Mohun Bagan Athletic Club (Mohun Bagan AC) is a Sports Club, best known for its football team, based in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Mohun Bagan AC is one of the oldest football clubs in Asia, having been established on August 15, 1889 and was later declared as the National Club of India. The first President of this club was Bhupendra Nath Bose. Mohun Bagan club has a complete Football Academy in collaboration with Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) at Durgapur.
The football team has been hugely successful since its establishment and has maintained its status as one of India's most successful club having won multiple trophies of national significance. Federation Cup (India), Rovers Cup, Durand Cup, IFA Shield and National & Domestic League to name a few. Mohun Bagan was the first Indian team to defeat a European team, when the team defeated the East Yorkshire Regiment, 2-1 to lift the 1911 IFA Shield. Mohun Bagan has carried on an intense local rivalry with the East Bengal Club.
History
Mohun Bagan Sporting Club, as it was initially known, was founded on 15th August 1889. The club's first meeting was held at 14, Balaram Ghosh Street in Kolkata and included several high profile individuals including Bhupendra Nath Bose who was later to become the President of the Indian National Congress. The club's first secretary was Jatindranath Basu.
The club's first ground was at the famous marble palace, known as Mohun Bagan Villa. It was situated at Fariapukur Street, in northern Kolkata. Not sufficiently large enough as football field, it is believed that Mohun Bagan played their first ever match on this very ground against the students of Eden Hindu hostel. The club's membership requirements at this time stipulated that the management required students to join with permission from their parents, and special attention was given to etiquette and education. Shortly before the club's first anniversary, students of Presidency College, who were also the members of Mohun Bagan, invited their professor, the famous grammatologist Prof. F.J. Rhow to visit. Rhow pointed out that due to a lack of facilities for sports such as shooting and angling, the word 'Athletic' would be more appropriate. Thus, the club came to be known as "Mohun Bagan Athletic Club". The 2nd anniversary assembly was presided by Sir Thomas Holland who was later appointed as a member of Governor General Council.
In 1891, the benevolence of the Maharaja of Shyampukur, Durga Charan Laha saw the club's ground relocated to his grounds at Shyampukur. Later, with the assistance of Mr. Harry Lee, the chairman of Kolkata Corporation, the club's ground moved to Shyam Square which it now shared with the Aryans Club and Bagbazar Club. Mohun Bagan's first tournament was the Coochbehar Cup, which was held in 1893. Mohun Bagan's first opponent team was a European team, the 'C' Company of Sussex Regiment.
The first sport to be played is reported to be football, but other games were soon introduced to the club. This included hockey, tennis, badminton and athletics. Cricket was introduced to the club's schedule in the 1900s. The annual athletics event at the club is held with great pomp and show.
The biggest event in the club calendar is the Mohun Bagan Day. This is held on July 29, which is the day the football team lifted the IFA Shield for the first time in 1911 defeating the British. "Mohun Bagan is not a football team. It is an oppressed country, rolling in the dust, which has just started to rise its head" - said Achintya Kumar Sengupta in "Kallol Jug" magazine after the historic victory of 1911 IFA Shield.
A postage stamp was issued by the Government of India in 1989 during the club's centenary year to commemorate the 1911 victory of the team. The then Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi honoured Mohun Bagan with the title as the "National Club of India" for boosting up the Indian Nationalism which occurred after this win.
Mohun Bagan Athletic Club has been chosen among the top 11 clubs by FIFA to form an Elite Task Force for club football. As of September 2007, there are representatives from clubs like Bayern Munich, River Plate and Manchester United. This task force will work for the betterment of the club football. From India, only Swapan Sadhan Basu, Honorary President of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club is the representative at FIFA representing Mohun Bagan
Major friendlies
Mohun Bagan got the opportunity to play against Pele (playing for New York Cosmos on 22nd September,1977) and that match resulted in a 2-2 draw in front of 100,000. Roger Milla (playing for Diamond club, on 21st November, 1990) also played a match against Mohun Bagan. Both the matches attracted a huge crowd.
Recently, Mohun Bagan hosted a friendly celebrating Oliver Kahn, the goalkeeper of Bayern Munich on 27 May, 2008 at the Salt Lake Stadium against Bayern Munich. The Star-packed Bayern Munich team, including stars like Oliver Kahn, Zé Roberto, Mark van Bommel and José Ernesto Sosa easily managed to win the match but Mohun Bagan, who were missing 5 of their star players (due to National duty) did not go down without a fight. The youngsters of Bagan earned much appreciation from the Bayern coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld. Ottmar Hitzfeld stated that Mohun Bagan played very well, in fact better than the national team of Indonesia, and much beyond his expectations. He also praised some Bagan players like Pachau Lalampuia and Isfaq Ahmed for their excellent performance. The match was played in front of a record breaking 125,000 people leaving the German team awestruck.
