The AIFF Awards are the annual Indian football awards presented to the best footballers in India by the All India Football Federation. Lallianzuala Chhangte and Indumathi Kathiresan were named the AIFF Best Men’s and Women’s Players of the Year 2023-24 at the AIFF Awards 2023-24 in New Delhi. Khalid Jamil won the Best Men’s Coach Award while Sukla Dutta was named the Best Women’s Coach Award. David Lalhlansanga and Neha claimed the best Promising Men’s and Women's Player of the Year award.

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Lallianzuala Chhangte was awarded the Men’s Player of the Year for the second time in a row, becoming only the fifth player to win the award multiple times. He netted 11 goals and provided 7 assists in all competitions for his club Mumbai City FC. He was the highest-scoring Indian player in the ISL. Chhangte scored against Qatar for the nation in Doha in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in June 2024.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 🌟

Lallianzuala Chhangte once again won the AIFF Men's Player of the year for 2023/24 season#IndianFootball⚽ #AIFFAwards pic.twitter.com/qEsDxXWPNR

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 19, 2024

Chhangte said, “I am so honored to receive this award. Although I can’t be there, I’m sending a huge thank you to our Hon’ble Sports Minister Sir. Thank you so much for this prestigious award, which I feel undeserving. And tonight, I thank God, my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ for His guidance, protection, and blessings. He’s the only reason why I am here. Next, my family who have been my biggest supporters since day one. My friends and family from Mumbai City FC and my brothers in the national team. This is not possible for me without you guys backing me up.”

Indumathi Kathiresan won the AIFF Women’s Player of the Year. She became the first player from Tamil Nadu to win the award. The midfielder won the 2023-24 Indian Women’s League title with Odisha FC, scoring five goals. Indumathi won the Best Midfielder award in the IWL. For the Indian national team, she scored against Estonia in the Turkish Women’s Cup in February 2024.

The Supreme Superstar 😎

Indumathi Kathiresan emerges as the winner of AIFF Women's Player of the year 2023/24 season#IndianFootball⚽ #AIFFAwards pic.twitter.com/FfOhcaOKew

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 19, 2024

Indumathi said, “I’m delighted to be here tonight and receive this award. I didn’t expect to win it. I’m so happy and I would like to thank my coach and my teammates for helping me win this award.”

Striker David Lalhlansanga was awarded the AIFF Promising Men’s Player of the Year for his consistent goalscoring form. The 22-year-old scored 34 goals for Mohammedan Sporting in last season’s I-League, Calcutta Football League, and the Durand Cup, helping his side win two titles. He was the top scorer in the CFL and the Durand Cup which helped him earn his first national team call-up in May 2024 for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

The Emerging Talent 🪄

David Lalhlansanga is crowned with the AIFF Men's Promising Player award of the year for season 2023/24#IndianFootball⚽ #AIFFAwards pic.twitter.com/hAiuQaRd21

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 19, 2024

Eighteen-year-old winger Neha won the AIFF Promising Women’s Player of the Year for her sensational and inspiring performances. She scored two goals in India’s SAFF U19 Women’s Championship triumph in Bangladesh. She played a huge role in Haryana’s fairy tale run to the final of the Senior Women’s National Football Championship for the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy, scoring three goals for her state. She was part of the senior India squad for the friendlies against Uzbekistan and Myanmar; a young promising talent with a deserved award.

Neha said, “I feel happy winning the award. It’s a great honour to receive the award in front of my coach and a senior player like Indu Didi who I admire. I hope I can make my country and parents proud, and I wish to keep performing well.”

Promising Star 🌟

Neha emerges as the winner of AIFF Women's Promising Talent of the year for 2023/24 season#IndianFootball⚽ #AIFFAwards pic.twitter.com/qiE12Ha12a

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 19, 2024

Jamshedpur FC head coach Khalid Jamil won the AIFF Men’s Coach of the Year. He took charge of the Red Miners midseason and helped them reach the semi-finals of the Kalinga Super Cup, their best-ever finish in that tournament.

Sukla Dutta was named the AIFF Women’s Coach of the Year. She coached and helped India to the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship title in Bangladesh. She also won the inaugural edition of the IWL 2 as the head coach of Sreebhumi FC, earning promotion to next season’s IWL.

