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The Kerala Premier League is the highest state-level football league organized by the Kerala Football Association and played in the state of Kerala, India. It is the overall fifth tier of the Indian football league system. For sponsorship reasons it is officially known as the Elite Kerala Premier League. Founded in 1998, the Kerala Football League was the first football league in Kerala, and got rebranded in 2013 as the KPL. Kerala United is the current champion.
| Organising body | Kerala Football Association |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 (as Kerala Football League) |
| Country | India |
| Number of clubs | 14 |
| Level on pyramid | 5 |
| Promotion to | I-League 3 |
| Relegation to | Kerala Premier League Second Division |
| Current champions | Gokulam Kerala B (3rd title) |
| Most championships | SBT Thiruvananthapuram (6 titles) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Sports Reporter[1](YouTube) |
| Current: 2025–26 | |
History
editKerala Football League
editAfter the introduction of the National Football League by the All India Football Federation, the Kerala Football Association started its Kerala Football League (KFL) in 1998. The team finishing top was nominated to 2nd division of the National Football League.
1998 season
edit1999 season
edit2007 season
editSBT FC won the title, and Central Excise Kochi become the runners up.[3]
Format
editTeams (2026)
editTeams and locations
edit| Team | City | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calicut | Kozhikode |
| 2 | EMEA College | Kondotty |
| 3 | Golden Threads | Kochi |
| 4 | Gokulam Kerala B | Kozhikode |
| 5 | Inter Kerala | Kothamangalam |
| 6 | Kerala Blasters B | Kochi |
| 7 | Kerala Police | Trivandrum |
| 8 | Kerala United | Thrissur |
| 9 | KSEB | Trivandrum |
| 10 | Kovalam | Kovalam |
| 11 | PFC Kerala | Parappur |
| 12 | Real Malabar | Kondotty |
| 13 | SAI Centre | Kollam |
| 14 | Wayanad United | Kalpetta |
Number of teams by region
editSponsorship
edit- 2013–15, 2018–21: Ramco[6]
- 2015–16: Dentcare Dental Lab
- 2016–17: Cochin Shipyard[7]
- 2017–18: ICL Fincorp[8]
- 2022–24: Scoreline, Elite
Team statistics
edit| Team | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| SBI Kerala | 6 | 5 |
| Gokulam Kerala B | 3 | 3 |
| KSEB | 2 | 2 |
| FC Kochin | 2 | 1 |
| Kerala United FC/Quartz FC | 2 | 1 |
| Viva Kerala FC | 1 | 0 |
| Eagles | 1 | 0 |
| Indian Navy FC | 1 | 0 |
| Kerala Blasters B | 1 | 0 |
| Golden Threads FC | 1 | 0 |
| Muthoot FA | 1 | 0 |
| Trivandrum Titanium FC | 0 | 2 |
| Central Excise Club | 0 | 2 |
| Kerala Police | 0 | 2 |
| FC Thrissur | 0 | 1 |
| SAT | 0 | 1 |
| Calicut | 0 | 1 |
Championship summary
edit| Season | Champions | Runners-up | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | FC Kochin | SBT | |
| 1999–2000 | [9] | ||
| 2000–01 | SBT | Trivandrum Titanium FC | |
| 2001–02 | League cancelled | ||
| 2002–03 | |||
| 2003–04 | SBT | FC Kochin | |
| 2004–05 | KSEB | SBT | [10] |
| 2005–06 | Viva Kerala FC | ||
| 2006–07 | SBT | Central Excise Club | [11] |
| 2007–08 | Trivandrum Titanium FC | ||
| 2009–2013 | League not held | ||
| 2013–14 | Eagles F.C. | SBT | |
| 2014–15 | SBT | Kerala Police | |
| 2015–16 | Central Excise Club | ||
| 2016–17 | KSEB | FC Thrissur | |
| Gokulam Kerala B | Quartz FC | [12] | |
| 2018–19 | Indian Navy FC | Gokulam Kerala B | |
| 2019–20 | Kerala Blasters B | ||
| 2020–21 | Gokulam Kerala B | KSEB | |
| 2021–22 | Golden Threads FC | [13] | |
| 2022–23 | Kerala United FC | Gokulam Kerala B | [14] |
| 2023–24 | SAT | [15] | |
| 2024–25 | Muthoot FA | Kerala Police | [16] |
| 2025–26 | Gokulam Kerala B (3) | Calicut | [17] |
Top scorers
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ↑ https://youtube.com/@sportsreporterlive?si=SIuH9simjd2r5Nsr
- ↑ Staff (5 April 2006). "1999 season Kerala Football League". Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ↑ Staff (5 April 2006). "2007 season Kerala Football League". Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ↑ "Kerala U-21 Football Team aims for Santosh Trophy as Kerala Premier League kicks off". thenewsminute.com. 18 April 2016. Archived from the original on 22 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- ↑ "Crippled but Trudging Along..." newindianexpress.com. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 22 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- ↑ "KFA Announces Kerala Premier League". Football News India. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ↑ Correspondant, Special (5 April 2017). "Kerala Premier League to kick off on April 8". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ↑ Rayan, Stan (4 April 2018). "Lack of funds forces KSEB to pull out of KPL". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ↑ "WELCOME TO FOOTBALL CLUB KOCHIN — Success Stories". fckochin.in. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ↑ Staff (5 April 2006). "Top six teams for Kerala Football League". www.oneindia.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ↑ Staff (5 May 2007). "SBT enters Kerala Football League final". www.mykhel.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ↑ Kerala Premier League 2017–18 Final Archived 22 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine Kerala Football Association. Retrieved 27 February 2021
- ↑ "KPL: Golden Threads emerge champions". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ↑ "Kerala Premier League: Kerala United crowned champions". Wayanad. 19 March 2023. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ↑ "Kerala United retain KPL crown with three goals in injury time". Kannur: ON Manorama News. 11 February 2024. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ↑ "Muthoot FA emerge Kerala Premier League champions". Muthoot FA emerge Kerala Premier League champions. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ↑ "Gokulam beats Calicut FC to win Kerala Premier League". thehindu. Retrieved 31 May 2026.