Churchill Brothers SC

Churchill Brothers Futebol Clube de Goa (simply known as Churchill Brothers) is an Indian professional football club based in Margao, Goa, that competes in the Indian Super League, alongside the Goa Professional League (reserves). Founded in 1988, the club usually participated in the National Football League, then top tier of the Indian football league system.

The club has won the I-League title thrice and has secured a position among the top three teams on nine other occasions in the national league. It has also won eight Goa League Champions Cups, three Durand Cups, and a Federation Cup.

Churchill Brothers emerged as fourth ranked Indian team, and 648 universally, in the international rankings of clubs during the first ten years of the 21st century (2001–2010), issued by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics in 2011.

History

1988–2009

Churchill Brothers FC were founded in 1988 as Varca Sports Club. After one season, they were renamed Brothers Sporting Club. Later on they were bought out by Churchill Braz Alemao and renamed as Churchill Brothers Football Club and emerged as runners-up of the National Football League thrice: 1996–97, 1999–2000 and 2001–02. In the 1997–98 Asian Club Championship, Churchill Brothers went on to represent India. But, they had a forgetful debut outing as the Goan outfit was knocked out in the very first round by Vietnamese club Dong Thap with a 2–1 aggregate loss. In 1998, Churchill roped in Bassim Yonan, the first Iraqi player in India. Noted Scottish manager Danny McLennan trained the club in 1999–2000 season.

After the take over by Churchill, the club went on to win the Durand Cup in 2007, and the 2008–09 I-League, Durand Cup in 2009, IFA Shield in the same year. In 2008, Nigerian World Cupper Emeka Ezeugo was appointed club's head coach. They also emerged as runners-up of the 2007–08 I-League, the inaugural season. Through their I-League win Churchill Brothers FC were able to play in the 2010 Asian Champions League qualifiers which they lost and moved to the 2010 AFC Cup. During the AFC Cup they won two games against Al-Hilal Al-Sahili and finished runners-up in their group, advancing to the next round. Finally, they were defeated 1–2 to Al-Qadsia at the Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium.

2010–2019

Churchill Brothers was managed by Singaporean Vincent Subramaniam for the 2010–11 season. The club went the rest of the season with Croatian Drago Mamić, who helped them win the IFA Shield that year.

On 9 June 2011, Churchill Brothers announced they have signed former Portugal national football team assistant coach Manuel Gomes as a permanent coach. His start proved to be successful as the club captured the 2011 Durand Cup for the third time in their history in October 2011, defeating Prayag United 5–4. However, on 15 February 2012, it was announced that Gomes had resigned and that former coach Carlos Roberto Pereira would be brought in on a caretaker basis.

Then on 13 July 2012, it was announced that Mariano Dias had been signed to become their new full-time head coach. After his first season in charge, Dias managed to lead Churchill Brothers to the I-League championship, their second domestic title in the history.

After the end of 2013–14 I-League season, Churchill finished in twelfth position with 25 points in 24 matches and was evicted from I-League for not fulfilling the Asian Football Confederation's club licensing criteria. In that season, they clinched the 2013–14 Indian Federation Cup title. In November 2017, it was announced that Ukrainian Mykola Shevchenko joined Churchill as their head coach. His first game as a manager occurred on 2 December 2017, when Churchill took on Shillong Lajong, resulting in a 2–0 loss. His stint came to an end as he was sacked from the position. Churchill then roped in Joseph Afusi of Nigeria as technical director, but were relegated at the end of the 2017–18 season, with just 17 points from 18 games. However, their position was reinstated by the AIFF, after a successful appeal by the club.

In August 2018, Romanian manager Petre Gigiu was appointed head coach. His first competitive game was on 28 October 2018 in Churchill's opening match against the reigning champions, Minerva Punjab. The match ended in a 0–0 draw. At the end of the 2018–19 I-League season, they finished on fourth position with 34 points.

2020–present

In September 2020, Churchill appointed Fernando Santiago Varela as head coach. Under his guidance, Churchill emerged as the runners-up of the 2020–21 I-League with 29 points. Although Churchill managed a win against RoundGlass Punjab in their last match, Gokulam Kerala FC were crowned champions courtesy of a better head-to-head record.