Celebrating Khalid Jamil’s and Sukla Dutta's excellence in coaching! #IndianFootball⚽️ #AIFFAwards pic.twitter.com/DCYxpQwHfJ

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 20, 2024

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List of all AIFF Award winners for 2023-24:

• Men’s Player of the Year: Lallianzuala Chhangte
• Women’s Player of the Year: Indumathi Kathiresan
• Promising Men’s Player of the Year: David Lalhlansanga
• Promising Women’s Player of the Year: Neha
• Men’s Coach of the Year: Khalid Jamil
• Women’s Coach of the Year: Sukla Dutta
• Referee of the Year: Ramachandran Venkatesh
• Assistant Referee of the Year: Ujjal Halder
• Most Successful MA (Club Competitions): Indian Football Association (West Bengal)
• Most Successful MA (NFC Competitions): All Manipur Football Association
• Best MA (Member Association) - Supporting Women’s Football: Punjab Football Association
• Best MA for hosting most AIFF competitions: Football Association of Odisha and Goa Football Association
• MA with most player registrations (men’s): Kerala Football Association
• MA with most player registrations (women’s): Western India Football Association (Maharashtra)
• Special Award for MA launching new projects: Gujarat State Football Association
• MA with most Grassroots activities: Gujarat State Football Association
• MA with most Youth tournaments conducted: Karnataka State Football Association
• MA with most Coaching courses: Punjab Football Association
• MA with most Refereeing courses: Gujarat State Football Association

Special awards for supporting various AIFF events:

• Government of Odisha and Football Association of Odisha: For hosting FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Intercontinental Cup, Kalinga Super Cup, Senior Women’s NFC Group Stage, Junior Boys’ and Girls’ NFC Tier 1 and Sub-Junior Youth League
• Government of Arunachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh Football Association: For hosting the Santosh Trophy Final Round
• Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council: For twice hosting the India U17 men’s national team camp and upgrading the infrastructure of the TRC Ground

National Football team coach Manolo Marquez has decided to resign after team's poor performance against Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Manolo Marquez, who could not even beat a weak team like Hong Kong, which is 26th behind the Indian team in the FIFA rankings, mailed his resignation to the federation the night after the match. The federation has decided to officially announce the resignation of the national coach around Wednesday afternoon.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026: Teams qualified so far

India’s hopes of qualifying are now precarious

Indian men’s football has endured a challenging 18 months, marked by a single victory in 16 matches since the start of 2024. A 1-0 defeat to Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup qualifier on Tuesday exacerbated the situation, bringing the team’s struggles into sharp focus.

Fan discontent with head coach Igor Stimac’s successor, Manolo Marquez, have intensified after a string of demoralising losses, including three consecutive goalless games against Bangladesh, Thailand, and Hong Kong, leaving fans questioning the team’s ability. India’s hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Asia Cup are now precarious, and speculation surrounds Marquez’s future.

Marquez has not formally tendered his resignation

Rumours of Marquez’s potential resignation had already started doing the rounds as sources suggest that the Spaniard, who replaced Stimac in July 2024, is contemplating stepping down within a year of his appointment.

However, an All India Football Federation (AIFF) source confirmed Marquez has not formally tendered his resignation. The federation awaits official communication from him regarding his intentions but that too many not be simple.

“He can do so only after mutual agreement, that the AIFF gives him permission to part ways," an AIFF source said.

“We have not got any request in writing from Manolo that he wants to leave from the job. We can apply our mind only after he informs us what he wants," the source added.

India must win their remaining four matches

India must win their remaining four matches to maintain any hope of qualification, currently languishing at the bottom of their group. While home and away fixtures against Singapore are scheduled for the October international break, Marquez’s presence for those games remains uncertain.

Head coach Manolo Márquez announces 28-member Blue Tigers travelling squad for Thailand friendly on May 28, 2025. All the 28 players, who are currently a part of the ongoing camp in Kolkata, will travel to Thailand for the FIFA friendly for the June 4 fixture.

With a crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round on the horizon, the Indian Men's National Football Team is gearing up for a significant test. The squad will leave for Thailand on Wednesday evening for their friendly on June 4, at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani at 18:00 IST.

Subsequently, the team will depart for Hong Kong on the next day (June 5) for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round fixture.

Kolkata: The Blue Tigers' pre-Thailand training hub

The Blue Tigers' intensive training camp kicked off in Kolkata on May 19. The men in Blue underwent six full days of structured training and gym sessions. These were focused on refining patterns, defensive organisation, attacking transitions, and all other crucial elements for the gameplay.

