January 17 – In India, a new club has been born, ATK Mohun Bagan, following the merger of ATK and Kolkata giants and traditional powerhouse Mohun Bagan, integrating Bagan into the Indian Super League.
It had been an open secret for some years that Mohun Bagan have been struggling. They did not adapt to the altering landscape of Indian football with the advent of the ISL in 2013 and encountered financial problems. The new team will participate in the ISL from the 2020/21 season.
The integration of Bagan into the ISL is a victory for the league that has long been involved in a battle with the I-League for supremacy in Indian football.
“As much as we want the romance of the maroon and green jersey and it’s 130-year-old tradition to continue, there comes a time when romance almost invariably requires a partner named practicality,” said Mohun chairman Swapan Sadhan Bose.
The ISL had always been keen on including one of the two Kolkata giants in their league, but East Bengal and Mohun Bagan had always objected over the franchise fee of about $2.1 million. The clubs also didn’t want to cede their marketing rights to the ISL. In recent seasons, the attendances at ATK, in which Atletico Madrid previously held a stake, dropped dramatically.
Mohun Bagan was established in 1889 and is one of India’s oldest clubs. In 1911, the club became the first Indian-only side to win the national crown in a competition that had previously been dominated by British colonial clubs. Bagan also triumphed in the National Football League in 1998, 2000 and 2002. They were also 2015 I-League champions.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713599778labto1713599778ofdlr1713599778owedi1713599778sni@o1713599778fni1713599778
