Kerala United FC

Kerala United
Full nameKerala United Football Club[1]
Nickname(s)The Hornbills
Short nameKUFC
Founded
  • 1976; 48 years ago (1976)
    (as Quartz FC)
  • 2020; 4 years ago (2020)
    (rebranded as Kerala United FC)
GroundPayyanad Stadium
Capacity30,000
OwnerAbdullah Bin Mosaad Al Saud
Head coachSena Fanai
LeagueKerala Premier League
Active departments of Kerala United FC
Football (Men's) Football (Women's)

Kerala United Football Club (formerly Quartz Football Club) is an Indian professional football club based in Malappuram, Kerala.[2][3]

Founded in 1976 as Calicut Quartz, the club was an amateur and academy side during its early years.[4] In December 2011, they announced intention to turn professional and participated in 2012 I-League 2nd Division, which was then the second tier of Indian club football.[5] The club spent a season in the second division during 2011–12 and later played in the Kerala Premier League. In 2017–18 Kerala Premier League season, they finished as runners-up. They have also competed in the I-League 3.[6][7]

In 2020, the club underwent a substantial change in ownership as the "United World Group" assumed control. This marked the beginning of a new chapter, accompanied by rebranding of the club as Kerala United FC.[8][9] The club initially began their training at Seethi Haji Stadium at Edavanna, later moving to Payyanad Stadium.[2]

  1. ^ "Kerala United FC: Calicut club renamed after United World Group takeover". Khel Now. 21 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b Newsroom. "KUFC announces Manjeri Payyanad Stadium as their home stadium | Fanport English". Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ Rayan, Stan (19 November 2022). "Kerala Premier League to begin on November 24". thehindu.com. Kochi: The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 December 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  4. ^ Kumar, Ajith (26 September 2012). "Quartz SC goes on signing spree". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  5. ^ "Football: Quartz Raises hope". Deccan Chronicle. 1 January 2012. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  6. ^ "KPL 2018–19 Matches". KFA. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  7. ^ India – List of Kerala League Champions. Archived 17 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine. RSSSF. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  8. ^ Muralidharan, Ashwin. "Indian football: Kerala's football passion gets the Sheffield United seal of 'approval'! | Goal.com". goal.com. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Sheffield Calicut Quartz' new owner, Kerala United name". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2021.