National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy, due to ties with FIFA, also known as the FIFA Santosh Trophy, or simply Santosh Trophy, is an inter-state 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 launch of the first national club league, the National Football League in 1996, the Santosh Trophy was considered the top domestic tournament in India. Many players who have represented India internationally have 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 1968-69.
Vatta Parambath Sathyan, popularly known as V. P. Sathyan, was a former Indian professional footballer who played the centre back position. He was the captain of the India national football team from 1991 to 1995. He was named the 1992 AIFF Player of the Year.
Brahmanand Sagoon Kamat Sankhwalkar is a former Indian footballer and a captain of the Indian team from 1983 to 1986, who played as a goalkeeper. Considered one of India's best goalkeepers, he had 25-year playing career. He played for Panvel Sports Club, Salgaocar, Churchill Brothers, Anderson Mariners at the club level, that included 17 years with Salgaocar, and for Goa state team in the Santosh Trophy. Playing for Goa, he led the team to two consecutive wins at the Santosh Trophy; in 1983 and 1984. Having maintained a clean sheet of 576 minutes in the 1984 tournament, he holds the Indian record.
Syed Sabir Pasha is a former Indian football player and technical director at All India Football Federation. During his playing days, Pasha played for Indian Bank in the National Football League from 1991 to 2007 and represented India between 1993 and 2001.
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.
Ishfaq Ahmed is an Indian professional football manager and a former player who is the head coach of I-League club Real Kashmir.
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.
Pozhiyoor is a village in the district of Thiruvananthapuram in the State of Kerala in India. It has gradually grown to a well known tourist destination in India. The major attractions of Poovar tourism area are in Pozhiyoor. Pozhikkara, estuary formed by river Neyyar before it falls into the mighty Arabian Sea is the centre of attraction of tourism circuit in Poovar. Golden Beach, Elephant Rock, Anantha Victoria Marthanda Varma Canal, Pieta are other major attractions in Pozhiyoor Beach area in Thiruvananthapuram. It is at the coastal border of the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Rino Anto is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a right back.
The 2005–06 Santosh Trophy was the 60th edition of the Santosh Trophy. The tournament was held from 4 to 21 November 2005 in Kerala.
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.
Robin Charles Raja is an Indian football manager and a former player. He is the coach of Chennai FC, which competes in the CFA Senior Division league.
Michael Soosairaj is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Indian Super League club Odisha.
Bino George Chiramal Padinjarathala is an Indian professional manager (coach) and former footballer. He was the East Bengal assistant coach to Stephen Constantine for the Indian Super League. He is currently coaching the reserve teams.
Suhair Vadakkepeedika, commonly known as VP Suhair, is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Indian Super League club East Bengal.
Kottappadi Football Stadium, also known as Malappuram Stadium, is a historic football stadium in Malappuram, Kerala. It is under the management of Malappuram District Sports Council, located right at the heart of CBD of Malappuram. Being one of the early places where football took its root, Malappuram is unequivocally considered to be the cradle of Indian football and this stadium owns much of its credit.
Britto PM is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for I-League club Rajasthan United. He also works in the Indian Navy, part of the Indian Armed Forces since 2014.
Rajesh S is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a striker.
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.
