Sudeva Delhi FC, currently playing in the third division of Indian football I-League 2, has officially launched its international & Youth Development Partner collaboration with the German Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart.

Under the collaboration which will initially run for 3 years, VfB coaches will travel to India for scouting camps and workshops, and to coach Sudeva Delhi FC youth teams (from U-15 level) once a year.

The agreement also includes coaching sessions for Indian tacticians and, in some instances, the training camps will involve participation in regional tournaments in Germany.

Exciting News! 🚨

Sudeva Delhi FC is proud to announce its International & Youth Development Partner collaboration with VfB Stuttgart, Germany! 🇩🇪⚽

A new era for Indian football begins! Stay tuned for more updates. 🚀⚽#SudevaDelhiFC #VfBStuttgart #FootballDevelopment pic.twitter.com/k6LdtnaMN7

— Sudeva Sports Official (@SudevaDelhi) February 3, 2025

The partnership was launched in the presence of Sudeva FC President Anuj Gupta, VfB Stuttgart Board member Rouven Kasper, and Germany’s southern state Baden-Wurttemberg’s Economic Affairs Minister Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut.

Path-breaking collaboration for Indian football

The blueprint for this collaboration was initiated back on November 22nd, 2024 when Sudeva FC’s U-15 team participated in the MTU Cup, whereas VfB Stuttgart and Sudeva Delhi FC officially announced a historic partnership in a mega event at MHP Arena in Germany. 

However, the VfB Stuttgart official statement regarding the partnership is stated below:

The collaboration will initially run for two years and includes training camps and tournaments for youth players as well as development opportunities for coaches.

A specially selected, scouted group of Indian youth players will travel to Stuttgart once a year as part of so-called “Elite Training Camps” and train in the city for a certain period of time. The agreement also includes coaching sessions for Indian tacticians and, in some instances, the training camps will involve participation in regional tournaments in Germany.

Moreover, VfB coaches will have the opportunity to travel to the Indian capital for scouting camps and workshops, and to coach Sudeva Delhi FC youth teams (from U15 level) once a year.

The agreement began with Sudeva Delhi FC U15s’ participation in the renowned MTU Cup, organised by our partner club VfB Friedrichshafen. Sudeva Delhi FC’s youngsters made a fine impression at the tournament, which was won by Stuttgart and gave both clubs the opportunity to get to know each other a little better for the first time.

via VfB Stuttgart website

The News is Out! 📢

Our historic collaboration with VfB Stuttgart is making waves, and we’re thrilled to share some of the latest press coverage! pic.twitter.com/62lGH6ZcuM

— Sudeva Sports Official (@SudevaDelhi) November 27, 2024

Rouven Kasper, VfB’s Chief Marketing and Sales Officer expressed his thoughts regarding this landmark partnership.

In Sudeva Delhi FC, a club from the Indian capital, we’ve gained a partner that focuses on youth work and talent development. Together, we’re keen to drive the development of Indian football in the coming years and are convinced that this is a step that will get the ball rolling. These partnerships also promote bilateral relations between Germany and India and therefore the economic relationship between the two countries, which will be important for our region in the future.

VfB and Sudeva Delhi FC begin youth partnership ⚪️🔴🇮🇳🤝

The collaboration will initially run for two years and includes training camps and tournaments for youth players as well as development opportunities for coaches.#VfB | @Delhi_FC https://t.co/ayESTzSs9u

— VfB Stuttgart_int (@VfB_int) December 2, 2024

Anuj Gupta, the co-founder and president of Sudeva Delhi also stated his notion concerning the official collaboration. He told PTI:

This collaboration is meant for the grassroots and youth level. VfB Stuttgart youth team’s top coaching staff will come to Sudeva’s residential academy twice a year and they will train our coaching staff and the players,

They will identify the talented players from the U-13, U-15 and U-17 teams we have at our residential academy and if they (players) are good enough, they will be taken to VfB Stuttgart to train there in their academy,

Germany is a country which is among the best in the world in terms of grassroots and youth development. I am hoping that this collaboration ultimately leads to the unearthing of at least one Indian player to play in the Bundesliga in future. I am also hoping to produce players who will play in the Indian team for the FIFA U-17 World Cup through this collaboration.

Anuj Gupta also mentioned that exchange programs, like the Sudeva FC U-15 team’s “dream” participation in the MTU Cup last year in Germany, will continue.

In the MTU Cup, our team played against the same age group teams of big clubs like Bayern Munich, Chelsea FC, Borussia Dortmund, Olympique Marseille. Our team did very well and competed at almost same level. Our team even drew with Bayern Munich U-15 side and that was the best result. This kind of exposure tournaments will continue.

Rouven Kasper stated that this is the first collaboration venture and the development will continue to elevate.

We have a collaboration with Sao Paulo FC in Brazil, but the nature of that collaboration is different. This one with Sudeva is the first in Asia. We have been engaging with Sudeva for the last three years and we found this club to be really doing very good work in grassroots and youth development.

So, we went in for this collaboration with Sudeva. We are not here for any kind of publicity and marketing gains or leverage by collaborating with Sudeva, we want real spotting of talented players and nurturing them to high-quality footballers of future. We are also here to give professional and quality training to the coaching staff of Sudeva.

This collaboration will initially be of three years and let us see later how it can grow and extend further in future.

