2015–16 I-League


The 2015–16 I-League was the ninth season of the I-League, the Indian professional football league, since its establishment in 2007. The season commenced on 9 January 2016, after the Indian Super League finished, and concluded on 24 April 2016.
Bengaluru FC won their second I-League title after winning their first ever title in 2013–14. The defending champions Mohun Bagan finished second. Aizawl and DSK Shivajians entered the league for the first time in their history, Aizawl through promotion from the I-League 2nd Division and DSK Shivajians through a direct-entry spot.

Teams & Season Details

After the 2014–15 I-League season, three-time I-League champions, Dempo, were relegated to the I-League 2nd Division. Mizo club, Aizawl, were promoted from the 2nd Division earlier in May following a 4–2 victory over Chanmari. DSK Shivajians were announced as the direct-entry club for this season on 12 November 2015.
In August 2015, it was first reported that Pune clubs, Pune, and Bharat F.C., the direct-entry side from the previous season, would be withdrawing from the I-League due to the lack of a "long-term vision" for the league. Then, towards the end of October, it was announced that both Pune and Bharat FC had failed to compile to the AFC-licensing criteria needed to participate in the I-League. On 21 November 2015, it was confirmed that Royal Wahingdoh, another debutant club from the previous season, were withdrawing from the league.

Stadiums and locations

TeamStadiumCapacity
AizawlRajiv Gandhi Stadium
Bengaluru FCSree Kanteerava Stadium
DSK ShivajiansBalewadi Sports Complex
East BengalSalt Lake Stadium
East BengalKanchenjunga Stadium
Mohun BaganSalt Lake Stadium
Mohun BaganBarasat Stadium
MumbaiCooperage Ground
SalgaocarTilak Maidan Stadium
Shillong LajongJawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Sporting GoaFatorda Stadium

Personnel and kits

Head coaching changes

Transfers

Foreign players

Restricting the number of foreign players strictly to Five per team. A team could use Four foreign players on the field each game.
ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Asian Player
Aizawl Alfred Jaryan Emmanuel Chigozie Joel Sunday Yuta Kinowaki
Bengaluru FC John Johnson Michael Collins Curtis Osano Kim Song-Yong
DSK Shivajians Aser Pierrick Dipanda Douhou Pierre Juan Quero Zohib Islam Amiri
East Bengal Bernard Mendy Ranti Martins Bello Razaq Do Dong-hyun
Mohun Bagan Luciano Sabrosa Sony Norde Cornell Glenn Katsumi Yusa
Mumbai Ryuki Kozawa Eric Brown Son Min-chol Taisuke Matsugae
Salgaocar Éder Monteiro Fernandes Darryl Duffy Martin Scott Calvin Mbarga
Shillong Lajong Fábio Pena Uilliams Penn Orji Yusuke Yamagata
Sporting Goa Loveday Enyinnaya Odafa Onyeka Okolie Densil Theobald Mahmoud Amnah

League table

Result table

Season statistics

Top scorers

Top Indian scorers

Hat-tricks

Awards

AIFF Awards

awarded the following awards for the I-League season.