The National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy, due to sponsorship ties with Hero MotoCorp also known as the Hero National Football Championship, or simply Santosh Trophy, is a state-level national football competition contested by the state associations and government institutions under the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the sport's governing body in India. Before the starting of the first national club league, the National Football League in 1996, the Santosh Trophy was considered the top domestic honour in India. Many players who have represented India internationally, played and gained honour while playing in the Santosh Trophy. The tournament is held every year with eligible teams who are divided into zones, must play in the qualifying round and can progress into the tournament proper. The current champions are Karnataka, who won their title after 54 years during the 2022-23 edition. This was the first trophy for Karnataka, which had previously won four times as the princely state of Mysore, after a gap of 54 years.
Yousuf Khan was an Indian footballer who represented India national team at the 1960 Summer Olympics. He was one of only two Indians to have been included in the 1965 Asian All Stars XI. He was also a part of the team which won the 1962 Asian Games.
Syed Nayeemuddin, known as Nayeem, is an Indian football coach and former player. He played for and was captain of the India national team and has managed Mahindra United, Brothers Union, Dhaka Mohammedan, and Bangladesh national team. He is the only sportsperson to win both the Arjuna Award, recognising his contribution to Indian football and Dronacharya Award for football.
Havildar Peter Thangaraj was an Indian football player and a non-commissioned officer in the Indian Army. Thangaraj played for the Indian national side at the 1956 Melbourne and 1960 Rome Olympics. He was voted Asia's best goalkeeper in 1958. Thangaraj was a recipient of Arjuna Award for the year 1967.
Sheoo Mewalal was an Indian footballer in Kolkata. He played as a striker and was known for his fitness, bicycle kicks, and goal-scoring abilities, especially using the rabona kick.
Mariappa Kempaiah was an Indian professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for the India national team at two Olympic Games. Known for his "fitness, work rate and commitment", he was considered one of India's best midfielders.
Syed Abdul Rahim, popularly known as Rahim Saab, was an Indian football coach and manager of the India national team from 1950 until his death in 1963, and a former player. He is regarded as the architect of modern Indian football. Basically a teacher by profession, he was a good motivator and his tenure as a coach is regarded as a "golden age" of football in India.
Samar "Badru" Banerjee was an Indian footballer who played primarily as a striker for the India national football team. He captained India at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, where they achieved fourth place.
Hyderabad City Police FC, also known as City Afghans, were the most famous team in the Hyderabad Football Association. The club was associated or affiliated with Hyderabad City Police during the reign of the Nizam of Hyderabad.
Tulsidas Balaram, also known as Tulsidas Balaraman, was an Indian footballer. Balaram represented India in multiple international tournaments, including the Asian Games, the Mederka Cup and the Olympics. Along with P. K. Banerjee and Chuni Goswami, Balaram was part of an acclaimed trio of players that helped propel India into what is widely regarded as its golden age of football during the 1950s and 1960s.
Jarnail Singh Dhillon was a former Indian football player, who played as a centre-back. He was the captain of the India national football team from 1965 to 1967. He was given the Arjuna Award in 1964 for his achievements as a football player. He also competed in the men's tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Considered as one of Asia's best defenders in the 1960s, he spent most of his career in Mohun Bagan.
Mohammed Habib is a former Indian football player and captain, who played as a forward for the India national football team. He is considered as the 'First Professional Football player' in India.He is also considered by many Indians as one of the best Midfielders the country has ever produced.
Syed Shahid Hakim was an Indian footballer, football manager, FIFA official and referee. Hakim also acted as assistant manager of India national team during the 1980s. He was awarded by the prestigious Dhyan Chand Award in 2017 for his contributions to the sport.
Sheikh Abdul Latif was an Indian footballer. He participated at the 1952 Summer Olympics, 1956 Summer Olympics and the 1960 Summer Olympics, with Syed Abdul Rahim managed India. In 1959–60, he captained the national team.
Sayed Khwaja Aziz-ud-Din was an Indian footballer. He competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics and the 1956 Summer Olympics. He also captained the national team.
Hussain Ahmed was an Indian footballer. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1956 Summer Olympics. He played for the Hyderabad City Police team in the 1950s, as well as taking part at the 1958 Asian Games and the Merdeka Tournament in 1959.
Muhammad Noor was an Indian footballer. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
Arun Ghosh is a former Indian football player who represented India internationally. He also played club football for both the Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan AC and East Bengal Club.
Mohammad Rahmatullah was an Indian footballer who played as a forward for the India national team and spent most of his career with Calcutta Football League giant Mohammedan Sporting.
Anthony Patrick was an Indian footballer who played for the India national team and represented Hyderabad City Police FC in domestic tournaments.
