Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Inter Kashi FC

Inter Kashi
Full nameInter Kashi Football Club
Nickname(s)Kaashee ke Yoddhas (Warriors of Kashi)
Short nameIKFC
Founded29 June 2023; 17 months ago (2023-06-29)[1]
GroundEkana Football Stadium
Sigra Stadium
Naihati Stadium
Capacity2,000
500
25,000
OwnerRDB Group of Companies
ChairmanVinod Dugar
Head coachAntonio López Habas
LeagueI-League
2023–24I-League, 4th of 13
Websitewww.kashi.football
Current season

Inter Kashi Football Club is an professional football club based in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The club currently competes in the I-League, the second tier league of the Indian football league system.[2][3] It is the first professional club from the state of Uttar Pradesh to play in a national level league of the country.[4][5]The club is in collaboration with Spanish club Atlético Madrid and Andorran clubs Inter Escaldes and FC Andorra.[2][6]

History

In May 2023, the All India Football Federation, the governing body of football in India, announced they would accept bids for new clubs to join 2023–24 I-League season onwards.[7] On 29 June 2023, it was announced that agreement for the Varanasi franchise had been reached between Kolkata-based RDB Group of Companies and European clubs Atlético Madrid and Inter Escaldes.[8][9] FC Andorra has an association with Inter Escaldes, but does not have any direct role with Inter Kashi. The moniker of "Inter" was added because of the tie up with Inter Escaldes.[10]

The club also announced creation of the Atlético de Bharat Academy for the development of grassroots football in the state.[11] Spaniard Carlos Santamarina was chosen as the first head coach of the club, while Javier Broch and Arata Izumi were roped in as assistant coach.[12] English footballer Peter Hartley was the first player signed by the club.[13]

On 28 October 2023, Inter Kashi played their first ever official match against Gokulam Kerala in the I-League. Edmund Lalrindika scored the club's first goal, and Mohammed Asif Khan scored the equalizer to earn the maiden point in a 2–2 draw.[14] Their first win came against Namdhari on 6 November 2023.[15] On 21st November, Inter Kashi played their first I-League home match against Mohammedan in the Ekana Football Stadium in Lucknow.[16] In October 2024, Inter Kashi's two players Sachu Siby and Harmanpreet Singh joined Primera Divisió outfit Inter Escaldes.[17]

Club crest and kits

Crest

In the Inter Kashi's crest, Tripundra (three horizontal lines on the top of the crest) resembles Lord Shiva's threefold power of will (icchāśakti), knowledge (jñānaśakti), and action (kriyāśakti). The graphical image below the club name on the crest portraits Manikarnika Ghat.[18]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Back sponsor Chest sponsor
2023–2024[19] SIX5SIX Cello Uttar Pradesh Tourism RDB Group
Nahar Group
2024–present Hummel UCO Bank
IndiaShoppe

Players

First-team squad

As of 1 November 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK India IND Shubham Dhas
2 MF India IND Mohammed Asif Khan
3 DF India IND Aritra Das
4 DF Spain ESP David Humanes
6 MF Spain ESP Julen Pérez
7 MF Finland FIN Joni Kauko
8 MF India IND Phijam Vikash Singh
9 FW Spain ESP Mario Barco
10 FW India IND Edmund Lalrindika
11 FW India IND Bidyashagar Singh
12 GK India IND Rakshit Dagar
13 GK India IND Sharon Padattil
14 MF India IND Karthik Panicker
15 MF India IND Sweden Fernandes
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF India IND Sandip Mandi
17 DF India IND Anil Chawan
19 FW India IND Chirag Bhujel
18 MF India IND Tomba Singh
20 MF Serbia SRB Nikola Stojanović
21 DF India IND Narayan Das
22 DF India IND Ashray Bhardwaj
23 DF India IND Sarthak Golui
24 DF India IND Kojam Beyong
25 FW India IND Sumeet Passi (captain)
26 DF India IND Deepak Devrani
27 FW Morocco MAR Domi Berlanga
28 FW India IND Prasanth Mohan
29 GK India IND Arindam Bhattacharya

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
DF India IND Sachu Siby (at Inter Club d'Escaldes until 31 May 2025)
FW India IND Harmanpreet Singh (at Inter Club d'Escaldes until 31 May 2025)

Staff and management

Current staff

Position Name
Head coach Spain Antonio Lopez Habas[20]
Assistant coach Spain Carlos Fonseca[21]
India Arata Izumi[22]
Strength & conditioning coach Spain Alberto Santana[23]
Goalkeeping coach Spain Fernando Llopis [24]
Spain Luis García
Player Care Manager India Abdeali Fatema Deesawala

Management

Position Name
Chairman India Vinod Dugar
Chief Operations Officer India Bhaskar Basu

Records and statistics

Overview

Season League Super Cup Durand Cup
League Tier No. of Teams Position
2023–24 I-League II 13 4th Group Stage Group Stage

League statistics

Season Division Top scorer
Division Position P W D L GF GA Player Goals
2023–24 I-League 4th 24 11 8 5 47 41 Spain Mario Barco 12

Notable players

The following Inter Kashi players have been capped at senior/youth international level. Years in brackets indicate their spells at the club.

Associated clubs

The following clubs are associated with Inter Kashi:

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b "Collaboration agreement in the Inter Kashi project". Club Atletico de Madrid. 29 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Inter Kashi eyes Hero I-League entry with strong European backing". The Bridge. 29 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Inter Kashi Launched in Partnership With Three European Clubs, Eye I-League Participation". News18. 29 June 2023. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Inter Kashi Become Latest Addition To Indian Football, Partner With Famous European Clubs Including Atletico Madrid". English Jagran. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
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  32. ^ "Blasters' young gun Lalruatthara dreams of donning India colors". OnManorama. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  33. ^ https://www.the-aiff.com/article/india-u23s-to-play-two-friendlies-against-malaysia
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