A highlight of the camp was the inclusion of two practice matches:

• On May 26, the Blue Tigers faced Santosh Trophy Champions Bengal, securing a 2-1 victory. (goal scorers: Brandon Fernandes and Ashique Kuruniyan)
• On May 27, they faced North 24 Parganas, securing a 3-0 victory. (goal scorers: Sunil Chhetri, Chinglensana Singh Konsham and Udanta Singh Kumam)

Blue Tigers’ 28-member squad for the FIFA Friendly against Thailand

Goalkeepers: Hrithik Tiwari, Vishal Kaith, Gurmeet Singh, Amrinder Singh.

Defenders: Naorem Roshan Singh, Rahul Bheke, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Anwar Ali, Boris Singh Thangjam, Sandesh Jhingan, Asish Rai, Subhasish Bose, Mehtab Singh, Abhishek Singh Tekcham.

Midfielders: Suresh Singh Wangjam, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Udanta Singh Kumam, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Ashique Kuruniyan, Brandon Fernandes, Nikhil Prabhu.

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Edmund Lalrindika, Manvir Singh, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, Lallianzuala Chhangte.

Head Coach: Manolo Márquez

Assistant Coach: Mahesh Gawali

Assistant Coach: Benito Montalvo

Goalkeeper Coach: Marc Gamon

Strength and Conditioning Coach: José Carlos Barroso

In a groundbreaking moment for Indian football, Rahul KP, the dynamic winger of Odisha FC, has been extended a prestigious invitation to represent English Premier League powerhouse West Ham United in the highly anticipated summer edition of The Soccer Tournament (TST), an elite 7 v 7 football competition featuring 48 teams from across the globe.

This is the first time in Indian football history that an Indian player will represent a top-division English Premier League club men’s team. This is a monumental achievement not only for Rahul's burgeoning career and Odisha FC but also for the continued growth and recognition of the state of Odisha and Indian football on the international stage.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from June 4 to June 9, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. The tournament boasts a diverse international roster, with participating teams and players hailing from countries including the United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, and India. The star-studded event will notably feature teams led by legendary footballers such as Luis Nani, Sergio Agüero, and Hope Solo.

Rahul KP will join a distinguished West Ham United squad that includes notable personalities like actor Hero Fiennes Tiffin, former Argentina international Mauro Zárate, and several professional athletes who have represented the United States in the World Indoor Football Cup.

The three group stage games featuring West Ham United will be broadcast live on YouTube channels. Additionally, these matches will be televised live on ESPN.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) celebrated the best of Indian football at the AIFF Awards 2025, held today in Bhubaneswar, honouring outstanding players, coaches, referees, and member associations for their contributions during the 2024-25 season.

The ceremony highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian football, with Mohun Bagan SG’s Subhasish Bose and East Bengal FC’s Soumya Guguloth crowned Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year, respectively. 

AIFF Awards 2025 Winners

Individual Awards

• Men's Player of the Year: Subhasish Bose (Mohun Bagan SG, Defender)
  • Recognised for his leadership as captain and stellar performances for Mohun Bagan SG as the mariners became the first team to defend the ISL Shield, along with reclaiming the ISL Cup. Bose kept 13 clean sheets as a defender and scored 6 goals as well. 
• Women's Player of the Year: Soumya Guguloth (East Bengal FC, Forward)
  • Honoured as the top Indian scorer in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and a key player for the Blue Tigresses. She helped East Bengal FC win the IWL 2024-25 title.
• Men's Goalkeeper of the Year: Vishal Kaith (Mohun Bagan SG)
  • Awarded for holding the record for the most clean sheets in Indian Super League (ISL) history. Kaith had a record 15 clean sheets in ISL 2024-25 and conceded only 19 goals across 26 appearances
• Most Promising Men's Player of the Year: Brison Fernandes (Midfielder)
  • Noted for his midfield mastery and potential as a rising star.
• Most Promising Women's Player of the Year: Neha (Haryana, Winger)
  • Recognised for her performances, including 2 goals in the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship and 3 goals in the Senior Women’s National Championship.
• Men's Coach of the Year: Khalid Jamil (Jamshedpur FC)
  • Won for the second consecutive year for leading Jamshedpur FC to the Kalinga Super Cup semifinals.
• Women's Coach of the Year: Sujata Kar (Sreebhumi FC)
  • Awarded for guiding newly-promoted Sreebhumi FC to a third-place finish in the IWL.
• Male Referee of the Year: Venkatesh R
  • Acknowledged for consistent officiating on the pitch.
• Female Referee of the Year: Tekcham Ranjita Devi
  • Recognised for her officiating excellence.
• Male Referee of the Year: Venkatesh R
• Male Assistant Referee of the Year: Vairamuthu P