Ahead of the 2021–22 I-League, Churchill roped in their first ever Guinean player Sekou Sylla, and Romanian Petre Gigiu returned to the club as head coach. They finished the season in fourth place. The club later in November, reached final of Baji Rout Cup in Odisha, finished as runners-up after defeat to Rajasthan United. They later took part in 2023 Indian Super Cup in Kerala in April, and 2024 Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy along with foreign teams like Brisbane Roar and Defensa y Justicia participated. In November, the club appointed Cypriot manager Dimitris Dimitriou as head coach.

In the 2024–25 I-League season, Churchill Brothers provisionally finished top of the table. On 13 April, the club withdraw from Super Cup amid I-League title controversy, in protest against the AIFF's unfair and opaque seeding process, citing "denied our rightful place and trophy, against the rules, spirit, and integrity of football." On 19 April, Churchill Brothers was declared champions of the I-League 2024–25 after the official verdict given by Appeals Committee of the All India Football Federation. Thus the club secured promotion to the Indian Super League.

Crest, colours & kits

Crest

In 2011, a new red and black coloured crest was introduced. The crest of Churchill Brothers was originally in green and yellow, that had a football on green grass with yellow rays representing the sun's rays, with initials of the club name.

File:Churchill brothers logo.png, Former club crest (1988–2011)

Colours

The present colours of Churchill Brothers kit is red for home matches and blue for away matches, but before the brand new crest the home colours were white and the away colours were red.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Ownership and nickname

Churchill Brothers is owned and led for decades by Goan entrepreneur and politician Churchill Alemao, who served as both the president of Goa Football Association and Chief Minister of the state. His daughter Valanka Alemao is current CEO of the club.

Churchill Brothers is predominantly nicknamed the "Red Machine".

Stadiums

Since the I-League began, Churchill Brothers have always played mainly at the Fatorda Stadium in the South Goan city of Margao, along with other Goan clubs (Dempo, Salgaocar, Sporting Goa and Vasco). They also used Tilak Maidan Stadium for both the I-League and the Goa Professional League matches.

During the 2012–13 season, Churchill Brothers temporarily played at the Duler Stadium in Mapusa, Goa, while the Fatorda Stadium was being renovated for the 2013 Lusophony Games and the Tilak Maidan was being renovated up to the AFC standards. During the 2013 AFC Cup, Churchill Brothers used Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune as their home ground. In 2022, the club moved to GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim.

In 2024–25 I-League season, the club used Raia Panchayet Ground, located in Raia, as their home venue.

Rivalries

Churchill Brothers has a major rivalry with their fellow Goan side Dempo, popularly known as the "Goan Derby".

They have also rivalries with other two Goan sides, Sporting Clube de Goa and Salgaocar, whom they faced in I-League, and currently in Goa Professional League.

Players

First-team squad

Personnel

Current technical staff

Honours

League

*I-League
** Champions (3): 2008–09, 2012–13, 2024–25
**Runners-up (3): 2007–08, 2009–10, 2020–21
*National Football League
**Runners-up (3): 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2001–02
**Third place (2): 1997–98, 1999–00
* National Football League II
**Runners-up (1): 2005–06

Cup

*Durand Cup
**Champions (3): 2007, 2009, 2011
**Runners-up (2): 2001–02, 2008
* Federation Cup
**Champions (1): 2013–14
*IFA Shield
**Champions (2): 2009, 2011
*Rovers Cup
**Runners-up (3): 1997, 1999, 2000–01
*Goa Governor's Cup
**Champions (3): 2000, 2002, 2003
**Runners-up (2): 1999, 2001
* Goa Police Cup
**Champions (1): 1999
**Runners-up (1): 2018
*Baji Rout Cup
**Runners-up (1): 2022

Regional

* Goa Football League
**Champions (8): 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2008–09, 2019–20
**Third place (1): 2007

Performance in AFC competitions

* Asian Club Championship: 1 appearance
:: 1997–98: 1st round
* AFC Champions League: 2 appearances
:: 2002–03: Qualifying round 3
::2010: Qualifying play-off

*AFC Cup: 3 appearances
::2010: Round of 16
::2013: Group stage
::2014: Round of 16

Team records

Seasonal records

;Key
*Tms. = Number of teams
*Pos. = Position in league
*Attendance/G = Average league attendance

Transfer record

* Highest transfer fee received – Khalid Aucho: for move to Egyptian club Misr Lel Makkasa in 2019.

Goalscoring record

* Highest goalscorer of the Indian NFL (with Churchill Brothers): Philip Mensah (1998–99), Yusif Yakubu (2001–02; 2002–03).

