About Durand

About Durand

Established in 1888, the Durand Cup is where football legends are forged and history is made!

Historic Event

About durand cup

The Durand Cup, officially known as the IndianOil Durand Cup Powered by Coal India Limited, is an annual domestic football competition in India. Established in 1888 in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, it is organized by the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS). As the oldest club football tournament in Asia and the fifth oldest national football competition in the world, the Durand Cup holds a prestigious place in football history. Serving as the curtain-raiser for the Indian football season, the tournament welcomes clubs from all national divisions and includes guest teams from various services. A shining symbol of India’s footballing history and culture, the Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest and the world’s third oldest running football tournament. Organised by the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, the Durand Cup has seen the blossoming of India’s best footballing talent, including the legendary Sunil Chhetri, over the 136 years of its glorious existence.

The inaugural edition of the Durand Cup was played in Shimla in 1888 and derived its name from the founder Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, the then Indian Foreign Secretary. Begun as a tournament for British Indian troops only, in order to keep them engaged in healthy activity, the tournament grew in stature and endeared itself to the Shimla residents so much so that they presented a trophy of their own to the winners in 1905, which to this day is one of the two rolling trophies awarded to the winners. The Durand then moved to Delhi in 1940 to begin yet another glorious chapter in its storied legacy. Mohammedan Sporting of Kolkata became the first Indian club to win the title in the first Delhi edition itself, as by then the tournament had been opened to civilian clubs, kick-starting yet another long and treasured tradition of the Durand acting as an extension to maintaining cordial and healthy civil-military relationships. Post independence, Shri. H.M.Patel, the Defence Secretary to Government of India, setup the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) in 1947 as a trust, under the aegis of the three Service Chiefs, to organize and run the Durand Cup and it has been doing so successfully till date. The Durand had a glorious run in the national capital till 2014 and after being held for a year in Goa, the cup found a permanent host yet again in the Kolkata based Eastern Command of the Indian Army in 2019, where it has been held ever since.

Modern Durand, Traditional Glory

The move to Kolkata and the football loving eastern and north-eastern region of the country, infused new energy to the Durand Cup and it has been growing from strength to strength blending the needs of modern top-level tournament competition with ever-lasting traditions. While ensuring a healthy presence of Services Teams and thereby maintaining the umbilical relationship the Durand has with the country’s Armed Forces, the tournament today sees participation from all top teams of the country, having evolved to the popular modern league cum knockout format with multi-city hosting, bringing out the modern professional attributes of playing international sport. Live telecast and live-streaming of all games,celebrity associations, theme songs, spreading the reach of Durand to as many as four more states and more corners of the country, other innovative marketing and support from host State Governments, have all contributed to not only restore Durand’s glory, but reaffirmed its position as India’s top Cup tournament and the official season-opener of Indian football. And true to Durand traditions, two century-old clubs still hold the record of the top two title winners of the three Durand trophies (The Durand Cup and Shimla Trophy-Rolling Trophies and The President’s Cup-permanent keep), with Mohun Bagan Super Giants leading with 17 to Emami East Bengal’s 16 wins.

  • 136
    Years of Legacy
  • 1
    Oldest Tournament in Asia
Mission

Nurturing Exellence

Many Champions; One Legacy

The Durand Cup has stood the test of time weathering numerous challenges and evolving into a symbol of footballing excellence and tradition in India. From its humble beginnings in Shimla to becoming the oldest football club tournament in Asia, the Durand Cup has played an integral role in shaping Indian football’s history. It has also been instrumental in recognising and producing talents that have immensely contributed to the country’s football heritage. As the 133rd edition unfolds, it continues to captivate fans and players alike, reaffirming its position in the pivot of Indian football with its cherished legacy.

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