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Reserve team and youth system of East Bengal FC From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
East Bengal Football Club Reserves and Academy commonly referred to as East Bengal, is the reserve team and youth system of the Indian Super League side East Bengal FC. Reserves generally consist of younger players, but at times senior players also play, if recuperating from injury or not getting first team game time. Apart from the I-League 2 (formerly), the reserve side plays in the Calcutta Football League, currently under the sponsorship name Emami East Bengal Club.
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| Full name | East Bengal Football Club Reserves and Academy | |||
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| Nickname(s) | The Red and Gold Brigade Bangal Brigade The Torch Bearers | |||
| Short name | EBFC | |||
| Ground | East Bengal Ground | |||
| Capacity | 23,500 | |||
| Owner | Emami East Bengal FC Pvt. Ltd.:
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| President | Murari Lal Lohia | |||
| Head coach | Bino George (Reserves) | |||
| League | CFL Premier Division RF Development League AIFF Elite League | |||
| Website | https://emamieastbengal.com/ | |||
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East Bengal FC Reserves and Academy are the under-21, under-17, under-15 and under-13 teams of East Bengal. The under-21 team is often the last stage before the promotion into the first team.[2] The youth teams participate in the Elite league of various age groups. The East Bengal Academy was re-instated on 20 June 2016 with the motive to establish a strong footprint in Indian football by producing quality professional players. The main objective of this project has been to supply professional quality players to the East Bengal senior team & Indian national team.[2]
The East Bengal Academy was founded in the early part of the 21st century and had a major success initially as the U-19 East Bengal team won the first two U-19 National Football leagues held in 2001-02 and 2002-03[3] and then the club's Under-15 team qualified for the Manchester United Premier Cup after being champions of India defeating Mahindra United 1–0 in the final,[4] and becoming South–East Asian regional runners up in 2007.[5] The Junior team faced the youth teams of Manchester United, A.S. Roma and Shandong Luneng and FK Austria Wien in the final round held in Manchester, however, they lost all the games in the group stages.[6] In the 17–20th place play-off semi-finals, the team defeated Bukit Jalil of Malaysia by 3-1, but lost to Central United of New Zealand in the 17th place play-offs by 5-3 via tiebreakers, after the game ended goalless. The U-15 team finished 18th[7] among the 20 teams who had reached the world final stage and is to date the best finish by any Indian club in the Nike Premier Cup.[8] The East Bengal U-19 team was the primary youth team before the Elite League started in 2010. Players like Israil Gurung, Saikat Saha Roy etc. were part of the East Bengal youth setup in the mid 2000s. In 2006, former East Bengal legend and National League winning coach Monoranjan Bhattacharya was appointed as the head coach of the East Bengal U-19 team.[9]
The East Bengal Academy started with new endeavours in 2016 as they brought in Ranjan Chowdhury as head of the project with an aim to produce Indian talents and build up the supply line for the main team of East Bengal.[10] The team finished runners-up in the 2016–17 I-League U18, losing 2-1 to AIFF Elite Academy in the final. The team also reached the semi-final in 2017–18.[11] The team was disbanded after the 2019–20 Indian Elite League was called off due to COVID-19 pandemic in India. In 2022, after the new investors Emami Group joined the club, the youth teams have been revived
East Bengal officially did not have a reserve team prior to 2020. However, the club formed a reserve team composed of academy players and few senior team members to participate in minor tournaments like Bordoloi Trophy. In 2018, the East Bengal Reserves team coached by Ranjan Chowdhury won the Darjeeling Gold Cup, defeating another Kolkata giant Mohammedan Sporting in the final.[12]
