ARA FC

ARA Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Founded in 2016, the club is nicknamed "Ahmedabad Alphas", and previously competed in I-League 2nd Division. ARA FC is the first professional team from Gujarat to compete in the nationwide league. The club also competes in Gujarat SFA Club Championship.

Their reserve and youth teams play in both Hero Sub-Junior League and Hero Elite League, while the women's team is a member of Indian Women's League.

History Academy and early years Ahmedabad Racquet Academy (ARA) started its journey as a professional multi-sports academy in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which mainly consists of racquet sports and has been running since 2011 and began participating in Ahmedabad Junior league.ARA FC scripts stunning wins The Ahmedabad Mirror. Retrieved 8 October 2021. The football club was among the newest projects established by the academy in recent times as an initiative by owner Vikram Patel.

Formation of club The existing academy owned by Patel emerged as ARA FC in 2016 to ensure development of football in the Indian state of Gujarat. On 19 July 2018, their academy were accredited and given two stars based on eligibility criteria, which allowed them to play in Youth League U18. ARA as a club became affiliated with Gujarat State Football Association (GSFA) in 2017, and began competing in the ADFA Premier Division League.ADFA 1st Division League: AFC On The Move Ahmedabad Mirror. Retrieved 4 October 2021Ahmedabad District Senior Football League Gets Underway The Times of India. Retrieved 4 October 2021

2018–present On 20 November 2018, AIFF nominated ARA for proposed inclusion in the 2018–19 2nd Division League. On 7 December, it was announced that ARA FC would be one of nine clubs to play that season. Thus the Ahmedabad-based club became the only team from the state competing in a domestic tier league.

In their maiden I-League 2nd Division in the 2018–19 season, ARA finished in fourth place in Group A with 11 points in 8 matches as Lonestar Kashmir progressed to the final round.

They were nominated for participating in the 2021 I-League Qualifiers, by virtue of emerging victorious in Gandhinagar Premier League. They began their journey with a 1–1 draw against Corbett FC on 5 October at the Bangalore Football Stadium but did not advanced to the final round. In February–March 2023, the club participated in Stafford Challenge Cup in Bangalore. In August 2023, ARA gained I-League 3 spot to compete in the inaugural edition.

Home stadium

ARA FC plays its home matches at the EKA Arena, which has a capacity of 20,000 spectators. The stadium is located in Kankaria Lake, Ahmedabad, and has additional 10,000 temporary seats on the pitch area.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsor2018–2021SEVENAmul2021–presentDecathlon Sports

Current squad

Current technical staff

Position NameTeam manager Marmik PandyaHead coach Vivek Nagul Assistant coach Salim PathanPhysio Falgun Bhatt

Honours

League Gujarat SFA Club Championship Champions (2): 2022, 2025 ADFA Ahmedabad District League 2nd Division Champions (1): 2017 ADFA Ahmedabad District League 1st Division Champions (2): 2018, 2021–22 Gandhinagar Premier League Champions (1): 2020–21

Cup Heritage Cup Jaipur Champions (1): 2020

Records Season Div. Tms. Pos.Attendance/G Federation Cup/Super CupAFC Champions LeagueAFC Cup 2018–19IL216G4th 650 DNP DNP DNP 2019–20IL218Final round 4th – DNP DNP DNP Key Tms. = Number of teams Pos. = Position in league Attendance/G = Average league attendance

Managerial record updated on 25 October 2020 NameNationalityFromToPWDLGFGAWin%Vivek Nagul 20182021Manuel Retamero Fraile 2021

Notable players For current and former notable ARA FC players with a Wikipedia article, see: ARA FC players.

Other departments Women's team ARA FC has its women's football team that competes in the Indian Women's League, the highest division of Indian women's football. Before the kick-off of 2021–22 Indian Women's League season, four teams including ARA Women from four states played each other once in April 2022, in the qualifying round at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi and they qualified for the final round after topping the group.

Honours Gujarat State Women's League Champions (1): 2021–22 Third place (1): 2022–23

Youth men's Youth men's team of ARA competes in the Ahmedabad Elite Youth Cup Ahmedabad. Club's U17 team participated in "regional group stages" of 2022–23 U-17 Youth Cup.

Football academy Football Academy of ARA FC gained 'elite category' accreditation by the All India Football Federation in December 2023.

See also List of football clubs in India

References

ARA FC

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