Mohun Bagan played their first match in 1889 against Eden Hindu Hostel. They won their first ever title in 1904, lifting Cooch Behar Cup.[2] In 1911, Mohun Bagan became the first Indian club to win a major title, when they defeated the East Yorkshire Regiment, 2–1 to lift the IFA Shield. With 14 Federation Cup titles and 6 NFL/I-League/ISL titles, Mohun Bagan is the most successful club in major national tournaments. Mohun bagan have won more than 5000 matches in their football history, which is highest for an Indian club.
Apart from domestic success, Mohun Bagan has made numerous records at international level. Mohun Bagan holds the record of appearing most number of times in AFC Champions League Elite (7) and has made history by becoming the only Indian Club to win the preliminary stages of AFC Champions League (Now AFC Champions League Elite)
The AFC Champions League Elite (previously known as the AFC Cup, abbreviated as the ACL Two) is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation. Introduced in 1967 as the Asian Club Championship, the competition rebranded and took its name as AFC Champions League in 2002 as a result of the merger between the Asian Club Championship, the Asian Cup Winners' Cup and the Asian Super Cup. In 2024, the competition was rebranded and took its current name, AFC Champions League Elite. Mohun Bagan took part in the competition seven times (1987, 1988–89, 1994–95, 1995, 1999–00, 2002–03 and 2016), and went up to Semi-final round in 1988–89 with Sisir Ghosh's brilliance. Mohun Bagan's performance in 2016 AFC Champions League stands out as the only win by an Indian club in the preliminary stages.[27]
Mohun Bagan qualified for the qualifying stages of the 1987 Asian Club Championship after winning the 1986 Federation Cup.[28] The Green and Maroon brigade became the second Indian "club" to qualify for the Asian Club Championship.[27]Mohun Bagan made their Asian Club Championship debut in 1987 when they took part in the qualifying stages of the Asian Club Championship. The Mariners were clubbed in Group 2 alongside Al Rasheed (Iraq), Mohammedan SC (Bangladesh), Manang Marsyangdi (Nepal) and PAF FC (Pakistan). On 9 June 1987, the Mariners started their Asian Club Championship journey against Pakistan Air Force FC in Dhaka where they crushed the former 4–0 with Sisir Ghosh's brace. On 12 June 1987, Al-Rasheed SC defeated Mohun Bagan 2-0 but the very next day
Bagan held Mohammedan SC (Dhaka) 2–2 after Sisir Ghosh scored another brace in the tournament. On 16 June 1987, Mohun Bagan defeated Manang Marsyangdi 6-1 marking it as one of their biggest wins in AFC competitions. Sisir Ghosh established his name is Asia as he went on scoring 6 goals in the tournament. However, the Indian club was ousted from the group stage after finishing second as only the Group Topper would qualify for the Group Stage.[29]
Mohun Bagan took part in the 1988–89 Asian Club Championship after winning the 1987 Federation Cup and displayed outstanding performance in the group stage. The 1988-89 Asian Club Championship arguably saw one of the best performances by Mohun Bagan on the continental level, as the Mariners managed to make it to the Semi-final group. The points system in Asian Club Championship was a bit different. Back then, two points were awarded for a win and one for a draw. Bagan were drawn in Group 3 of the group stage round, alongside Crescent Textiles (Pakistan), Kathmandu SC (Nepal), and Fanja SC (Oman) hosted in Salt Lake Stadium. They started their journey on 2 July 1988, with a thrilling note by defeating Crescent Textiles of Pakistan 8–0 with a hattrick from Sisir Ghosh. This is recorded as the biggest win for Mohun Bagan in AFC Competitions. On 5 July 1988, Bagan went on defeating Kathmandu SC of Nepal 4–2 with another brace from Sisir Ghosh. The Green and Maroon Brigade defeated the mighty Fanja SC of Oman on 9 July 1988. They finished First in their group and qualified for Semi-final round Group Stages. In the semifinal group round, they were clubbed with Al-Rasheed SC (Iraq), Guangdong Wanbao (China) and Kazma SC (Kuwait). The Indian club lost all three matches and were ousted from the competition.[30]
Mohun Bagan took part in the 1994-95 Asian Club Championship after winning the 1993 Federation Cup. Mariners under Coach Shanker Banerjee continued the good form in 1994-95 Asian Club Championship when they emerged top of the South Asia Group to enter the Second Round East Asia Playoffs. Mohun Bagan defeated Club Valencia and Ratnam SC in the preliminary stage, but ended their journey after a 4–0 away loss to Thai Farmers Bank F.C. in the 1st leg of the second round.