The reserve team was formed in 2020 and intended to play in the I-League 2, along with the Calcutta Football League from the 2020–21 season.[13] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India, the team was scrapped and after new investors Emami group tied up with the club, the reserve team was once again launched in 2022. Former Kerala football team coach Bino George was appointed as the head coach of the reserve team.[14][15] The club also recruited former captain Sangram Mukherjee as the goalkeeper coach for the team.[16] The club also bolstered the squad by making some top signings from the Santosh Trophy teams, including five players from Kerala, the champions of the 2021–22 edition.[17][18] The reserve participated in the 2022 Calcutta Premier Division and finished fourth in the Super Six.[19] The reserve team also participated in the 2022–23 I-League 2 along with the reserve teams of other Indian Super League sides – Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC , FC Goa, Hyderabad FC and Mumbai City FC. The club also roped in AFC A license holder Archisman Biswas as the assistant coach for the reserve side.[20] In the first season, East Bengal reserves side finished third in the group behind United and Shillong Lajong.[21]
| No. | Name | Nat. | Pos. | Date of Birth (Age) | Signed From | Signed In | Contact Ends | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||||||||
| 27 | Aditya Patra (captain) |  |
GK | 27 April 2000 | Bengaluru | 2022 | 2026 | 23 | 0 |
| 71 | Sangramjit Roy Chowdhury | |
GK | 26 October 1998 | Dempo | 2024 | 2026 | 1 | 0 |
| 51 | Kamaludheeen A. K. | |
GK | 9 October 2004 | Kerala | 2024 | 2027 | 0 | 0 |
| 95 | Gourab Shaw | |
GK | 4 May 2004 | Calcutta Port Trust | 2023 | 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders | |||||||||
| 38 | Hira Mondal | |
LB | 31 August 1996 | NorthEast United | 2024 | 2025 | 28 | 0 |
| 54 | Adil Amal | |
CB | 31 January 2002 | Mar Athanasius FA | 2022 | 2026 | 13 | 2 |
| 57 | Bathala Sunil | |
CB | 20 August 2003 | Sreenidhi Deccan | 2024 | 2027 | 7 | 1 |
| 60 | Tonmoy Ghosh | |
LB | 9 June 1992 | Diamond Harbour | 2024 | 2025 | 6 | 0 |
| 63 | Monotosh Chakladar | |
CB | 4 April 1998 | Diamond Harbour | 2024 | 2026 | 11 | 0 |
| 74 | Bunando Singh Khangembam | |
RB | 2 January 2004 | RFYC | 2023 | 2026 | 5 | 0 |
| 85 | Chaku Mandi | |
CB | 11 May 2000 | Bhawanipore | 2024 | 2027 | 6 | 0 |
| 90 | Joseph Justin | |
CB | 30 October 2004 | Parappur FC | 2023 | 2026 | 7 | 0 |
| Midfielders | |||||||||
| 54 | Ananthu N. S. | |
AM | 20 September 2004 | Parappur FC | 2024 | 2027 | 6 | 1 |
| 58 | Sanjib Ghosh | |
RW | 31 July 2000 | Mohammedan Sporting | 2022 | 2025 | 26 | 1 |
| 61 | Tanmay Das (vice–captain) | |
CM | 2 May 2001 | Railway FC | 2022 | 2027 | 29 | 2 |
| 62 | Aman C. K. | |
RW | 19 March 2003 | Mumbai City | 2022 | 2026 | 33 | 10 |
| 64 | Naseeb Rahman | |
RW | 19 October 2002 | FC Areacode | 2023 | 2026 | 10 | 0 |
| 66 | Shyamal Besra | |
CM | 25 September 2004 | Calcutta FC | 2022 | 2027 | 17 | 4 |
| 68 | Kush Chhetry | |
CM | 28 November 2004 | Muvanlai Athletics | 2023 | 2026 | 9 | 0 |
| 78 | Muhammed K. Ashique | |
RW | 6 December 2004 | Muthoot FA | 2023 | 2026 | 6 | 2 |
| 79 | Abinash Shagolsem | |
AM | 2 July 2007 | FC Mangalore | 2024 | 2027 | 2 | 0 |
| 80 | Ajad Saheem T. | |
AM | 15 December 2002 | Golden Threads | 2024 | 2026 | 7 | 1 |
| 81 | Suman Dey | |
LM | 10 February 2003 | Kasba Samannoy | 2023 | 2026 | 9 | 0 |
| 82 | P. V. Vishnu | |
AM | 24 December 2001 | Muthoot FA | 2023 | 2026 | 46 | 13 |
| 84 | Sayan Banerjee | |
LW | 14 January 2003 | Kalighat MS | 2023 | 2026 | 22 | 6 |
| 86 | Muhammed Roshal P. P. | |
RW | 8 March 2003 | Wayanad United | 2023 | 2026 | 14 | 0 |
| 87 | Bijay Murmu | |
RW | 2 December 2000 | Bhawanipore | 2024 | 2027 | 5 | 0 |
| 89 | Muhammed Musharaf | |
LW | 22 October 2003 | Gokulam Kerala | 2023 | 2025 | 11 | 2 |
| Forwards | |||||||||
| 52 | Debojit Roy | |
FW | 26 November 2007 | East Bengal U-17 | 2024 | 2029 | 0 | 0 |
| 59 | Jesin TK | |