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 Bundesliga is the top-division tournament in German football. The competition was founded in 1962, and the first season began in 1963. The Bundesliga replaced the German national championship, which was the first tournament in German football history. And since then only one club has dominated with most Bundesliga titles. 

The German national championship, which was founded in 1903 and ran for 60 years, was a knockout competition contested between winners of each of the country's top regional leagues.

The founding member teams of the Bundesliga are 1860 Munich, Cologne, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Braunschweig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hertha Berlin, Kaiserslautern, Karlsruhe, Preußen Münster, MSV Duisburg, Nuremberg, Saarbrücken, Schalke, Vfb Stuttgart and Werder Bremen.

Besides the Bundesliga, which operated in West Germany, the DDR-Oberliga was the top-level football league in Soviet-controlled East Germany. Following the reunification of Germany, the Bundesliga became the national league of the country.

The Bundesliga started as a 16-team tournament but would soon expand to 18 teams from 1965.

In a one-off event, the league played the 1991-92 season with 20 teams following the reunification, but would return to its 18-team format in the following campaign.

There have been 13 different winners of the Bundesliga since its inception in 1963.

Read Also: Messi vs Ronaldo: Most man of the match winners in football

Who won the first Bundesliga?

FC Koln, or FC Cologne in English, won the first-ever Bundesliga season in 1963-64. The Billy Goats maintained a six-point advantage over second-placed Meidericher SV (39) and scored in each of the 30 league games played in the inaugural edition. 

Karl-Heinz Thielen (16 goals) and Christian Müller (15 goals) finished as the top scorers for the team in the championship-winning season.

Who has won the most Bundesliga titles?

Bayern Munich lead the Bundesliga winners list with 34 titles. The Bavarians won their maiden Meisterschale in the 1968-69 season, with an eight-point cushion and legendary forward Gerd Muller contributing 30 goals. They are the most dominant German team and have won the most Bundesliga titles.

🏆 “Die Meisterschale ist zurück in München.“ 💬

Alle Stimmen zum Titelgewinn: https://t.co/f2Ej8hfnCs#MiaSanMeister pic.twitter.com/fnx5zGJzlE

— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) May 4, 2025

The Bavarians recently claimed the Bundesliga 2024-25 title with two games to go in the season. In doing so, Bayern have now won the German championship a record 12 times in the last 13 seasons. Their incredible run began in 2012-13 under the management of Jupp Heynckes, which was broken in the 2023-24 season by Bayer Leverkusen.

Top Five Teams with the Most Bundesliga titles till 2023

1. Bayern Munich - 34 titles

Bayern Munich are at the top of the list as they are the all-time Bundesliga title winners with 34 titles to their name. They won the 2024-25 season with two games to go in the season.

Bayern Munich also holds the record for most second-place finishes in the top German league, having done that ten times between 1969 and 2012.

There is no doubt that they are the most dominant force in Germany and one of the most historic clubs in the history of World Football. The Bavarians have also won 20 DFB-Pokal trophies and 6 Champions League titles.

Titles by years: 1931-32 (German national championship), 1968-69, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21,2021-22, 2022-23, 2024-25

2. Borussia Dortmund - 5 Titles

Borussia Dortmund, a 113-year-old German club, is second on the list of clubs with the most Bundesliga titles.

After Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund have won the most Bundesliga titles and have also finished second the most times in the German league.

In the pre-Bundesliga days, ‘die Schwarzgelben’ lifted three league titles – two more than Bayern.

There has always been a soft spot for Dortmund in every football fan's heart, except the fans of Bayern.

In the 2022-23 season, they were the favourites to win the titles but bottled it on the last day. Dortmund won their last Bundesliga title under Jurgen Klopp in the 2011-12 season.

Titles by years: 1994–1995; 1995–1996; 2001–2002; 2010–11; and 2011–12

3. Borussia Monchengladbach - 5 Titles

Borussia Mönchengladbach holds the third place on the list, and they have won the same number of Bundesliga titles as Borussia Dortmund.

They have finished second less as compared to Dortmund, and that's the reason why they are placed third.

Three of their five Bundesliga championships were consecutive. They won their last league title in the 1976-77 season under Udo Lattek. Monchengladbach have only ever been demoted to the Bundesliga 2 twice, in 1999 and 2007. 

Titles by years: 1969–70, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1975–76, and 1976–77

4. Werder Bremen - 4 Titles

Werder Bremen have finished second seven times in the Bundesliga and have won 4 titles.

They won their last league title in the 2003-04 season under Thomas Schaaf with 74 points, and he is the longest-serving manager (14 years) of Bremen.

They share the record for most seasons played in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.

Titles by years: 1964–65, 1987–88, 1992–93, 2003–04

5. Hamburger SV - 3 Titles

Hamburger SV comes fifth in this list with 3 Bundesliga titles to their name.

Their last league title came in the 1982-83 season under Ernst Happel, who won his second title with the club.

HSV have the record in German football of having won the most regional titles, having won 31 regional titles. But the regional titles do not count as a trophy or even as a title itself.

Until the 2017–18 season, HSV were the only club to have played continuously in the Bundesliga since its foundation.

Titles by years: 1978–79, 1981–82, and 1982–83

Read Also: Players with the most Champions League titles

Most Bundesliga titles list:

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.

Read Also | India expresses formal interest to host the AFC Asian Cup 2031

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.

Read Also | Will Indian-Origin players ever get to play for India? AIFF keeps showing its aimless approach

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.