Due to a plague threat in India, AFC ordered that the return leg will be played in Malaysia. Bagan management objected to the decision but the apex governing body in Asia was not convinced. Instead, the Indian club was ejected from the competition, fined $3000 and banned from AFC competitions for three years. The ban was later removed.[29]
Mohun Bagan took part in the 1995 Asian Club Championship after winning the 1994 Federation Cup and was drawn against Maldivian side Club Valencia in the first round. On 16 September 1995, in the first leg, Mohun Bagan won 2-1 but in the return leg on 29 September 1995, Bagan went down narrowly by a goal away from home. Club Valencia progressed taking advantage of an away goal.[31]
Mohun Bagan registered their fifth appearance in Asia after winning the National Football League (NFL) under the guidance of Subrata Bhattacharya. On 21 August 1999, Mohun Bagan started their journey on a winning note by defeating the Bangladeshi side, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC at Salt Lake Stadium. In the return leg on 11 September 1999, Bagan held 0–0 draw against the Bangladeshi side and qualified to the second round of 1999–2000 Asian Club Championship. On 9 October 1999, Mohun Bagan travelled to Iwata, Japan for the first leg of the Second round and suffered a 8–0 loss against the Japanese side Júbilo Iwata, their heaviest defeat in continental competitions to this date. The second leg was supposed to happen on 16 October 1999 on the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja. Bagan management failed to convince the police to organize the match and herby upon mutual agreement, the return leg was not played. Júbilo Iwata.[32]
The Asian Cup Winners' Cup was an Asian football club competition contested annually by the winners of domestic cup competitions. The cup was, chronologically, the second seasonal inter-Asian club competition organized by Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The competition was started in 1990 as a tournament for all the domestic cup winners from countries affiliated to the AFC. In India, the winners of the Durand Cup used to participate in the tournament. Mohun Bagan took part in the Asian Cup Winners' Cup one time in 1990–91.[27]
Mohun Bagan qualified for the 1990–91 Asian Cup Winners' Cup as they were Runners' up the 1989 Durand Cup. Mohun Bagan were drawn against Dalian Shide F.C. of China in the first round of the tournament. In the first-leg on 7 December 1990, away at the Dalian People's Stadium, Mohun Bagan suffered a 1–0 loss against the Chinese side, Dalian Shide F.C.. In the return leg on 13 December 1990, Dalian Shide F.C. defeated Mohun Bagan 4–0 at their home and was eliminated from the tournament.[35]
The AFC Champions League Two (previously known as the AFC Cup, abbreviated as the ACL Two) is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation. It is the second-tier competition of Asian club football, ranked below the AFC Champions League Elite and above the AFC Challenge League. In India, the winners of the Federation Cup and the I-League received direct entries into the tournament. Since the Federation Cup was abolished in 2017, the slot was given to the play-off winners of the Indian Super League. Mohun Bagan has participated eight times in the tournament, reaching the inter-zone play-offs twice in 2021 and in 2022 including a Round of 16 appearance in 2016.[27]
Mohun Bagan qualified for the 2009 AFC Cup after winning the 2008 Federation Cup and were placed in Group D alongside Al-Kuwait of Kuwait, Al-Karamah of Syria and Al-Wehdat of Jordan. Mohun Bagan however, could not win any of the matches in the group stage as they finished last without any points and were eliminated.
