The 2022–23 season was the ninth season in Kerala Blasters FC's existence, as well as their ninth season in the Indian Super League. This season of the ISL witnessed the return of the home-away format of the matches similar to that of the 2019–20 Indian Super League season after a break of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
In this season, the Blasters travelled to United Arab Emirates for their pre-season preparations, but were forced to cancel all of their friendlies in UAE after AIFF received a ban from FIFA for 'third party intervention'. But the ban was revoked by FIFA just ten days later and Blasters played one friendly each in UAE and in Kerala ahead of the league season. When the Blasters' main team flew to UAE for their pre-season preparations, the Blasters sent their reserve team for the 2022 Durand Cup, and reached the quarter-finals after advancing to the knockout stage as group runner-ups, but was knocked out by Mohammedan SC from the tournament. After the 2021–22 season, the Blasters only retained Marko Lešković and Adrián Luna as their foreigner players on two year contracts, and replaced the departed foreigners with Apostolos Giannou, Víctor Mongil, Ivan Kalyuzhnyi and Dimitrios Diamantakos. The Blasters retained sixteen players from the previous squad and included seven local players from the state for the upcoming ISL season.
Same like the previous season, the Blasters played the opening match of the ISL season on 7 October 2022, but this time against East Bengal FC, which they won 3–1 at full-time. After the opening match, the Blasters went on a three match losing streak, but they came back to their winning ways against NorthEast United FC on 5 November by 0–3 away from home. After the Blasters lost three consecutive matches after the opening match, the Blasters went on a five match winning streak, which became a new club record, and went on an eight match unbeaten streak, until 8 January 2023, where the Blasters met Mumbai City FC, as the Islander handed the Blasters their worst defeat of the season by the score of 4–0. Following the match against Mumbai City, the Blasters only won only two of their remaining league stage matches, and stood 5th in the table at the end of the regular season and qualified for the knockout stages of the tournament. This was the first time the Blasters managed to qualify for the ISL knockout stages for a second consecutive year and it was their fourth appearance in the knockout stages in their history.
With the arrival of a new format to ISL playoffs, the Blasters met arch-rivals Bengaluru FC in the first knockout stage match. The match that took place on 3 March was subjected to immense controversy and is known for the Blasters' walk-off. The Blasters players forfeited the match in the extra-time following the controversy around the legitimacy of the free-kick goal scored by the Sunil Chhetri for Bengaluru in the 96th minute of the extra-time. When the referee rejected the argument of the players and staff members of the free-kick being taken before the Blasters players set themselves in their defensive positions, coach Ivan Vukomanović called-off the players from the pitch into the dressing room. The match referee blew the final whistle and Bengaluru was awarded the win following a discussion with the match commissioner, resulting in the elimination of the Blasters from the tournament. The Blasters management then appealed to the AIFF for the match to be replayed and demanded for the match referee Crystal John to banned from refereeing. A separate panel of AIFF disciplinary committee was met three days later to decide on the sanctions on the Blasters for forfeiting the game, and the disciplinary committee rejected the Blasters' protest to replay the match. The AIFF disciplinary committee that met later that month imposed a fine of rupees 4 crores on the Blasters for abandoning the game and asked them to issue a public apology within a week, failing which the club would have to pay a fine of rupees 6 crores. The disciplinary committee also imposed a 10-match ban on Vukomanović from taking part in any AIFF held tournaments along with a fine of rupees 5 lakhs, and directed the latter to issue a public apology within a week, same as that of the club, failing which the fine would be increased, doubling to rupees 10 lakhs. The club and Vukomanović then issued their apologies and 'regrets' as directed by the AIFF DC as a part of their verdict.
After the ISL season, the Blasters took part in the 2023 Indian Super Cup, which took place in Kozhikode, Kerala. The Blasters were drawn in Group A alongside Bengaluru FC. They won their first group stage match of the tournament on 8 April against RoundGlass Punjab FC by 3–1, but lost the next match against Sreenidi Deccan FC by 2–0 just four days later. They met again versus Bengaluru FC in a must-win match on 16 April, but the match ended in a 1–1 draw, and the Blasters were eliminated from the tournament that took place in their home state, and the Blasters ended yet another season without bagging a silverware.
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Season overview
April On 4 April 2022, the Blasters announced the three-year contract extension of head coach Ivan Vukomanović until 2025.
On 6 April, it was confirmed that the 10 home matches of the Blasters will be held in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.
On 7 April, the Blasters confirmed the participation of their youth squad in the first ever Reliance Foundation Development League.
On 10 April, the Blasters announced their squad for the inaugural season of the Reliance Foundation Development League.
On 21 April, the Blasters announced the three-year contract extension of defender Bijoy Varghese until 2025. The club also brought back their jersey number 21, which was retired in 2020 after Sandesh Jhingan, who previously donned the shirt left the club.
On 25 April, the Blasters announced the three-year contract extension of midfielder Jeakson Singh until 2025.
May On 5 May, the Blasters announced the two-year contract extension of defender Marko Lešković until 2024.
On 11 May, the Blasters announced the two-year contract extension of goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill until 2024.