FW | 19 February 2000 | Kerala United | 2022 | 2026 | 33 | 21 |
| 72 | Subrata Murmu | |
FW | 21 September 2002 | United | 2024 | 2027 | 6 | 1 |
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Bino George |
| Assistant coach | Archisman Biswas |
| Assistant coach | Barun Sengupta |
| Goalkeeper coach | Sangram Mukherjee |
| Physiotherapist | MD Shakil |
| Head of Performance & Video Analyst | Aromal Vijayan |
| Team manager | Pratim K. Saha |
The East Bengal U-21 team participates in the Reliance Foundation Development League, the national U-21 tournament from 2023.[23][24][25] The reserve team head coach Bino George has been in charge of the U-21 squad.[26] On 14 March 2024, in the first RFDL game, East Bengal defeated United SC.[27] On 21 April 2023, East Bengal defeated arch-rivals Mohun Bagan U-21 2–0 to become the East zone champions and qualify for the national group stage in their very first season in the RFDL.[28][29] East Bengal finished second in the national group stage and ended their maiden campaign.[30] In 2024, East Bengal once again became the East Zone champions,[31] and finished runner-up in the 2024 RFDL losing 3–2 in the final against Punjab.[32] East Bengal U-21 qualified for the 2024 Next Gen Cup to be held in Birmingham, United Kingdom along with Punjab and Muthoot FA from India.[33]
East Bengal squad for the Reliance Foundation Development League 2024.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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| Performance of East Bengal Academy in Reliance Foundation Development League | |||||||||||||
| Year | Zonal Round | National Group Stage | National Championship | Next Gen Cup | Ref | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Did not participate | — | [35] | ||||||||||
| 2023 | Champions | 2nd | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | [36] | ||||||||
| 2024 | Champions | Champions | Runner-up | Qualified | [32] | ||||||||
The under-17 team participates in the U17 Youth Cup. The team is coached by former East Bengal captain Tarun Dey.[37]
The National Football League U-19 was launched in 2001 and the East Bengal U-19 team won the inaugural edition defeating India sub-juniors 3–2 in the final.[38] The U-19 team defended the title the following year as they defeated JCT Football Academy 1–0 in the final.[39] The team also finished runners-up in the 2003–04 edition as they lost to their rivals Mohun Bagan U-19 3–1 in the penalty shoot-out after the final ended 0–0 in regulation time.[3] After the tournament was restarted as the I-League U19 in 2008 and later renamed to Elite League, the East Bengal team became runners-up four times, failing to win to the title. In 2022, the tournament was redesigned as a U-17 category, after not being held for two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[40] In 2024, the team clinched Kolkata leg of the Dream Sports Championship title defeating United SC in final.[41]
The East Bengal Under-17 squad for 2023-24 season[42]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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As of 18 December 2023
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Barun Sengupta |
| Assistant coach | Hirak Saha |
| Physiotherapist | Ankan Roy Chowdhury |
| Team manager | Aritra Dutta |
| Assistant team manager | Arun Kumar Jaiswal |
| Performance of East Bengal Academy in Youth Leagues | |||||||||||||
| Year | Tournament | Final Position | Ref | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | National Football League U-19 | Champions | [3][38] | ||||||||||
| 2002–03 | National Football League U-19 | Champions | [3][43][39] | ||||||||||
| 2003–04 | National Football League U-19 | Not Held | [3] | ||||||||||
| 2004–05 | National Football League U-19 | Runners-up | [3] | ||||||||||
| 2005–07 | National Football League U-19 | Not Held | [3] | ||||||||||
| 2008 | I-League U19 | Quarter-Finals | [44] | ||||||||||
| 2009 | I-League U19 | Not Held | |||||||||||
| 2010 | I-League U19 | Runners-up | [45] | ||||||||||
| 2011 | I-League U19 | Runners-up | [46] | ||||||||||
| 2012 | I-League U-20 | Group Stages | [47] | ||||||||||
