2014–15 I-League


The 2014–15 I-League is the eighth season of the I-League, the Indian professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 2007. The season began on January 17, 2015, after the conclusion of the Federation Cup and finished on the 31 May 2015 with a title deciding match between defending champions Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan. Mohun Bagan scored a late equalising goal to win the championship by two points. It was to be their first I-League title and fourth Indian championship in total

Teams

The official number of teams for the new season will be eleven. After the success of the leagues first direct-entry side, Bengaluru FC, the All India Football Federation held bidding for new teams from 15 May to 2 June 2014 with cities such as Chennai and Ahmedabad in the running. At the same time the federation would review the AFC Club Licensing Criteria and any club which failed to pass the criteria will be banned from entering the league.
On 22 May 2014 the All India Football Federation officially announced that former I-League champions Churchill Brothers, Rangdajied United, and United S.C had been axed from the 2014–15 season for failing to pass the club licensing criteria. Then, in August 2014, it was announced that the AIFF had awarded a direct-entry spot to the Kalyani Group and that they would start a team based in Pune. The team was officially launched in November 2014 as Bharat FC.
In terms of promotion and relegation, Mohammedan were relegated from the I-League the previous season, while Royal Wahingdoh were promoted after winning the 2014 I-League 2nd Division. This would be Wahingdoh's first season in the I-League after remaining unbeaten through the entire 2nd Division campaign.

Stadiums and locations

TeamStadiumCapacity
Bengaluru FCSree Kanteerava Stadium
Bharat FCBalewadi Sports Complex
DempoFatorda Stadium
East BengalSalt Lake Stadium
Mohun BaganSalt Lake Stadium
MumbaiCooperage Ground
PuneBalewadi Sports Complex
Royal WahingdohJawaharlal Nehru Stadium
SalgaocarFatorda Stadium
Shillong LajongJawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Sporting GoaFatorda Stadium

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
TeamHead coachCaptainMain Sponsor
Eelco Schattorie

Head coaching changes

Foreign players

Restricting the number of foreign players strictly to four per team, including a slot for a player from AFC countries and a marquee player. A team could use four foreign players on the field during each game including at least one player from the AFC country.
ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3AFC Player
Bengaluru FC John Johnson Josh Walker Curtis Osano Sean Rooney
Bharat FC Romuald Boco Bobby Hassell Kris Bright Omar Jarun
Dempo Zohib Islam Amiri Carlos Hernández Calum Angus Tolgay Özbey
East Bengal Leo Bertos Ranti Martins Dudu Omagbemi Milan Susak
Mohun Bagan Pierre Boya Sony Norde Bello Razaq Katsumi Yusa
Mumbai Josimar Chika Wali Taisuke Matsugae
Pune Luciano Sabrosa Darko Nikač Edgar Marcelino Ryuji Sueoka
Royal Wahingdoh Bekay Bewar Loveday Enyinnaya Densill Theobald Kim Seng-yong
Salgaocar Douhou Pierre Darryl Duffy Francis Kasonde Khaled Baleid
Shillong Lajong Uilliams Penn Orji Cornell Glen Son Min-chol
Sporting Goa Odafa Okolie Miguel Garcia Anthony Wolfe Mahmoud Amnah

League table

Results

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

Top Indian Scorers

Hat-tricks

5 Player scored 5 goals

Discipline

The Fair Play qualities of the participating teams and which are pertinent to the spectators will be evaluated using the FIFA Fair Play evaluation form. East Bengal led the Fair Play rankings at the end of the season.
RankTeamGamesTotal Points
1
East Bengal
20
1451.1
2
Royal Wahingdoh
20
1450.0
3
Pune
20
1438.6
4
Salgaocar
20
1427.5
5
Bharat FC
20
1415.0
6
Mumbai
20
1394.3
7
Shillong Lajong
20
1377.5
8
Bengaluru FC
20
1367.9
9
Dempo
20
1342.5
10
Mohun Bagan
20
1337.9
10
Sporting Goa
20
1337.9

Awards

AIFF Awards

awarded the following awards for the I-League season.