Kerala United FC

Kerala United Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Malappuram, Kerala.[3] Founded in 1976 as Calicut Quartz FC,[4] the club was an amateur and academy side during its early years. In December 2011, they announced intention to turn professional and participated in the I-League 2nd Division, the thrid tier of Indian club football.[5] In 2020 United World Group (owners of Sheffield United) took over the club and rebranded it as Kerala United.

Kerala United Football Club
Full nameKerala United Football Club[1]
Nickname(s)The Hornbills
Founded1976 (1976) (as Calicut Quartz FC)[2]
2020 (2020) (rebranded as Kerala United FC)
GroundPayyanad Stadium
Manjeri
Capacity30,000
OwnerAbdullah bin Musa'ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
(United World Group)
Head coachBino George
LeagueKerala Premier League
Kerala Women's League
WebsiteClub website
Active departments of Kerala United FC
Football (Men's) Football (Women's)

The club spent a season 2012–13 in the second division and later played in the Kerala Premier League. In 2017–18 Kerala Premier League season, they finished as runners-up.[6][7] After the takeover of Quartz FC in 2020 by United World Group, the club was rebranded as Kerala United FC.[8][9] The club initially began their training at Seethi Haji Stadium at Edavanna. Later moved to Malappuram District Sports Complex, which is widely known as Payyanad Stadium.[3]

History

Quartz Football Club was founded in 1976[10] in Kozhikode, Kerala and since has been growing up step by step from district to state to national level.[11] The Quartz Academy started in 2009 and has shown good promise.

In December 2011, they were officially certified by the All India Football Federation to participate in the I-League 2nd Division. For the first time in 2012 I-League 2nd Division quartz fc participated but failed to make an impression. They only got one point in the group stage thereby failing to get promotion.

In 2012–13 season, Quartz FC signed I-League players like Rino Anto, Sabas Saleel, K. Noushad, Manoj Manoharan, Sherin Sam, Kamardeep Singh, Suji Kumar, J. Prasad, P.M. Britto, Salil Usman and Ajmaluddin. Club also signed the top-scorer and player of the tournament at the 2012 Santosh Trophy V.V. Farhad. They appointed Assistant coach Bino George of Chirag United Club Kerala.[12] Later withdrew from the 2013 I-League 2nd Division due to financial instability.

Club managed to win Kozhikode District league back to back in 2011 and 2012. Later in 2013–14, Quartz SC played with their academy side in the very first edition of Kerala Premier League. Later in 2017–18 Kerala Premier League, they became runner-up after losing to Gokulam Kerala FC in the finals.[13] They had withdrawn from two editions of Kerala Premier League (2016–17, 2018–19) due to financial issues.[14]

“Kerala is known to be the heart of Indian football and when it comes to passion and support, no fan base in India comes close to their love for the beautiful game. Our focus will be on cementing and strengthening the foundations of the club, building an academy and developing homegrown players,”

Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, CEO of United World Group, after the takeover and rebranding of Kerala United FC.[15]

In November 2020, English Premier League Club Sheffield United have taken over Calicut Quartz and rebranded it as Kerala United FC. United World Group, the umbrella firm holding Sheffield, said in a statement that it envisages to make Kerala United a competitive, community-focused football club playing at the highest level possible in Indian football.[16]

P. Haridas, who owned Calicut Quartz FC, is also the president of the Kozhikode District Football Association (KDFA), said a Premier League club coming to the state will bring major changes to Kerala football. Company director Akshay Das said: “We're looking for an overall development in the state, especially in Malabar.”

As Kerala United, they participated in the 2020–21 Kerala Premier League and qualified for the knockout stages after finishing second in the Group-B with 12 points. In the semi finals, regular time couldn't separate Gokulam Kerala FC and Kerala United FC, match ending goalless. They lost 4–2 on penalties at the Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium.[17][18] In that season, they participated in Independence Day Cup in Assam and finished as runners-up, losing to Assam State Electricity Board SC by 4–3 in penalties.[19]

Crest, colours & kits
Great hornbill, the official state bird of Kerala, from which the crest of Kerala United has derived.

The United World Group had unveiled the crest after rebranding the club which features the Great Hornbill, the official state bird of Kerala. The club is also nicknamed after the bird as "The Hornbills".[20]

The primary colour of team is purple which dominates their home kit, with the hornbill crest in the right side, white shorts and white socks.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Period Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsor
2011–2013 Star Impact –
2013–2014 – Ramco
2017–2018 Nivia ICL Fincorp
2018–2020 Ramco[21]
2020–2021 KESPO[22] Micro Health Laboratories
2021–present SEGA

Kit evolution
2020–21
2021–22

Stadium

Former venues

Since 1977, Kerala United FC played its home matches at the EMS Stadium in Kozhikode.[23]

EMS Stadium on a matchday
A view of Seethi Haji Football Ground

In 2021, Kerala United FC shifted their base from Kozhikode to Malappuram district Seethi Haji Stadium, located in Edavanna, as their training ground.[24][25]

Current venue
A view of Malappuram District Sports Complex Stadium, Manjeri

The club plays its home games at the Payyanad Stadium in nearby town called Manjeri.[3]

Support and rivalry

Supporters

During its time as Calicut Quartz FC, a club recognised Kozhikode fan club named Rose Brigade were the supporters since 2017. The EMS Stadium had seen an average attendance of 45,000. The players and the coach had often acknowledged the fans' support in the success and called them "The 12th Man". Since the rebranding into Kerala United FC and the move into neighbouring Malappuram the club is building a great fan following in the locality.

