Kerala Blasters - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Kerala Blasters FC is a professional football club based in Kochi, Kerala, India. They compete in the Indian Super League (ISL), which is the top tier of football in India.
- 2. The club was founded in 2014 and is owned by former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, along with other investors.
- 3. Kerala Blasters play their home matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, which has a seating capacity of over 39,000 spectators.
- 4. The club's official colors are yellow and blue, and their mascot is a lion named "Pulimurugan."
- 5. Kerala Blasters have a strong fan base known as the "Manjappada," which translates to "yellow brigade" in Malayalam. The supporters are known for their passionate and vocal support for the team.
- 6. The club's first head coach was former England international David James, who led them to the ISL final in their inaugural season in 2014.
- 7. Kerala Blasters have reached the ISL final twice, in 2014 and 2016, but have yet to win the championship.
- 8. Some of the notable players who have represented Kerala Blasters include Sandesh Jhingan, CK Vineeth, and Iain Hume.
- 9. The club's current head coach is Ivan Vukomanovic, who took over the reins in 2021.
- 10. Kerala Blasters have a fierce rivalry with fellow ISL team ATK Mohun Bagan, which is known as the "Southern Derby." The matches between the two teams are always highly anticipated and fiercely contested.