Mohun Bagan qualified for the 2016 AFC Cup after getting eliminated from 2016 AFC Champions League. They were drawn in Group G alongside South China of Hong Kong, Yangon United of Myanmar and Maziya of Maldives. Mohun Bagan began their campaign on a terrific note as they won all of their first three matches in the group stages and confirmed their place in Round of 16. In this tie, they faced the Singaporean side Tampines Rovers where they suffered a 2–1 loss at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium and were eliminated from the tournament.[21]
Mohun Bagan qualified for the qualifying play-offs 2017 AFC Cup after winning the 2015-16 Federation Cup. In the Preliminary round, Mohun Bagan faced Colombo FC of Sri Lanka where they defeated them 2–1 at Colombo Racecourse away from home. In the return leg, Mohun Bagan once again defeated Colombo FC 2–1 at home and qualified for the Play-off round where they faced the Maldivian club, Club Valencia. In the first leg, Mohun Bagan travelled to Malé where they held 1–1 draw against the former. In the return fixture, Mohun Bagan defeated Club Valencia in the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium and qualified for the AFC Cup group stage. They were placed in Group E alongside Bengaluru FC of India, Maziya S&RC of Maldives and Abahani Limited Dhaka of Bangladesh. In the opening game, at Bengaluru, Mohun Bagan suffered a 2–1 loss against Bengaluru FC. They managed to win their next game at home against Abahani Limited Dhaka of Bangladesh. Mohun Bagan lost their next two matches where suffered a 1–0 defeat at home and 5–2 defeat away from home against Maziya S&RC of Maldives. Mohun Bagan ended their AFC Cup campaign with a win against Bengaluru FC at home and 1–1 draw against Abahani Limited Dhaka away from home. With two wins, one draw and 3 losses, Mohun Bagan finished third in the group with seven points and was eliminated from the tournament.[22]
Mohun Bagan qualified for the 2021 AFC Cup after winning the 2019-20 I-League which was moved to 2021–22 season due to schedule delays. ATK Mohun Bagan were drawn in Group D alongside Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh, Bengaluru FC of India and Maziya S&RC of Maldives. Due to COVID-19 pandemic in Asia, the games were arranged in a centralized value in Malé, Maldives. In the opening game, ATK Mohun Bagan defeated Bengaluru FC 2-0 courtesy of a solitary strike from Roy Krishna and Subhasish Bose at the first half. ATK Mohun Bagan played Maziya S&RC in their next game and defeated them 3–1 with Liston Colaco, Roy Krishna and Manvir Singh scoring for Bagan. In their last group stage game, ATK Mohun Bagan held 1–1 draw against Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh and qualified for the Inter-zone play-off semi-final where faced the Uzbekistan giants, FC Nasaf. ATK Mohun Bagan suffered a 6–0 defeat at Markaziy Stadium and were eliminated from the tournament.[23]
Mohun Bagan Super Giant qualified for the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two after winning the ISL League Shield and were drawn in Group A alongside Tractor S.C. of Iran, Ravshan Kulob of Tajikistan and Al-Wakrah SC of Qatar. On 18 September 2024, Mohun Bagan faced Ravshan Kulob at the Salt Lake Stadium where they held 0–0 draw and secured one point in the group.
On 7 October 2024, AFC announced that Mohun Bagan SG were considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League Two "after the club failed to report to Tabriz for their fixture against Tractor" due to security concerns.
[36]
Source: AFC Rules for classification: Tiebreakers Notes:
^On 7 October 2024, AFC announced that Mohun Bagan SG were considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League Two after they failed to appear for their fixture against Tractor in Tabriz. Their single match was voided.[37]
Mohun Bagan Tour of Indonesia, Singapore and Honk Kong, 1956
Mohun Bagan went for the first foreign tour in 1956. It was the tour of Far East where Mohun Bagan played several matches in Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong. This tour was extremely significant as while the Calcutta Football League matches used to a 50-minute affair those days, all the matches that Mohun Bagan played during this tour were 90 minute games. The Mohun Bagan team in that tour comprised the following players: Sailen Manna (Captain), Swaraj Chatterjee, Robin Guha, Narsiah, Ratan Sen, Parimal Majumdar, Chandan Singh, Subhasish Guha, Dulal Mukherjee, Badru Banerjee, Chuni Goswami, Sattar, Raman, Keshta Dutta, Keshta Pal and P. K. Banerjee. P. K. Banerjee played for Mohun Bagan in this tour in loan.[38]
In 1960, Mohun Bagan won the Calcutta Football League and IFA Shield and based upon the club's performance, the club received invitation from African countries in 1961. Out of 19 Matches, Mohun Bagan won 13, drew 5 and lost only one. After the tour of East Africa, Mohun Bagan participated in 3 exhibition matches in Mauritius. Mohun Bagan won one, drew one and lost one game. The Mohun Bagan team in that tour comprised the following players: Sanath Seth, Sushil Guha, Jarnail Sing, Rahaman, Prasanta Sarkhel, Kempiah, Narsiah, Asim Dhar, Dipu Das, Salauddin, Amal Chakraborty, Asoke Chatterjee, Chidanandan, Amiya Banerjee, Chuni Goswami, Arumaynayagam.[39]
Mohun Bagan played four games against the European teams that included teams from Russia, teams from Hungary and teams from Slovakia. Although Bagan failed to register a win against these teams but that got their much needed international experience throughout their campaign.
