Emami East Bengal FC

East Bengal Football Club, commonly known as East Bengal, was an esteemed Indian multi-sports club based in Kolkata, West Bengal. Their professional men’s football team competed in the Indian Super League (ISL), India’s premier football league, and achieved remarkable success.

Founded in August 1920, the club quickly earned recognition, affiliating with the Indian Football Association in 1922. After ascending from the Calcutta Football League Second Division, they made it to the First Division in 1924. Throughout their illustrious journey, East Bengal won the First Division league title a record 39 times, establishing themselves as one of the country’s most successful football clubs.

Their triumphs extended to various prestigious competitions, including three National Football League victories, eight Federation Cups, three Super Cups, 29 IFA Shield titles (a record), and 16 Durand Cup titles (another record), solidifying their status as one of the most decorated clubs in Indian football.

East Bengal enjoyed massive support, particularly from the Bangals, immigrants from the eastern region of Bengal (modern-day Bangladesh) displaced during the partition of 1947. The club became a source of identity and hope for this community. The influx of displaced people led to rivalries with the native population, known as Ghoti, giving rise to the famous Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant, previously known as Mohun Bagan.

Sporting iconic red and golden yellow colours, East Bengal earned the nicknames “Red and Gold Brigade” and “Laal Holud.” The club’s rivalry with Mohun Bagan fans, known as “Macha,” and their own fans, known as “Lota,” added to the fervour of the matches.

In recognition of their achievements, East Bengal was ranked second among all Indian teams and 554th internationally by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics for the first decade of the 21st century (2001-2010).

Beyond football, the club had various departments, including women’s football, cricket, women’s cricket, field hockey, athletics, and eSports teams.

East Bengal Club was founded on 1 August 1920, after a group of individuals, dissatisfied with Jorabagan Club’s decisions, formed a new club that reflected their roots from the eastern region of Bengal. Sarada Ranjan Ray became the first president, while Suresh Chandra Chowdhury and Tarit Bhusan Roy took on the roles of the first joint secretaries. The club’s legacy continues to be celebrated and cherished in Indian football history.