Kerala football team

The Kerala football team, formerly known as Travancore-Cochin football team, is an Indian state level semi-professional football team representing Kerala in Indian state football competitions including the Santosh Trophy and National Games of India.

The team appeared in the Santosh Trophy finals 15 times, and have won the trophy 7 times. Kerala last won the Santhosh Trophy in 2022 by defeating Bengal in the final on 2 May at the Payyanadu Stadium in Malappuram. The Kerala team was captained by Jijo Joseph under head coach Bino George, being unbeaten during the tournament.

Statistics and records Season-by-season

Champions   Runners-up   Semifinal Season Santosh Trophy Qualifiers Top Scorer Player Goals1959–60301219Final round3120211963–64100103First round1968–69100103First round1969–70100117First roundJoseph Raju11973–746510188ChampionsTKS Mani71981–822SemifinalAppukuttan91983–84SemifinalRanjith61984–85211050Preliminary league5 players11985–86420263Semifinal1986–87312032Semifinal1987–886420101Runners Up C. V. Pappachan 51988–89Runners up1989–906312119Runners UpI. M. Vijayan, Santosh31990–91Runners Up1991–924301120ChampionsPS Asheem, Harshan, Rajeev31992–93640183ChampionsI. M. Vijayan31993–94210161Runners UpJo Paul Ancheri31994–95Semifinal1995–96Semifinal1996–97421161SemifinalVP Shaji31997–98302103Group Stage1998–99100113Semifinal220051Asif Saheer31999–005311105Runners upAsif Saheer42001–024400168ChampionsAbdul Hakim72002–034301107Runners UpSylvester Ignatius32004–05431094ChampionsAbdul Naushad22005–06320141SemifinalAbdul Hakkim22006–07422051SemifinalPradeep32007–08312039Group StageAsif Saheer Abdul NaushadJaved OK12008–09100101Pre Quarter220080Zubair KP32009–10100101Pre Quarter3300183Javed OK42010–11101000Pre Quarter321081NANA2011–12532084SemifinalKannan22012–13532084Runners UpKannan42013–14420264Group Stage4301234NANA2014–15531144Semifinal2200100V P Suhair32015–16did not qualify211031Firos Seesan Askhar12016–175212119Semifinal321062 Jobby Justin52017–186510183Champions211070 Rahul KP Afdal VK Jithin MS52018–19did not qualify3021012019–20Not held due to covid2200110 Emil Benny32021–226420197Champions3300181Jesin TK122022–23522198Final Round5500242Nijo Gilbert82023–24623175Quarter Finalist4301122Nijo Gilbert

Players

Current squad As of 14 January 2026:

Current technical staff

As of 14 January 2026 PositionName Head coach Shafeeq Hassan Assistant coach Ebin Rose Goalkeeping coach Thomas Chacko Physio Ahmed Nihal Rasheed Manager Shaji PK Analyst Kiran K Narayanan

Results and fixtures

Honours

State (senior) Santosh Trophy Winners (7): 1973–74, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2001–02, 2004–05, 2017–18, 2021–2022 Runners-up (9): 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1993–94, 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2012–13, 2024–25 National Games Gold medal (3): 1987, 1997, 2025 Silver medal (2): 1994, 2022 Bronze medal (1): 2023

State (youth) B.C. Roy Trophy Winners (3): 1968–69, 1971–72, 1972–73 Runners-up (5): 1973–74, 1974–75, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1985–86 Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy Winners (2): 1981–82, 1983–84 M. Dutta Ray Trophy Winners (1): 1995

Others Sait Nagjee Football Tournament Runners-up (1): 1986

References