The I-League is the men’s second division of the Indian football league system.

Established in 2007, the I-League was founded as the successor to the National Football League (NFL). The inaugural season began in November that year.

Organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the league was launched as the country’s first ever top-tier professional football league with the objective to increase the player pool for the India national football team

Dempo SC won the inaugural edition of I-League in 2007-08. Since then, as many as 10 clubs have been crowned champions.

Since its inception, Dempo SC are the most successful team in the competition with three titles.

The likes of Churchill Brothers, Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC and Gokulam Kerala have won it twice each.

Salgaocar, Minerva Punjab, Aizawl, Chennai City and RoundGlass Punjab have clinched the I-League once each.

From the 2022-23 season, I-League operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the I-League 2 and at first only promotion system with the Indian Super League (ISL) - the top tier of Indian football.

RoundGlass Punjab (currently known as Punjab FC) won the previous edition of I-League in the 2022-23 season. They pipped second-placed Sreenidi Deccan by 10 points to clinch their maiden I-League. With the win, they secured promotion to ISL.

Mohammedan SC are the new I-League champions as they qualify for ISL 2024-25 season. Get I-League winners list.

I-League winners list: Know all the champions from 2007-2024

Season

Champion

Runner-up

Third Place

Teams

2007-08

Dempo 

Churchill Brothers

JCT

10

2008-09

Churchill Brothers

Mohun Bagan

Sporting Goa

12

2009-10

Dempo

Churchill Brothers

Pune FC

14

2010-11

Salgaocar

East Bengal

Dempo

14

2011-12

Dempo

East Bengal

Churchill Brothers

14

2012-13

Churchill Brothers

Pune FC

East Bengal

14

2013-14

Bengaluru FC

East Bengal

Salgaocar

13

2014-15

Mohun Bagan

Bengaluru FC

Royal Wahingdoh

11

2015-16

Bengaluru FC

Mohun Bagan

East Bengal

9

2016-17

Aizawl FC

Mohun Bagan

East Bengal

10

2017-18

Minerva Punjab

NEROCA

Mohun Bagan

10

2018-19

Chennai City

East Bengal

Real Kashmir

11

2019-20

Mohun Bagan

Not Awarded

11

2020-21

Gokulam Kerala

Churchill Brothers

TRAU

11

2021-22

Gokulam Kerala

Mohammedan SC

Sreenidi Deccan

13

2022-23

RoundGlass Punjab

Sreenidi Deccan

Gokulam Kerala

12

2023-24

Mohammedan SC

Sreenidi Deccan

Real Kashmir

13

Most successful teams in I-League: Titles won by each team

Club

Titles

Winning season(s)

Dempo

3

2007-08, 2009-10, 2011-12

Churchill Brothers

2

2008-09, 2012-13

Mohun Bagan

2

2014-15, 2019-20

Bengaluru FC

2

2013-14, 2015-16

Gokulam Kerala

2

2020-21, 2021-22

Salgaocar

1

2010-11

Minerva Punjab

1

2017-18

Aizawl

1

2016-17

Chennai City

1

2018-19

RoundGlass Punjab

1

2022-23

Mohammedan SC

1

2023-24

Photo credit: Alamy