 2022–23 season.[4]
Since the inception of the I-League, a total of ten clubs have been crowned champions. Dempo have won the most titles in league history, being crowned champions three times. Churchill Brothers, Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru and Gokulam Kerala have won the league twice.[5] Salgaocar, Aizawl, Minerva Punjab, Chennai City, Roundglass Punjab and Mohammedan have won it once.
- ^ "AIFF Executive Committee inducts five new clubs into Hero I-League, Federation Cup restored". the-aiff.com.
- ^ "New roadmap for Indian football proposes Hero ISL as premier league". www.indiansuperleague.com.
- ^ "History of I-League". i-league.org. AIFF. Archived from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ a b c "AIFF's I-League to have 10 teams". Rediff. 21 November 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- ^ Guha, Sayantan (14 May 2022). "Brilliant Gokulam Kerala FC edge past Mohammedan SC to win historic consecutive I-League titles". www.sportskeeda.com. Kolkata, West Bengal: Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on 15 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.