The 2016–17 season was the fourth in the history of Bengaluru Football Club. It began on 1 July 2016 and concluded on 30 June 2017, with competitive matches occurring between September and May. The season was a historic one for the club as they became the first Indian club to reach the final of the AFC Cup – suffering defeat against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya. The club also won their second Federation Cup, while in the league, Bengaluru ended their final I-League campaign in fourth place.
This season would be Bengaluru's first with head coach Albert Roca, who stepped in for Ashley Westwood. Coming into the season, Bengaluru were the reigning I-League champions and in the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup for the first time in their history. The season would see the departures of original players such as Curtis Osano, N.S. Manju, Thoi Singh, and Siam Hanghal, as well as foreign recruits Michael Collins and Kim Song-yong. Players such as Cameron Watson, Juanan, Álvaro Rubio, and Marjan Jugović were brought in as replacements. Club captain Sunil Chhetri meanwhile returned to the club on a permanent basis, along with goalkeeper Amrinder Singh.
Since the I-League did not start until January, Bengaluru began their season in September in the AFC Cup. The club managed to get past Tampines Rovers before defeating Johor Darul Ta'zim in the semi-finals. In the final against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya the club were defeated 1–0. In the league, Bengaluru began strongly, taking nine points from their opening three matches, conceding 0 goals while scoring 8. However, the club then went on to suffer a run of seven games without a victory as Bengaluru slipped to fifth place. The club would then go on to win five of their last eight matches but it would only be enough to finish in fourth. Consolation came for the club when they went on to win their second Federation Cup. A brace from C.K. Vineeth in extra-time was enough to beat Mohun Bagan in the 2017 final.
34 different players represented the club in four competitions and there were 19 different goalscorers. Bengaluru's top goalscorer for the fourth year running was Sunil Chhetri, who scored 12 goals in 30 appearances. The India international would go on to be named as the Hero of the League. This season would be Bengaluru's last in the I-League as the club would bid successfully for a spot in the Indian Super League.
Background
After narrowly missing out on the title during the 2014–15 season, Bengaluru claimed their second I-League title in three years on 17 April 2016. As a result, the club qualified to participate in the AFC Champions League qualifiers. However, in the Federation Cup, Bengaluru were unable to reclaim their title. The club were knocked-out by Aizawl in the quarter-finals. In Asian competition, Bengaluru managed to qualify for the knock-out round of the AFC Cup for the second season running with the club finishing second in Group H. The club then managed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time after they defeated Kitchee in the Round of 16.
A few days after Bengaluru defeated Kitchee, it was announced that head coach Ashley Westwood would leave the club. A month later, on 6 July 2016, it was announced that former El Salvador head coach Albert Roca would take over as Bengaluru's second coach. On his arrival, Roca said:
Squad movement Following the 2015–16 season, Bengaluru made a few changes to the squad. On 31 May, 2016, Curtis Osano, N.S. Manju, Thoi Singh, Siam Hanghal, Kim Song-yong, Michael Collins, and Nikhil Bernard were released by the club. Nine days later, Bengaluru confirmed that their captain, Sunil Chhetri, would be returning to the club on a permanent basis, after spending the previous season with Mumbai City. A week later, the club announced the signing of goalkeeper Amrinder Singh from Pune. Singh was previously also on loan with Bengaluru and would now join the club permanently. In August, Bengaluru announced the additions of three foreigners: midfielders Cameron Watson and Álvaro Rubio, and defender Juanan. The club then concluded the month with the signings of young defender Gursimrat Singh Gill and midfielder Darren Caldeira.
With a few of the AFC Cup matches occurring at the same time as the beginning of the Indian Super League, Bengaluru managed to secure loans for their players to various ISL clubs while retaining them until after the AFC Cup final in November.
Once the club's AFC Cup campaign had ended, Bengaluru began preparations for the I-League campaign that would begin in January. On 30 November, the club announced that Rubio, alongside Vishal Kumar and Darren Caldeira, would depart. Bengaluru then spent December bringing in players on loan from Indian Super League clubs. Defender Harmanjot Khabra was the first to be brought in from Chennaiyin on 12 December while midfielder Lenny Rodrigues soon followed from Pune City three days later. Goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya, defender Sena Ralte, and midfielder Mandar Rao Dessai were then all signed on 20 December from Pune City, Mumbai City, and Goa respectively. The club then ended preparations for the upcoming season with the addition of Honduran forward Roby Norales from Platense.
Almost a week after the club played their first I-League match, Bengaluru announced the signing of defender Sandesh Jhingan on loan from Kerala Blasters. Then, a few weeks later, on 2 February, after playing in just four matches, Norales was loaned out to I-League 2nd Division club Ozone. Twenty days later, the club would sign Serbian forward Marjan Jugović as Norales' replacement. Finally, after the conclusion of the I-League season and prior to the Federation Cup, Bengaluru announced the signing of forward Cornell Glen on loan from Ozone.