| 2013 | I-League U-20 | Final Round | [48] | ||||||||||
| 2014 | I-League U19 | Runners-up | [49] | ||||||||||
| 2014–15 | I-League U19 | Group Stages | [50] | ||||||||||
| 2015–16 | I-League U-18 | Final Round | [51] | ||||||||||
| 2016–17 | I-League U-18 | Runners-up | [52] | ||||||||||
| 2017–18 | Youth League U-18 | Semi-Finals | [11] | ||||||||||
| 2018–19 | Elite League U-18 | Quarter-Finals | [53] | ||||||||||
| 2019–20 | Elite League U-18 | Abandoned [a] | [54] | ||||||||||
| 2020–22 | Elite League U-18 | Not Held | [40] | ||||||||||
| 2022–23 | U17 Youth Cup | Group Stages | [55] | ||||||||||
| 2023–24 | U-17 Youth League | Disqualified [b] | [57] | ||||||||||
The under-15 team participates in the Elite Youth League. The team is coached by Chandan Kumar Ray.[58]
The East Bengal Academy Under-15 squad for 2019–20 season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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| Performance of East Bengal Academy in U-15 Youth Leagues | ||
| Year | Tournament | Final Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | U-15 Nike Premier Cup | Runners[59] |
| 2006-07 | U-15 Nike Premier Cup | Champions[4] |
| 2015-16 | U-15 Nike Premier Cup | Zonal Round |
| 2016-17 | U-15 Nike Premier Cup | Zonal Round |
| 2017-18 | U-15 Nike Premier Cup | National Finals[60] |
| 2018-19 | U-15 Hero Junior League | National Playoffs[61] |
| 2019-20 | U-15 Hero Junior League | Disqualified (League called-off due to the COVID-19 pandemic) |
Win Draw Loss
| 1 August 2007 Group stage | Manchester United U15 | 5–0[62] | East Bengal U15 | Manchester |
| 09:30 BST | Nicholas Jackson  11'David Mellor 17', 28', 38'Rory Gorman 20' |
Report | Stadium: Carrington |
| 1 August 2007 Group stage | Shandong Luneng U15 | 3–0[63] | East Bengal U15 | Manchester |
| 14:30 BST | ?? |
Report | Stadium: Carrington |
| 2 August 2007 Group stage | FK Austria Wien U15 | 2–0[64] | East Bengal U15 | Manchester |
| 09:30 BST | David 11' Christoph 15' |
Report | Stadium: Carrington |
| 2 August 2007 Group stage | AS Roma U15 | 2–0[65] | East Bengal U15 | Manchester |
| 15:30 BST | Mattia Montini 2', 42' |
Report | Stadium: Carrington |
| 3 August 2007 17-20th Semi Final | East Bengal U15 | 3–1[66] | Bukit Jalil U15 | Manchester |
| 09:30 BST | Suprovan Dhar 4' Ajoy Ray 7', 20' |
Report | Fouzan 30' |
Stadium: Carrington |
| 3 August 2007 17-20th Final | East Bengal U15 | 0–0[7] (3–5 p) | Central United U15 | Manchester |
| 11:30 BST | Report | Stadium: Carrington | ||
| Penalties | ||||
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The under–13 team participates in the Elite Youth League. The team is coached by Suraj Singh Bisht.[67]
The East Bengal Under–13 squad for the 2023–24 season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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| Performance of SC East Bengal Academy in U-13 Youth Leagues | ||||||
| Year | Tournament | Zonal Round | National Finals | Top Scorer | Goals | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | U-13 Hero Sub Junior League | 4th | Did not qualify | Souvik Dari Jit Sarkar | 2 | |
| 2018–19 | U-13 Hero Sub Junior League | 2nd | Did not qualify | Rajibul Halder | 3 | [68] |
| 2019–20 | U-13 Hero Sub Junior League | League called-off due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Avijit Kotal | 3 | ||
| 2023–24 | U-13 Sub Junior Youth League | Champions | To be decided | Sisir Sarkar | 12 | |
East Bengal's youth system has been successful over the last few years; many players who have come through it have gone on to feature in the first-team. The following players have risen up the ranks from the under age teams and gone on to play over ten competitive matches for the first team.
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2000s |
2010s |
2020s 
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East Bengal FC academy graduates who didn't make it at the club but made it somewhere else and even went on to play for the national team:
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2000s |
2010s |
2020s
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