2009–10 I-League
This season marks the addition of four new teams, with Lajong SSC, Pune FC, Salgaocar Sports Club and Viva Kerala are confirmed to participate in the I-League. With the inception of these four clubs, many club transfers have been undergone within India, and around the world. The length of the regular season will be longer than in previous years, with 26 rounds rather than 22.
The season kicked off on October 1, 2009 with Mahindra United hosting defending champions Churchill Brothers in Mumbai.
Rule changes
India became the latest member association to adopt AFC's 3+1 rule which will allow clubs to recruit one player of Asian origin in addition to their regular quota of three foreigners.The All India Football Federation executive committee decided to embrace the new AFC rule which encourages the mobility of talented Asian players and provides a fillip to the regional game.
AFC Campaign
Two of the I-League teams are playing in 2010 AFC Cup. This has caused some delays in scheduling. East Bengal lost all its round robin matches and is out of the tourney, but Churchill Brothers are at Knockout stage.Stadia and locations
Club | Location | Stadium |
Churchill Brothers Sports Club | Goa | Fatorda Stadium |
Dempo Sports Club | Goa | Fatorda Stadium |
Sporting Clube de Goa | Goa | Fatorda Stadium |
Salgaocar Sports Club | Goa | Fatorda Stadium |
Mohun Bagan | Kolkata | Yuva Bharati Krirangan |
East Bengal Club | Kolkata | Yuva Bharati Krirangan |
Prayag United | Kolkata | Yuva Bharati Krirangan |
Mahindra United | Mumbai | Cooperage Ground |
Mumbai FC | Mumbai | Cooperage Ground |
Air-India | Mumbai | Cooperage Ground |
Pune FC | Pune | Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex |
JCT FC | Phagwara | Guru Gobind Singh Stadium |
Shillong Lajong FC | Shillong | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium |
Viva Kerala | Kozhikode | Municipal Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode |
Managerial changes
League table
Fixtures and results
Top goalscorers
As of 18 May 2010;21 goals
;16 goals
- Muritala Ali '
- Josimar '
- Ekene Ikenwa '
;14 goals
- Edmar Figueira '
- N.D.Opara '
- Mohammed Rafi '
- Jose Ramirez Barreto '
- Chidi Edeh '
- Edmilson '
;10 goals
- Arata Izumi '
- Junior Obagbemiro '
Hat tricks