In early 2014, it was announced that the All India Football Federation, the national federation for football in India, and IMG-Reliance would be accepting bids for ownership of eight or nine selected cities for the upcoming Indian Super League, an eight-team franchise league modeled along the lines of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament. On 13 April 2014, it was announced that DEN Networks had won the bidding for the Delhi franchise. The team had entered an alliance with Dutch club Feyenoord which lasted only for one year.
Re−branding
On 31 August 2019, Delhi Soccer Private Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Odisha, to shift the home base from the national capital New Delhi to Bhubaneswar, Odisha and re-branded the franchise as Odisha FC. The new home for the team was decided to be the Kalinga Stadium at Bhubaneswar. As per the MoU, it was mutually decided that the club’s first team, youth teams, youth football development program and grassroots football development program will be based in Odisha.
Delhi Dynamos (2014−2019)
The team started their campaign in the inaugural Indian Super League season on 14 October 2014 with a 0–0 draw against FC Pune City at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. The Dynamos did not experience the best of starts to their ISL campaign as they lagged behind at the last place till the 9th Round. The team rejuvenated and regrouped to climb out of the situation to finish in 5th place with a five match unbeaten run which included three wins and two draws. Delhi narrowly missed out on qualification for the semi-finals falling short only by a point. In the 2015 season, Delhi Dynamos qualified for the first time for the semi-finals of the Indian Super League with the fewest games played in 2015. In the 2016 season, the club finished third in the league stage with 21 points and lost to the Kerala Blasters FC in the semi-finals of the season. In the 2017–18 season, the club finished eighth in the league stage with 19 points and couldn't qualify for semi-finals of the season. In the 2018–19 season, the club again finished eighth in the league round with 18 points and couldn't qualify for the semi-finals of the season.
Odisha FC
2019–20
Odisha had to play their first three home fixtures at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Pune due to unavailability of Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Odisha started off their season on 22 October 2019, with a 2−1 loss in an away match against Jamshedpur at the JRD Tata Sports Complex. In their second fixture they faced another defeat; this time against the NorthEast United. Odisha secured their first ever win in their third fixture registering a 4−2 victory against Mumbai City at the Mumbai Football Arena. Decent first half display pushed Odisha to an good start, scoring three goals by Xisco Hernández, Aridane Santana and Jerry Mawihmingthanga in the 6th, 21st and 41st minutes respectively. Mohamed Larbi pulled one back for the hosts at the 51st minute. Santana’s second goal in the 73rd minute only firmed their victory. However, Mumbai pulled another one back at the 90+5th minute wasn't enough to register a win over the visitors. In the next remaining 15 matches of the league Odisha registered six win, four draws and five losses to end the season at the 6th spot with 25 points on the points table. Later, on 18 March 2020, due to the head coach's familial obligations, Odisha parted ways with Josep Gombau.
Crest and colours
Crest
On 16 September 2019 the club unveiled its official logo. Design of the crest inspired from the Chakras or the chariot wheels of the famous Konark Sun Temple, a World Heritage Site in Odisha which represents culture and heritage, and embodies a ship design which symbolizes GMS, the parent company of the club, which represents progress and development of the state. Since, 2014 the club had multiple deals with various kit manufacturers, with Lotto for the first season 2014−2015, Puma for 2015−2016, Dryworld 2016−2017, T10 Sports for 2017−2018, TYKA for the final season of Delhi Dynamos as club name.
Kit evolution
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Stadium
On 31 August 2019, through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Sports and Youth Services of the Government of Odisha, it was mutually decided to re-brand the franchise as Odisha FC with its base being the 15,000 capacity Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, operated by DSYS. Previously, the 60,000 capacity Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, owned by Sports Authority of India was the home ground of the club when it's franchise name was Delhi Dynamos FC. The club under the brand franchise name Delhi Dynamos FC, played first five seasons of Indian Super League, from 2014 season to 2018–19 at the JLN. But due to various economic factors and failure to maintain a sustained attendance for home games over the course of the seasons at the JLN, the then owner of the franchise Dr. Anil Sharma decided to shift the base from Delhi to Bhubaneswar in 2019.
Support
Odisha FC had immediately grown its popularity post its inception which resulted in the formation of its supporters group, named The Juggernauts. The name of the group is derived from Jagannath i.e. the "world-lord", combining jagata and natha. Juggernaut is defined as a large powerful force or organization that cannot be stopped.
Ownership
On 13 April 2014, IMG Reliance announced that DEN Networks had won the bidding for the Delhi franchise to be the eighth team in the inaugural season of Indian Super League. The team had entered an alliance with Dutch club Feyenoord in 2015, which lasted only for one year. World's largest cash buyer of ships and offshore assets for recycling, GMS, was brought in March 2016 as club's new majority co-owner. GMS currently holds 100% of the ownership in club which it purchased in three installments of 55%, 25% and 20% from DEN Networks
