The 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 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 an Indian former 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.
Muttath Suresh is a former Indian footballer. He is a defender, former indian player, former east bengal club captain, federation cup winning captain for east bengal, two time national league winner, IFA Shield winner, ASEAN Club Championship winner.
Asif Saheer is an Indian former football player born in Mampad, Malappuram, Kerala. He plays as a striker for State Bank of Travancore, Kerala. He is a former captain of the Kerala State soccer team and is India's all-time leading goal scorer in the Santhosh Trophy tournament. An impressive performance in sevens football in Kerala, confirmed his place in the state team for the Santosh Trophy tournament. Saheer scored eight goals in his first Santhosh Trophy tournament and became the second highest goal scorer.
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.
The West Bengal football team, also known as IFA Bengal football team or earlier the Bengal football team, is an Indian football team representing West Bengal in Indian state football competitions including the Santosh Trophy. They were the second Indian team to participate in the continental top tier tournament – Asian Champion Club Tournament, by playing in the 1970 edition following Mysore in 1969.
The Kerala State Football Team, commonly known as Kerala football team, , is an Indian state level semi-professional football team representing Kerala in Indian state football competitions including the Santosh Trophy and National Games of India.
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.
Malappuram District Sports Complex Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Kerala, India, located about 7 km from Manjeri and 12 km from Malappuram. The stadium has a capacity of 30,000 spectators. Opened in 2013, it is part of the Malappuram District Sports Complex & Football Academy, under the management of Malappuram District Sports Council.
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.
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.
The 2018 Santosh Trophy Final was a match between Kerala and West Bengal, played on 1 April 2018, at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, West Bengal. The match was a culmination of the 2017–18 Santosh Trophy, the 72nd edition of the football competition contested by regional state associations and government institutions under the All India Football Federation. Kerala won the match after defeating West Bengal in a penalty shootout 4–2. In regulation time, the match ended 1–1 while during extra time, a goal each found both sides tied 2–2 after 120 minutes.
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 since 2014.
Jithin Madathil Subran is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Indian Super League club NorthEast United.
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.
Tuhin Das is a footballer from West Bengal, India. He plays as a defender for the East Bengal Club after getting into a pre-contract agreement for the 2022 football season. He has also represented the West Bengal state football team. He was part of the West Bengal Football Team in the Santosh Trophy 2021-22 campaign where they ended up runners-up after losing to Kerala in the Final. He scored the lone goal in the 1-0 win for the Bengal Santosh Trophy runner's up team friendly against ATK Mohun Bagan as part of the latter's preparation for the AFC Cup.