On 30 May, the Blasters announced the one-year contract extension of goalkeeper Karanjit Singh until 2023.
On 31 May, the Blasters announced the departure of the Spanish striker Álvaro Vázquez.
June On 1 June, the Blasters announced the departure of the winger Vincy Barretto to Chennaiyin FC after reaching an agreement with the latter.
On 2 June, the Blasters announced the three-year contract extension of goalkeeping coach Slaven Progovecki, and the strength and conditioning coach Werner Martens until 2025.
On 2 June, the Blasters announced the appointment of Rajah Rizwan as the club's academy and women's team director.
On 2 June, the Blasters announced the departure of the Bhutanese forward Chencho Gyeltshen.
On 3 June, the Blasters announced the departures of the goalkeeper Albino Gomes and the winger Seityasen Singh.
On 4 June, the Blasters announced the three-year contract extension of defender Sandeep Singh until 2025.
On 15 June, the Blasters announced signing of Bryce Miranda from Churchill Brothers FC Goa for an undisclosed transfer fee on a four-year deal.
On 23 June, the Blasters announced that they have reached an agreement with Churchill Brothers for the transfer of Saurav Mandal with the transfer remaining subject to the medical.
On 24 June, the Blasters announced the departure of Bosnian defender Enes Sipović.
On 28 June, the Blasters announced the signing of Saurav Mandal from Churchill Brothers for an undisclosed transfer fee on a three-year deal.
July On 4 July, the Blasters announced that they have reached an agreement with Mumbai City FC for the transfer of defender Sanjeev Stalin to Mumbai City.
On 6 July, the Blasters announced the departure of defender Denechandra Meitei to Odisha FC on a season long loan deal.
On 8 July, the Blasters announced the signing of Apostolos Giannou as their first foreign singing of the season with the transfer remaining subject to medical.
On 11 July, the Blasters announced the departure of the Argentine forward Jorge Pereyra Díaz.
On 13 July, the Blasters announced the signing of Víctor Mongil as their second foreign signing of the season in a one-year contract with an option to extend.
On 18 July, the Blasters announced the signing of Ivan Kalyuzhnyi as their third foreign signing of the season on a season long loan deal with the transfer remaining subject to medical.
On 18 July, the Blasters were drawn in the Group D of the 2022 Durand Cup tournament.
On 21 July, the Durand Cup announced the fixtures of the Blasters and the participating clubs.
On 21 July, the Blasters announced that they will be travelling to United Arab Emirates on 17 August until 29 August as a part of their pre-season preparations.
On 21 July, the Blasters announced the fixtures of their pre-season friendlies in UAE.
On 22 July, the Blasters announced the two-year contract extension of midfielder Adrián Luna until 2024.
On 23 July, the Blasters announced their squad for the 2022 Next Gen Cup in United Kingdom.
On 25 July, the Blasters announced the formation of their women's team and the appointment of Shereef Khan as the team's head coach for the upcoming season of the Kerala Women's League.
On 25 July, the fixtures of the 2022 Next Gen Cup was announced after the Blasters were drawn in the Group B (London Group) along with the Premier League sides Crystal Palace FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC and West Ham United FC.
August On 3 August, the Blasters announced it has reached an agreement for the transfer of Naorem Mahesh Singh to East Bengal Club.
On 4 August, the Blasters announced the signing of Frank Dauwen as their assistant manager for the upcoming season.
On 16 August, the Blasters announced their squad for the 2022 Durand Cup tournament.
On 17 August, the Blasters announced the squad for their pre-season friendlies in UAE.
On 17 August, the Blasters announced the signing of the forward Bidyashagar Singh on a season long loan deal from Bengaluru FC.
On 17 August, the Blasters released the club statement on the cancellation of all of their pre-season friendlies in UAE due to the ban imposed by FIFA on AIFF.
On 18 August, the Blasters announced Yakult as one of their associate partners for the upcoming season.
On 18 August, the Blasters announced 1XBat Sporting Lines as their presenting sponsors for the upcoming season.
On 19 August, the Blasters played their first group-stage match in the Durand Cup against Sudeva Delhi FC which ended in a 1–1 draw. Ajsal opened the scoresheet for the Blasters in the 42nd minute, but Sudeva pulled one back through Kuki right at the stroke of half-time.
On 23 August, the Blasters played their second group-stage match in the Durand Cup against Odisha FC which they lost 2–0. Isaac Vanmalsawma scored the opening goal for Odisha followed by a goal scored by Saúl Crespo which resulted in the Blasters losing their second match in the group-stage.
On 25 August, the Blasters announced the signing of the Greek forward Dimitrios Diamantakos as their final foreign signing of the season.
On 27 August, the Blasters played their third group-stage match in the Durand Cup against NorthEast United FC, which they won 0–3, thus registering their first win in the 2022 Durand Cup. The Blasters found early lead through Mohammed Aimen, which was followed by the goal scored by Ajsal in the 55th minute. Aimen completed his brace in the 90th minute after his twin brother Mohammed Azhar assisted him which helped Azhar to complete his second assist of the game after he assisted to the goal scored by Ajsal.