New Delhi: East Bengal were crowned the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) champions on Thursday, fending off the challenge of four other clubs in what was a blockbuster final matchday to a truncated season.The last time East Bengal won the league title, in 2004, the top division of Indian football was called the National Football League. It has since seen several incarnations: the I-League, Indian Super League and the I-League before its current offering in the ISL. In the 22 years since that glory, East Bengal have not been able to add to their three National League titles. They have finished second six times in the NFL/I-League era, while their best finish since joining the ISL fold was ninth.Until this season.The current season of 13 games each sets up a title race for the ages. East Bengal, city rivals Mohun Bagan Supergiant, Punjab FC, Mumbai City FC and Jamshedpur FC were all in with a chance as the games started together.Even the All India Football Federation (AIFF) kept the glittering ISL trophy at its Kolkata office, with Kishore Bharti Kirangan (temporary home of Inter Kashi) and Vivekananda Yuba Bharti Kirangan (home of Mohun Bagan Supergiant) as its destinations.If the results went the other way, other options included a flight to the glittering silverware, with a final destination in Mumbai, Jamshedpur or Punjab.
Action from East Bengal vs Inter Kashi in ISL. (Photo: Emami East Bengal)
In the end, with their destiny in their own hands, East Bengal came from behind to beat Inter Kashi 2-1 courtesy of goals from Yusuf Azjari and Rashid. Mohun Bagan, who made his comeback by beating SC Delhi 2-1, stayed top of the table for 51 minutes as Alfred put Inter Kashi ahead. But with their title aspirations not in their hands, Mohun Bagan declined and finished the season level with their city rivals but with an inferior goal difference. In other games of the day, Mumbai City FC beat Punjab FC 2-0 to move to third place in the standings. The match between Jamshedpur FC and Odisha FC ended in a goalless draw.East Bengal manager Oscar Bruzan perfectly captured the emotion on the eve of the game. “We cannot hide from the fact that it is now one game for one title. “If we want to take it one game at a time, now is the time to take it one title at a time,” he said.
East Bengal players celebrate after scoring a goal against Inter Kashi. (fan code)
On the pitch, the red and gold brigade played like it was truly “one title at a time”, with an intensity not unlike that seen earlier in the season.With just one loss in the campaign, East Bengal have been far from the best team. They have scored the most goals (30), have the strongest goal difference (+19), Youssef Azjari has been awarded the Golden Boot (11 goals), while Miguel Figueroa has the most assists (6).Ezzejjari’s impact has been most felt in domestic fixtures, with 10 of his 11 goals coming at Vivekananda Yuba Bharti Krangan. He has also been influential off the bench. In the four games in which he was brought on, he scored three goals. Overall, Ezzejjari and Edmund Lalrindika have been the most lethal attacking duo of the ISL season (15 goals).All statistics aside, East Bengal and their faithful will be chasing the glory for a variety of reasons: outdoing their city rivals Mohun Bagan, reviving the on-field rivalry for nostalgia’s sake, and above all, winning the title after 22 years. And they deserve every bit of it.
