Football is by far the most popular sport in Thrissur. The city and district has contributed numerable players, clubs, coaches, tournaments and stadiums to Indian football.
The first football tournament in central Kerala was kicked off in 1925 by the Kochi Athletic Association. The tournament was held in Palace Ground now known as Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium. Rama Varma XV, Maharaja of Cochin has contributed 100 Tola of silver cup for the tournament. The first winner was Church Mission Society High School Union, Thrissur. The tournament was winded up in 1930 when the first FIFA World Cup was started. [11] [12] N.I. David Memorial Trophy, once dubbed as the football World Cup of Thrissur was started in 1996 by the then Superintendent of Police, Thrissur, in memory of N. I. David IPS who died in harness in the office of the Commandant, KAP 1st Battalion, Thrissur. The tournament had to be stopped temporarily in 2005 but later restarted in 2010. [13] [14] [15] [16]
Talimeren Ao was an Indian footballer and physician from Nagaland. He is best known as the captain of the India national football team in their first ever match after independence. One of the most famous Nagas, he was a figurehead of India's football history, and his name is resonant in the collective memory of the people. He played domestic club football for Mohun Bagan.
The I-League is the men's second-tier of the Indian football league system. Currently contested by 13 clubs, the winners get promoted to the Indian Super League.
Sudip Chatterjee, nicknamed Tulu, was an Indian international football player and coach. He started his career as a centre back and then moved to the right back position before switching to the midfielder role. As a Midfielder, he was considered among the finest players in Indian football. He also managed Bengal in Santosh Trophy and won the 1998–99 edition.
Jo Paul Ancheri is an Indian former professional football player who captained the Indian Football team. He was named the AIFF Player of the Year by the All India Football Federation in 1994 and 2001. He currently works as a Malayalam commentator and pundit on Star Sports Malayalam with the leading commentator Shaiju Damodaran.
C. V. Pappachan is a former Indian football player and a retired police officer from Thrissur, Kerala. He captained India in a couple of tournaments.
Victor Manjila is a former Indian International football goalkeeper and coach from Thrissur, Kerala.
Denson Devadas is a former Indian professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.
Biswajit Saha is an Indian footballer who plays as a left back.
The 1999–2000 Santosh Trophy was the 56th edition of the Santosh Trophy, the main State competition for football in India. It was held from 9 to 23 April 2000 in Thrissur and Chalakudy, Kerala. Twenty-eight teams from all over the country were supposed to take part in the national state championships, but six pulled out. Maharashtra beat the home team of Kerala 1–0 in the final.
Biswajit Bhattacharya is a retired Indian professional footballer and football manager. He most recently managed Calcutta Football League club Calcutta Customs and is the current head coach of West Bengal football team.
The Kerala Football Association, formerly the Travancore-Cochin Football Association, is one of the 37 Indian state football associations that are affiliated to the All India Football Federation (AIFF). It sends state teams for Santosh Trophy and Senior Women's National Football Championship.
Salam Ranjan Singh is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for I-League club Gokulam Kerala.
T. K. Chathunni is an Indian football coach and a former player from Chalakudy, Kerala. He has managed most of football clubs in India like FC Kochin, Dempo S.C., Salgaocar F.C., Mohun Bagan A.C., Churchill Brothers S.C., Chirag United Club Kerala, Josco FC etc. He was the coach for various clubs in the National Football League (India) from 1997–98. He represented both Kerala and Goa in the Santosh Trophy.
Thaivalappil Mohammed Irshad is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a centre Back for I-League club Mohammedan.
Mohun Bagan SG Reserves and Academy is the reserve team and youth system of the Indian Super League side Mohun Bagan Super Giant. The U-21 and the reserve teams are generally referred to as last stage of progression for promotion of academy and young players into the senior squad. The reserve team formed off the various youth team players participate in the Calcutta Football League along with number of senior team players. The youth teams also participate in youth tournaments like the Reliance Foundation Development League and the AIFF Elite League, also being eligible for the I-League 2. The concept for an youth team was conceived and materialised under the leadership of Balai Das Chattopadhyay in 1944.
Jithin Madathil Subran is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Indian Super League club NorthEast United.
Kerala State Club Football Championship was one of the most prestigious football tournaments organised by Kerala Football Association. Founded in the year 1970, it was a favourite until the late 2000s.
Thekkathara Gopalakrishnan Purushothaman, popularly known as T. G. Purushothaman, is a former Indian professional football player, who currently works as the assistant manager of the Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.
Surajit Sengupta was an Indian footballer who played as a winger. He played for the India national team, representing the country in the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran and the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok. In a domestic career spanning twelve years between 1971 and 1983, he had represented all three of Calcutta's football clubs, Mohun Bagan FC, East Bengal FC, and Mohammedan Sporting FC, and was considered one of the finest forwards of his time. Sengupta won the IFA Shield and the Calcutta Football League six times each and the Durand Cup thrice while representing East Bengal FC.
Football is one of the most popular sports in Kerala. Football was introduced to the land of Kerala during the pre-independence period by British officers of the Malabar Special Police (MSP) in the 20th century. MSP was camped in Malappuram and soon the natives began adopting the sport, which was mostly played in post-harvest paddy fields. Kerala enjoyed a golden age from 1985 to 1995 by making it to Santhosh Trophy finals seven times consecutively, and football became an iconic sport ever since in the south Indian state. FIFA released the film Maitanam - The Story of Football in Kerala, quoting: Football in the Indian state of Kerala runs through the fabric of its society, where football is life and life is football.