Rivalries

During their time at Kozhikode as Calicut Quartz FC, they had a rivalry with former National Football League side FC Kochin.[26][27] They also enjoyed an on field rivalry with another Kozhikode based side Gokulam Kerala FC.[28] The first Kozhikode Derby match between the two teams took place in the final of 2017–18 Kerala Premier League, where Calicut Quartz FC beat Gokulam Kerala FC beat 3–2.[29] Upon change of ownership, team shifted its base from Kozhikode to Malappuram District which introduced a new Malabar Derby in Kerala Premier League. First match after acquisition was in 2020–21 Kerala Premier League semifinals, where two teams locked horns. The match ended as a goalless draw even after full time. Gokulam won 4–2 on penalties.[30]

Statistics
Competition Played Kerala United wins Draws Gokulam wins Kerala United goals Gokulam goals
Kerala Premier League 4 1 1 2 3 6
Total 4 1 1 2 3 6

Results
No Date Competition Venue Score Kerala United FC scorers/red cards Gokulam Kerala scorers/red cards Attendance
4 19 April 2021 2020–21 Kerala Premier League Maharaja's College Stadium, Ernakulam 0–0 Closed Doors
3 3 June 2018 2017–18 Kerala Premier League Municipal Corporation Stadium, Thrissur 0–2 Brian Umony, Arjun Jayaraj
2 10 May 2018 2017–18 Kerala Premier League EMS Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode 0–2 Mohamed Salah, Usman Ashik
1 25 April 2018 2017–18 Kerala Premier League EMS Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode 3–2 Emmanuel Aidoo Sushanth Mathew, Mama

Honours
Competition Kerala United Gokulam
Kerala Premier League 0 2[31][32]
I-League 2nd Division 0 0
I-League 0 1[33]
Super Cup (India) 0 0
Total 0 3

Players

First-team squad
As of 7 August 2021

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  IND Christurajan T
2 DF  IND Nidhin Krishna
3 DF  BRA Gabriel Lima Silva
4 DF  IND Muhammed Noufal K.
5 DF  IND Arun Nagial
6 MF  IND Adersh Mattummal
8 MF  IND Hrishi Dath
9 FW  BRA Victor Santana
10 FW  NGA Francis Nwankwo
11 FW  IND Bujair Valiyattu
12 DF  IND Sachu Siby
13 FW  IND Antony Beautin
14 FW  IND Salman Kalliyath
15 MF  IND Arjun Jayaraj (Captain)
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF  IND Arjun V.
17 FW  IND Riswanali Edakkavil
18 DF  IND Manoj M
19 MF  IND Akhil Praveen
20 DF  IND Munmun Lugun
21 FW  IND Nimshad Roshan
22 FW  IND Mousoof Naizan
24 DF  IND Siju Stephen
25 DF  IND Athul Unnikrishnan
26 FW  IND Jesin T.K.
28 FW  IND Safnad Mohammed
33 MF  IND Muhammed Shafeer
43 GK  IND Midhun V (Vice Captain)

Notable players

Had international caps for their respective countries whilst playing for Kerala United FC:

Personnel

Current staff
Position Name
Head coach Bino George[35]
Assistant coach Shareef Khan
Goal Keeping coach Vivek Venugopal
Team manager Jewel Jose
Physiotherapist Sandeep K Radhakrishnan

Youth academy
Position Name
Head of grassroots development Shajirudheen Koppilan
Head of youth development Suneer VP

Head coaching record
NameNationalityFromToPWDLGFGAWin%
Frank Braner  Germany 1 January 2012[36] 28 May 2012 7 0 1 6 4 29 000.00
Bino George  India 29 May 2012 29 December 2012 0 0 0 0 0 0 !—
Carlton Chapman  India 28 May 2017[37] 12 October 2020 10 6 1 3 21 20 060.00
Shajirudheen Koppilan  India 15 January 2021 4 July 2021 6 4 1 1 16 5 066.67
Bino George  India 16 August 2021[38] present 13 9 2 2 31 11 069.23

Corporate hierarchy
Position Name
Chief Executive Officer Shabeer Mannaril[39]
Managing Director Zakariya Koduvery[39]

Statistics and records
Season KPL I-League 2nd Division
2011—12 - Group stage
2012—13 - DNQ
2013—14 Group Stage DNQ
2014—15 DNP DNQ
2015—16 DNP DNQ
2016—17 Pulled Out from the League DNQ
2017—18 Runner-Up DNP
2018—19 DNP DNQ
2019—20 DNP DNP
2020—21 Semi Final -

Affiliated clubs

The following clubs are currently affiliated with KUFC:

Honours

League

Cup

See also

References
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