Member Association (MA) Awards

• Most Successful MA (Club Competitions): Indian Football Association (West Bengal)
  • For dominance in men’s competitions, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal winning major titles.
• Most Successful MA (NFC Competitions): All Manipur Football Association
  • Recognised for success in the National Football Championships.
• Best MA for Supporting Women’s Football: Punjab Football Association
  • Honoured for contributions to women’s football development.
• Best MA for Hosting Most AIFF Competitions: Football Association of Odisha and Goa Football Association
  • For hosting numerous AIFF events.
• MA with Most Player Registrations (Men’s): Kerala Football Association
  • For the highest number of male player registrations.
• MA with Most Player Registrations (Women’s): Western India Football Association (Maharashtra)
  • For leading in female player registrations.
• Special Award for MA Launching New Projects: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For innovative football initiatives.
• MA with Most Grassroots Activities: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For extensive grassroots programs.
• MA with Most Youth Tournaments Conducted: Karnataka State Football Association
  • For organising numerous youth tournaments.
• MA with Most Coaching Courses: Punjab Football Association
  • For conducting the most coaching courses.
• MA with Most Refereeing Courses: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For leading in referee training programs.

On a vibrant Saturday evening, April 26, 2025, Mohun Bagan SG’s youthful squad clinched a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kerala Blasters FC in the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 quarter-finals, securing their spot in the semi-finals.

The Mariners, boasting an all-Indian lineup save for Portuguese defender Nuno Reis, showcased their attacking flair with goals from Sahal Abdul Samad in the 22nd minute and Suhail Ahmad Bhat in the 51st. Despite a late strike from Kerala Blasters’ Sreekuttan MS in the 94th minute, Mohun Bagan SG held firm, thanks to a stellar performance by goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem. Bastab Roy’s team now awaits the winner of the FC Goa vs. Punjab FC clash in the semi-final on April 30.

The match kicked off cautiously, with both sides probing without overcommitting. For the first 20 minutes, neither team managed to create clear chances. Then, Mohun Bagan SG sparked the game to life with a moment of brilliance.

Salahudheen Adnan dazzled down the right, weaving past Naocha Singh before delivering a pinpoint cross into the box. Sahal Abdul Samad, with a deft shoulder drop, shook off Ruivah Hormipam and delicately lifted the ball over goalkeeper Sachin Suresh to break the deadlock.

The goal jolted Kerala Blasters into action, and they pushed hard for an equaliser. Noah Sadaoui, fresh off a spectacular long-range goal against East Bengal, tried his luck from distance but sent the ball straight to Dheeraj Singh.

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The Blasters grew threatening from set pieces, particularly short corners. In the 30th minute, Sadaoui’s low cross after a quick one-two with Vibin Mohanan was cleared by Dippendu Biswas. Moments later, Hormipam’s looping cross nearly sneaked into the top corner, only for Dheeraj to tip it over.

Just before halftime, Mohammed Aimen cut in from the left and unleashed a curling shot that sailed narrowly over the bar, leaving the Blasters frustrated.

The second half began with Mohun Bagan SG striking early. In the 47th minute, Sachin Suresh pulled off a stunning save to deny Salahudheen in a one-on-one, but the warning went unheeded. Four minutes later, Ashique Kuruniyan tore down the left, breezed past Hormipam, and rolled a precise pass to Suhail Ahmad Bhat, who calmly slotted it home to double the lead.

From there, the game became the Dheeraj Singh show. Kerala Blasters threw everything forward, but the Mohun Bagan goalkeeper stood tall. Jesús Jiménez squandered two golden opportunities, blasting over the bar in the 65th minute and dragging a shot wide two minutes later. In the 70th minute, Dheeraj denied substitute Kwame Peprah’s angled effort, and with five minutes left, Peprah’s low cross found Jiménez, who couldn’t connect cleanly.

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Dheeraj’s heroics continued as he thwarted Peprah from point-blank range, with Amandeep clearing Ebindas Y’s follow-up off the line. The Blasters finally broke through in stoppage time when Jiménez set up Sreekuttan, who rifled a shot past Dheeraj. But the goal came too late to spark a comeback.

Salahudheen Adnan earned the Kalinga Player of the Match award for his electrifying performance.