Stadium
The club plays most of their CPL matches at its own home ground, the 22,000 capacity Mohun Bagan Ground which is within the club premises. It is only stadium in the Maidan area of Kolkata to have concrete seats and flood-lights, built after being granted special permission from the Military (Grounds owners). Efforts are being made to modernize the stadium and the club premises to give it a more professional look, but they require military permission.
All I-League matches are played at the enigmatic Yuva Bharati Krirangan, also known as Salt Lake Stadium. Built in 1984, the Salt Lake Stadium is home the Indian national team which regularly fills the stadiums 120,000 capacity.
Fans
Right from the beginning there is a huge fan base of this club. Now Mohun Bagan's fans are seen almost everywhere in India. And there are some Mohun Bagan fan in other countries also. Generally about 40,000-50,000 supporters come to watch Mohun Bagan's derby matches in Salt Lake Stadium. In 2004, members and fans set up a fan society "Green and Maroon, a group of Mohun Bagan Supporters". This society played a crucial role in the club election in 2005, which took place after 12 years. Green and Maroon run the premere fansite www.MohunBaganClub.com. The society also given the charge to develop and maintain the official website of the club www.MohunBaganAC.com. Which they are doing successfully till date. In 2007 some young enthusiasts formed another fan club with the name Sabooj Maroon Swapna. Sabuj Maroon Swapno has taken the responsibility of the nursery football team of Mohun Bagan.They have already launched their website-www.sabujmaroonswapno.org. There is an intense rivalry between Mohun Bagan fans and East Bengal fans also which can be noticed during the local derby matches.
The Mascot
The name of the mascot of Mohun Bagan is "Baggu" (means 'Tiger'). It is a lovely tiger in green and maroon jersey of the club. The mascot was inaugurated on the 29th of July, 2007. The theme song of the club is being prepared by Mr. Bappi Lahiri. Mohun Bagan is the first club of India to have a mascot and a theme song.
Recipients of the Mohun Bagan Ratna award
The prestigious Mohun Bagan Ratna award is given to former greats of the club at this event. The club has many famous players who have worn the prestigious Green & Maroon jersey. These players have not only successfully represented the team, but also the Indian national football team.
Dhiren Dey
Sailen Manna
Talimeran Ao
Sibdas Bhaduri
Gostha Pal
Chuni Goswami
Umapati Kumar
Current squad
As of 2 June 2008
Players in bold are current senior internationals having played in the 2008 SAFF Cup.
Name and position No Former team Birth date Citizenship
Goalkeepers
Sangram Mukherjee 1 Salgaocar Sports Club November 6, 1981 (1981-11-06) (age 26)
Chirodeep Chattopadhyay 22 Tata FA
Shilton Pal 31 Tata FA June 10, 1988 (1988-06-10) (age 20)
Raju Ekka 41 Air-India October 15, 1978 (1978-10-15) (age 29)
Defenders
Deepak Kumar Mondal 4 Mahindra United October 12, 1979 (1979-10-12) (age 28)
Habibur Rahman Mondal 5 Mohammedan Sporting Club May 27, 1986 (1986-05-27) (age 22)
Peter Odafe 14 Mohammedan Sporting Club November 6, 1981 (1981-11-06) (age 26)
Rakesh Masih 29 Tata FA
Navin Kumar 32 Tata FA
Karan Atwal 43 Tata FA November 6, 1981 (1981-11-06) (age 26)
Rino Antao 44 Tata FA
Suman Bosu 45 Mohun Bagan-SAIL Football Academy January 1, 1990 (1990-01-01) (age 18)
Mohun Raj 26 HAL
Nanjangud Shivananju Manju N/A Mahindra United May 9, 1987 (1987-05-09) (age 21)
Midfielders
James Singh 16 Mahindra United March 1, 1981 (1981-03-01) (age 27)
Lalkamal Bhowmik (vice captain) 22 United Sports Club January 2, 1987 (1987-01-02) (age 21)
Malsaum Tulunga 23 Salgaocar Sports Club
Henry Gangte 27 Tata FA
Jr.James Singh 34 Tata FA
Kartick Kisku 47 Peerless
Lalramluaharian 48 College Veng Club, Mizoram
Souvik Chakraborty 49 Mohun Bagan-SAIL Football Academy January 1, 1990 (1990-01-01) (age 18)
Anand Vasan N/A Indian Bank
Tapan Maity N/A Calcutta Port Trust
Strikers
Lalawmpuia Pachau 9 Tata FA June 9, 1989 (1989-06-09) (age 19)
Jose Ramirez Barreto 10 Mahindra United September 3, 1976 (1976-09-03) (age 32)
Ishfaq Ahmed 11 Dempo SC March 17, 1983 (1983-03-17) (age 25)
Bhaichung Bhutia (captain) 15 East Bengal Club December 15, 1976 (1976-12-15) (age 31)
Branco Cardozo 21 Tata FA November 6, 1981 (1981-11-06) (age 26)
Malsumzuala 51 Mohun Bagan-SAIL Football Academy
Honours
Tournament Records Championship Years Comments
National Football League (India) Three Titles Champions: 1997-98, 1999-00, 2001-02 Equal record
Federation Cup (India) Twelve Titles Champions: 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2001, 2006. Most Titles-
Durand Cup Sixteen Titles Champions: Equal record
IFA Shield Twenty Two Titles Champions: 1911, 1947, 1948, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1960, 1961,[2] 1962, 1967,[1] 1969, 1976,[1] 1977, 1978,[3] 1979, 1981,[1] 1982, 1987, 1989, 1998, 1999, 2003.
