Air India FC
Air India Football Club is a football section of the same-named Indian institutional multi-sports club. Founded by Anand Prajapati in 1952, the club is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Sponsored by Air India, the club previously played in the Mumbai Football League, and now in the MFA Elite Corporate League.
| Full name | Air India Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Pilots | ||
| Founded | 1952 | ||
| Ground | Cooperage Ground | ||
| Capacity | 5,000 | ||
| Owner | Air India Limited | ||
| Head coach | Godfrey Pereira | ||
| League | MFA Elite Corporate League | ||
| 2022–23 | Champions | ||
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The club previously competed in the I-League, then top tier of Indian football league system. As multiple champions in various Mumbai competitions, Air India is best known for nurturing youngsters into big time players. Many of these boys have played with distinction for bigger teams in the later years.
In 2005, the team qualified to the National Football League first division, and then 2007 saw Air India finishing 7th and were the Mumbai Harwood Champions in 2005. Considered as one of the "giant killers" in Indian leagues, Air India also appeared in corporate tournaments such as the All India Public Sector League, and ONGC Trophy.