In PositionPlayerLast clubDateRefFW Sunil Chhetri Mumbai CityGK Amrinder Singh PuneMF Cameron Watson Newcastle JetsDF Juanan Rayo OKCMF Álvaro Rubio Real ValladolidDF Gursimrat Singh Gill AIFF Elite AcademyMF Darren Caldeira MumbaiGK Calvin AbhishekAcademyFW Roby Norales PlantenseFW Marjan Jugović Al-Akhaa Al-Ahli
Out PositionPlayerNew clubDateRefGK Nikhil Bernard Ozone31 May 2016DF Curtis Osano Farnborough31 May 2016DF N.S. Manju Ozone31 May 2016MF Michael Collins Leyton Orient31 May 2016MF Siam Hanghal Chennaiyin31 May 2016MF Thoi Singh Chennaiyin31 May 2016FW Kim Song-yong DSK Shivajians31 May 2016DF Vishal Kumar Minerva Punjab30 November 2016MF Álvaro RubioRetired30 November 2016MF Darren Caldeira Chennai City30 November 2016
Loans in
PositionPlayerLoaned fromLoan startRefDF Harmanjot Khabra Chennaiyin12 December 2016MF Lenny Rodrigues Pune City15 December 2016GK Arindam Bhattacharya Pune City20 December 2016DF Sena Ralte Mumbai City20 December 2016MF Mandar Rao Dessai Goa20 December 2016DF Sandesh Jhingan Kerala Blasters12 January 2017FW Cornell Glen Ozone1 May 2017
Loans out PositionPlayerLoaned toFromRefGK Amrinder Singh Mumbai City6 November–18 December 2016DF Keegan Pereira Atlético de Kolkata6 November–18 December 2016DF Lalchhuanmawia Mumbai City6 November–18 December 2016DF Rino Anto Kerala Blasters6 November–18 December 2016DF Salam Ranjan Singh NorthEast United6 November–18 December 2016MF Alwyn George Delhi Dynamos6 November–18 December 2016MF C.K. Vineeth Kerala Blasters6 November–18 December 2016MF Eugeneson Lyngdoh Pune City6 November–18 December 2016MF Malsawmzuala Delhi Dynamos6 November–18 December 2016MF Udanta Singh Mumbai City6 November–18 December 2016FW Daniel Lalhlimpuia Chennaiyin6 November–18 December 2016FW Sunil Chhetri Mumbai City6 November–18 December 2016FW Roby Norales Ozone2 February–31 May 2017
Pre-season and friendlies Despite the I-League not beginning until January 2017, Bengaluru FC played a series of friendlies in August in preparation of their AFC Cup matches. Their first match was on 13 August 2016 against Army Green. The club won 3–0 through a brace from Nishu Kumar and a goal from Sunil Chhetri. A week later, on 20 August, the club played another closed doors practice game against MEG and won 4–0. Daniel Lalhlimpuia scored a brace for Bengaluru FC while Chhetri and trialist Gursimrat Singh Gill scored the other two goals. Bengaluru FC suffered their first defeat of pre-season in their next match against DSK Shivajians. Juanan scored the consolation goal for Bengaluru FC as the match ended 1–2.
The club played their final match of pre-season on 28 August 2016 against Ozone FC. The result was a 1–0 defeat.
Competitions Overview
I-League
Summary
January
Bengaluru FC kicked off their title defense on 7 January 2017 at home against Shillong Lajong. Roca handed starts to new signings, Lenny Rodrigues, Harmanjot Khabra and Sena Ralte. Before the game, fans unfurled one of the largest tifos in Asia, measuring at 6,500 square feet. After starting tentatively, Bengaluru took a lead in 27th minute with a goal from Udanta Singh. In the second half, Udanta scored again before Sena Ralte scored his first goal for the club. Thus Bengaluru FC wrapped up a 3–0 win. Bengaluru FC played the next game against I-League debutant Chennai City. Bengaluru FC continued their attacking game, but they were thwarted by the Chennai City defense and close saves from man of the match, Karanjit Singh. However, the game turned when Roca substituted debutant Roby Norales and C.K. Vineeth in quick succession. The substitutes scored two goals in a span of three minutes and the club came out with a 2–0 win. In the final home game of the month on 18 January 2017, Bengaluru played Mumbai. C.K. Vineeth scored the first ever hat-trick for the club in any competition and Bengaluru FC won 3–0. Playing the next game against Kolkata rivals East Bengal, Bengaluru FC took a lead in 23rd minute with C.K. Vineeth's goal, but East Bengal quickly equalized through Ivan Bukenya five minutes later. In the second half, East Bengal exploited Bengaluru's vulnerable defense and finally, the substitute and former Bengaluru FC player Robin Singh scored the winner in 79th minute, thus handing Bengaluru FC their first defeat of the season. Bengaluru FC lost the subsequent away game against former champions Churchill Brothers. Sunil Chhetri opened the lead for the team, but the defense could not contain attacks from the Goan team and conceded a goal each in both the halves, losing the game 1–2. Bengaluru FC defender John Johnson was sent-off in the closing minutes.
February Benglauru FC began February with a game against DSK Shivajians F.C. on 5 February 2017. Bengaluru looked to be heading for another defeat when DSK Shivajians were leading 2–0 in the second half with a brace from Holicharan Narzary, but a goal from Sunil Chhetri and a last gasp header from the defender Salam Ranjan Singh ensured a point for the visitors. Bengaluru's winless run continued against the debutant Minerva Punjab F.C. when in spite of taking the lead in the second half with Sunil Chhetri's goal, Sandesh Jhingan's own goal meant 1–1 draw for Bengaluru. The game extended Bengaluru FC's winless run to five games across all competitions, their worst run since team's inception in 2013. Facing Aizawl F.C. next, Bengaluru FC had to endure another draw when they had to settle for 1–1. After conceding the lead, Sunil Chhetri equalized but missed the penalty in the second half and subsequently could not find a winner. With his goal, Chhetri also became the highest Indian goal scorer in National Football League and I-League combined, surpassing Bhaichung Bhutia, who scored 89 goals. Bengaluru further failed to win against Mumbai F.C. in the away game, when they failed to break the deadlock against defensive home team. Playing the next game against table toppers East Bengal F.C., Bengaluru lost the home game 1–3 with their former player Robin Singh scoring a brace and C.K. Vineeth scoring Bengaluru FC's only goal.
March