The Santosh Trophy is an Indian football event in which the country’s states, as well as some government institutions, compete, know its history and story
This event has been held every year since 1941. The first winner of the competition, which took place in 1941, was Bengal.
Santosh Trophy History, Origin, Format, Prize Money And Who Is It Related To
The Origin of Santosh Trophy
The trophy is named after the late Maharaja of Santosh, Sir Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhary, who is now a citizen of Bangladesh. The Santosh Trophy was established in 1941 after Sir Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhary of Santosh, then-president of the Indian Football Association, and later, Sir Satish Chandra Chowdhury donated the trophy to the All-India Football Federation.
India lacked a proper major championship for football teams at the time of the first event. Durand Cup, Rovers Cup, and IFA Shield were the other important national football competitions at the time, in which football clubs played. The AIFF changed the Santosh Trophy to an under-23 competition in 1990 to attract more younger players. The tournament was returned to a senior competition after only three seasons of this change.
During his stint as India’s head coach, Bob Houghton advocated for the tournament’s cancellation, claiming it was a waste of time and skill. After India striker, Sunil Chhetri injured himself in the 2009 Santosh Trophy and had to miss the Nehru Cup. He became more aggressive against the tournament. ย As a result, national team players were barred from competing in the tournament, a decision that was later reversed.
Platform For Youngstars
The AIFF ruled in 2013 that players from top-tier teams would be forbidden from competing in the Santosh Trophy. However many players from the I-League and Indian Super League reserve and youth sides compete in the event for game time. The competition is still regarded as a major event for young players to attract the eyes of scouts of major clubs in the country. Santosh Trophy prize money is very low when compared to ISL or I-League. But, it has been a springboard for players to become selected.
Format of Santosh Trophy
The tournament’s format has changed several times throughout the years. The teams are now grouped into eight groups, each with four teams.
The eight group winners are then picked, along with four seeded teams who do not have to compete in the qualifying phase. Then these twelve teams are divided into three groups of three. The quarter-final stage precedes the semi-final and final stages.
Bengal has won the Santosh Trophy a record 31 times, with Punjab coming in second with 8 wins. Kerala is in third place with six trophies. The significance of the Santosh Trophy has dwindled over time. The National Football League, which began in 1996, is widely credited with this.
Prize Money
The new Santosh Trophy victors would receive Rs.5,00,000 in prize money, while the runners-up would receive Rs.3,00,000.
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