Super Cup (India) One Title Champions: 2006-07.
Calcutta Football League Twenty Eight Titles Champions: 1944, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008.
Rovers Cup Fourteen Titles Champions: Most Titles
Continental Performance Overview
AFC Champions League: 1 appearance
2002-03: Qualifying East - 3rd Round
Asian Club Championship: 5 appearances
1989: Group Stage
1995: Second Round
1996: First Round
2000: Second Round
AFC Cup: 1 appearance
2007: Group Stage
Asian Cup Winners Cup: 1 appearance
1990/91: First Round
Milestiones and facts
1. Mohun Bagan is the only club whose two members became the Governor Of West Bengal.
2. Mohun Bagan is the first club of India which went overseas to play football and cricket both in the year 1940.
3. Mohun Bagan is the only club of India who had arranged a match where Pele participated on behalf of his club Cosmos. Alberto, the then captain of Brazil’s national team, showed his colour through his first goal — a dribble that dodged aside around five players.Mohun Bagan’s Shyam Thapa scored the equaliser and Habib sent the ball in the net to score the second goal maiking it 2-1 for Bagan. Pele scored for Cosmos through a penalty and the match was tied at 2 - 2.
4. Mohun Bagan has the record of wining all the trophies in Kolkata for football,cricket,hockey and tennis in the year 1969.
5. Mohun Bagan is the first club to win National Football League (India)(2001-02) and Federation Cup (2001) both in the same year.
6. ICICI Bank and Mohun Bagan has presented the ICICI Bank Mohun Bagan Credit Card. They are the third club in world to have launched a co-branded credit card in their name after Manchester United and Barcelona FC.
7. From 2005 to 2008 MohunBagan have won all the Calcutta Football League derby matches against their so called arch-rivals East Bengal Club. These double-Hatrick+1=7 consecutive wins ( 2 wins in each season and the first leg match this season) is a record by itself between these two local giants.
8. Famous German football club Bayern Munich played a friendly match against Mohun Bagan at the Salt Lake Stedium on 27th May, 2008 during their Asia tour which will be the last professional match of famous goal-keeper Oliver Kahn. Other famous international footballers like Zé Roberto, Mark van Bommel, José Ernesto Sosa, Breno also played in that match.
9. Manmohan Mukherjee was the member of 1911 IFA Shield winning team of Mohun Bagan and his son; Bimal Mukherjee was the captain of 1939 Calcutta Football League winning team of Mohun Bagan. It is a record in itself when a father and his son represented the same club in achieving the first ever IFA Shield and Calcutta Football League respectively.
10. In 1921, Mohun Bagan got the invitation to participate as the first Indian Football club in Rovers Cup, which was the tournament only for the British teams that time.
11. Mohun Bagan is the first non-army club to play Durand cup, the oldest tournament in Asia in the year 1925.
12. Mohun Bagan is the only club to grab Federation Cup consecutively for three years for two times. (1980-1982 and 1992-1994)
13. Mohun Bagan is the only club to win Durand Cup consecutively for three years for two times. (1963-1965 and 1984-1986)
14. Mohun Bagan is the first Indian club who got the rare achievement of winning Triple Crown (IFA Shield, Durand Cup, Rovers Cup) in the year 1977.
15. Mohun Bagan is the first club of Kolkata to create a record by scoring maximum of 89 goals in the Calcutta Football League in 1966.
16. Mohun Bagan is the only Indian football club whose four footballers have been awarded Padmashree – Gostho Paul (1962), Sailen Manna (1976), Chuni Goswami (1984) and Baichung Bhutia (2008).
17. There is the only statue of the legendary player of the club Mr.Gostho Paul in Kolkata maidan just near Eden Gardens. He played throughout his lifetime for Mohun Bagan.
18. Only Mohun Bagan has played two times (1987,1988) in Asian Club Cup Championship from India.
19. India directly qualified in Olympics for four times (1948,1952,1956,1960). For the first three times the captains were – T.Aao, Sailen Manna and Samar Banerjee – all were from Mohun Bagan.
20. Indian team got gold two times in Asian Games. Sailen Manna (1951) and Chuni Goswami (1962) was the captain in these two occasions.
21. Jurnail Singh and Atanu Bhattacharya of Mohun Bagan have represented the Asian All Star team. More importantly, Jurnail Singh was selected as the captain of Asian All Star team.
