Bengaluru FC is the most talked about football club in India. Since its Inception, it has scaled the height of success, like no other clubs in India. If we take look at the structure of Indian football and all the I-league clubs, one thing is constant that is the lack of infrastructure and professional attitude towards the game. That is where Bengaluru FC brought a change.
Established in the year 2013. BFC began their first competitive season in the I-League on the same year. Their attacking style of play and professional attitude immediately caught the eye of every soccer fan around the country. Currently, the club competes in the Indian Super League (ISL), one of the top leagues of Indian football.
The Club is owned by JSW group, a Mumbai based company. Bengaluru plays all their home matches at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. They have fantastic fan base back home. The club is also followed by a group of supporter called West Block Blues. The fan group travels with the team to cheer for their favorite stars in action. BFC often considers as one of the model clubs of Indian Football. Along with the professionalism, they brought the new sense of method and man-management skills on board. Which is quite necessary for the development of any player in the modern era.
The Success Story :
The JSW group and its managing director Sajjan Jindal always wanted to make BFC, as one of the most successful clubs of Indian football. In that endeavor, they created a team that comprises some of the finest young talents in Indian football, along with the experienced player like Sunil Chhetri. Sunil became captain and former Blackburn Rovers assistant coach Ashley Westwood became the first manager of Bengaluru FC. Under Westwood, the club has achieved lots of memorable feet. Westwood left behind a successful legacy to emulate.
In their debut season (2013-14), BFC went on to win the I-League title and created buzz around the football fraternity. To prove that it wasn't a fluke they repeated the same feet and won the prestigious title in 2015-16. The club has won two Federation Cup titles back in 2014-15 and 2016-17 respectively.
After Ashley Westwood resigned as the head coach of BFC, Albert Roca took the charge of the club as a manager. And continued the legacy, that Westwood left behind. Under Roca's, regime the club went on to the final of their inaugural ISL campaign this year. Even though they lost to Chennaiyin FC in the final. Their, style of play was praised by one and all. Before that Roca took Bengaluru, to the finals of 2016 AFC Cup, where they lost 1-0 to Iraqi team Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya. BFC became the first club of Indian football to reach the finals of the competition.
Albert Roca resigned after the successful campaign of 2018, Super Cup.
Within the span of five years, Bengaluru has achieved lots of success, one hopes that it will continue in future as well. The rise of Bengaluru FC is nothing short of a meteoric in Indian football.