Other records

* Players won I-League Golden Boot for Churchill Brothers: Odafe Onyeka Okolie (thrice, in 2007–08, 2008–09, 2007–08); Willis Plaza (once, in 2018–19).

Team award(s)

*I-League Fair Play Award: 2016–17

Notable wins against foreign teams

Seasons

Managerial history

* Armando Colaco (1994–1999)
* Danny McLennan (1999–2000)
* Gregory Testvin (2000–2001)
* T. K. Chathunni (2001–2002)
* Marcus Pacheco (2002–2004)
* Shabbir Ali (2004–2005)
* György Kottán (2005–2006)
* Karim Bencherifa (2006–2008)
* Emeka Ezeugo (2008)
* Zoran Đorđević (2008–2009)
* Carlos Roberto Pereira (2009–2010)
* Vincent Subramaniam (2010–2011)
* Drago Mamić (2011)
* Sukhwinder Singh (2011)
* Manuel Gomes (2011–2012)
* Carlos Roberto Pereira (2012)
* Mariano Dias (2012–2014)
* Joseph Afusi (2014)
* Alfred Fernandes (2014–2016)
* Joseph Afusi (2016–2017)
* Derrick Pereira (2017)
* Mykola Shevchenko (2017)
* Petre Gigiu (2018–2019)
* Edward Ansah (2019)
* Bernardo Tavares (2019–2020)
* Mateus Costa (2020)
* Fernando Santiago Varela (2020–2021)
* Petre Gigiu (2021–2022)
* Antonio Rueda Fernández (2022)
* Fernando Santiago Varela (2022–2023)
* Mateus Costa (2023)
* Edgardo Malvestiti (2023–2024)
* Francesc Bonet (2024)
* Dimitris Dimitriou (2024–)

Notable players

World Cup players
* Emeka Ezeugo (1997–1998)
* Anthony Wolfe (2014, 2017, 2018–2019)

Foreign internationals

Other notable players
* I. M. Vijayan (2004–2005) – Captained India from 2000 to 2004; the Padma Shri and Arjuna and multiple AIFF Player of the Year awardee.
* Odafe Onyeka Okolie (2005–2011; 2014–2016) – club's all-time highest goalscorer, with 128 league goals (top scorer in league's 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10 seasons).
* Sunil Chhetri (2013) – most-capped player and the all-time top goalscorer of India.
* Yusif Yakubu (2001–2005; 2017) – NFL golden boot winner with Churchill in 2001–02, and 2002–03 rom 2001 to 2005, he scored 65 goals in 103 league matches with clubref name="rediff"/> (also won ''IndianFootball.com'' 'player of the Year' award with Churchill in 2003).
* Abdelhamid Shabana (2013–2014) – appeared in the African Games, and was part of the Egypt U-20 and U-23.
* David Izazola (2018) – won 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship with Mexico, alongside being bronze medalist at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
* Ahmad Al Kaddour (2013) – appeared at the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship with Syria U-19.
* Sadat Bukari (2018–2019) – appeared at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship with Ghana U-17.
* Dawda Ceesay (2019) – appeared at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup with Gambia U-17.
* Shadi Skaf (2021–2022) – captained Lebanon U-20 team at the 2013 Jeux de la Francophonie.
* Martín Cháves (2023–2024) – appeared at the 2015 South American U-17 Championship with Uruguay U-17.

Other departments

Women's team

The club has a women's section, that competes in Goa Women's League, and won the league title in 2022–23 season. They also participated in Indian Women's League. Club's midfielder Cia Ryzella Almeida was honoured with "Women's Player of the Year" award by Goa Football Association (GFA) in June 2023.

;Honours
* Goa Women's League
**Champions (1): 2022–23

Youth team

Churchill Brothers' U17 youth men's team competes in the Hero Youth League. Club's U19 team reached championship round in 2011 season. Their U15 team took part in Nike Premier Cup. Club's U20 team competed in I-League U20.

See also

* List of Churchill Brothers S.C. seasons
* List of Goan state football champions
* Indian football clubs in Asian competitions

Footnotes

References

Cited sources

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External links

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Team profile
at ''the-aiff.com'' (AIFF)

Team archive
at WorldFootball.net
Team profile
at Global Sports Archive

{{Durand winners

Association football clubs established in 1988
Football clubs in Goa
1988 establishments in Goa

I-League clubs