Top five ISL clubs with best fan bases

Fans are the backbone of any football club and those in the ISL are nothing short!

The Indian Super League (ISL) has triggered a surge in popularity in Indian football over the last decade. The league has helped improve the general quality of Indian footballers, training practices and also introduced quality foreign players and managers. Moreover, it has also made football more engaging and entertaining for the supporters.

As a result, some clubs have attained a major amount of popularity with obsessive, passionate fans. A number of ISL clubs have managed to build up a devoted fan base with supporters who genuinely care for them. These supporters show their appreciation by following them all season long, attending matches and being vocal in the ground and on social media. Here we look at the top five ISL clubs with the best fan bases.

5. Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru FC have had an inspired evolution as a football club in their relatively short history. Over the last 10 years, the Blues have had the impressive ability of winning nearly every trophy they’ve competed for in Indian football. They won the I-League titles multiple times, the Federation Cup, the Super Cup and the ISL playoffs title too. While they might’ve had a slump this season, they still boast a valuable fan base.

Bengaluru’s supporters love attending matches both home and away, with their West Block Blues being especially vocal and passionate. Bengaluru FC are well represented on social media too, having over 1 million followers across all platforms. While their home matches’ average attendances have decreased this season (7,954) – the BFC players continue to be loved by a dedicated fan base that wear the badge with pride.

4. Jamshedpur FC

Jamshedpur FC are actually one of the ‘newer’ ISL clubs after only joining the league in 2017. Despite that, the club has perfectly tapped into the football-loving people of Jamshedpur. The city has a history of being passionate about football and also the place where the famous Tata Football Academy was created. As a result, Jamshedpur FC have been embraced by a loyal fanbase who tend to stick to the club through thick and thin.

This season, Jamshedpur have boasted an impressive average home attendance of 16,222 – the third-highest in the ISL. While they might not boast as big social media numbers as their fellow teams, they do have passionate fan groups including the Red Miners – who also travel for away games. This support has allowed Jamshedpur to win the ISL Shield in the past and are urging them to fight for a place in the ISL playoffs this season.

3. Kerala Blasters

Kerala Blasters have been successfully able to tap into the football-crazy state of Kerala after their introduction in the ISL. The club has been a vessel of showing just how passionate the football fans in Kerala can be and make the state one of the ‘football crazy’ ones in India. Even though Kerala Blasters have never won an ISL title, that hasn’t stopped the supporters from showcasing their unbroken loyalty. Kerala Blasters have passionate fan groups, including the famous Manjapadda, that travel to each and every game – be it in Kochi or other cities.

Moreover, they are the most popular ISL club on social media with over 7 million supporters across all platforms (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube). The sheer devotion of the Kerala Blasters fans have been on display over the years, as they’ve continuously loved and almost worshipped those within the club despite falling short of titles multiple times over the years.

2. East Bengal

East Bengal compile one of the two legacy clubs in the ISL and have definitely added to the league’s popularity since joining the division. Even though East Bengal have had some disappointing years after joining the ISL, often finishing in the bottom half of the table, that hasn’t dimmed the fire in their fans’ bellies. East Bengal have millions of fans around the world and a number of prominent fan clubs all over India.

The Red & Gold Brigade have boasted an impressive 15,914 average home attendance in the ISL in a topsy-turvy season and have over 1.7 million social media followers too. For many Bengalis, East Bengal is an emotion and a way of life – which is why the club will never lose its popularity and always be a source of an incredible fan base.

1. Mohun Bagan

Mohun Bagan have had quite a bit of success since arriving in the ISL and also brought an amazing fan base with them to help improve the popularity around the league. Being one of the oldest clubs in Indian football and with such a rich history, Mohun Bagan have accumulated millions of die-hard fans all across the country. Like East Bengal, the Mariners are also an emotion and a sense of pride for millions of fans.

Mohun Bagan have had an amazing fan base in their ISL journey, boasting an average home attendance this season with a whopping 32,114 so far. They also have well over 2 million social media followers and many, many more who might not be able to attend the matches – but support the team with high spirits every day. Mohun Bagan’s fan base boasts a lot of passionate fan groups and a following that can be shown as an example to whoever believes that football isn’t popular in India.

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