Mohun Bagan played four games against the Sri-Lankan teams in 1968 and were unbeated throughout the campaign. They won two games and drew two games during their journey. The Mohun Bagan team in that tour comprised the following players: Balai Dey, Kamal Sarkar, Pradyut Barman, Bikramjit Debnath, Chandreshwar Prasad, Syed Naimuddin, Altaf, Sushil Sinha, Bhawani Roy,Nitya Ghosh, Latif, K. Banerjee, Asoke Chatterjee, Amal Chakraborty, Arumaynayagam, Pranab Ganguly, P. Kannan, Habib, Sitesh Das, Chuni Goswami
Mohun Bagan was the first foreign club who toured Bangladesh in 1972 after the latter got independence. Mohun Bagan won the first match of goodwill tour against Dhaka Mohammedan by 1–0 margin courtesy to Ashoke Chatterjee's goal. Mariners lost the second match 0–1 against Dhaka XI when they conceded last moment goal. The Mohun Bagan team in that tour comprised the following players: Sudhir kumar karmakar, Prashanta Mitra, Kajal Pal, Nimai Goswami, Nirmal Sengupta, Bhavani Roy, Shyamsundar Manna, Priyalal Majumdar, Shankar Banerjee, Surajit Sengupta, Binoy Panja, Subhash Bhowmick, Mohammad Nazir, Ashok Chatterjee.[40]
Mohun Bagan started their tour with a 1–1 draw against the Malaysian XI on 13 May 1978. Bidesh Basu scored the only goal for Mohun Bagan. Although Bagan lost their next game against Singapore XI 3-0 but they managed to hold 1–1 draw against Malaysian Indian XI and defeated the Singapore B team 4–1 to end their tour. The Mohun Bagan team in that tour comprised the following players: Shibaji Banerjee, Santosh Basu, Sudhir Karmakar, Subrata Bhattacharya, Pradeep Chowdhury, Dilip Palit, Compton Dutta, Shyamal Banerjee, Sarkar, Prasun Banerjee, Subhash Bhowmick, Shyam Thapa, Habib, Akbar, Manas Bhattacharya, Bidesh Basu.
In 1979, Mohun Bagan participated in two exhibition games in Nepal after playing in the Calcutta Football League. In their opening game against Kathmandu XI, Mohun Bagan defeated the former 8–1 with a hattrick from Shyam Thapa. In their next game, they defeated Nepal XI 2–0 to conclude their tour. The Mohun Bagan team in that tour comprised the following players: Pratap Ghosh, Shibaji Banerjee, Shyamal Banerjee, Subrata Bhattacharya, Compton Dutta, Dilip Palit, Gautam Sarkar, Prasun Banerjee, Pradeep Chowdhury, Shyam Thapa, Xavier Payas, Manas Bhattacharya, Ranjit Mukherjee, Ulganathan, Bidesh Basu.
Mohun Bagan participated in three exhibition games to mark the 40th Anniversary of the local Cadet Club. Out of three games, they won one, drew one and lost one throughout their campaign.
Mohun Bagan toured Myanmar on 2004 where to defeated the U21 Myanmar XI by 1-0 and held 1–1 draw against Myanmar Senior National Team courtesy to Biman Mondal's goal. They suffered a 4–0 loss against Myanmar XI at the start of their campaign. The Mohun Bagan team in that tour comprised the following players: Prasanta Dora, Imran Khan, Manitombi Singh, Rishi Kapoor, Palash Karmakar, Basudeb Mondal, Mehtab Hussain, Abhay Kumar, Ashim Biswas, Sunil Chetri, Subrata Paul, Praveen Rawat, Gouramangi Moirangtem Singh, Malswama, Jerry Zirsanga, Bibhas Ghosh, Hussain Mustafi, Manas Das, Tapan Ghosh, Falguni Datta, Noel Anthony Wilson, Nongmaithem Rajesh Meetei, Tomba Singh, Dharamjit Singh, Amit Das, Biman Mondal, Mehraj Din Wadoo, Eduardo Chacon Coelho Lacerda, Dulal Biswas, Regis Carlos Pimentel Monteiro.
Mohun Bagan participated in two exhibition games in Nepal. One was on 12 May 2012, against Nepal Police Club where they suffered a 2–0 loss and the other one was against Three Star Club in the next year on 2 May where they suffered a 1–2 defeat.
