The Santosh Trophy Winners List

The Santosh Trophy, the oldest and most prestigious tournament of football in India at the state level, started in 1941. It was named after Sir Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhary of Santosh; it turned to the center of Indian domestic football. It is shown within the Santosh Trophy winners list that footballing states have been emerging, and the sport plays a significant role in people of the area due to its enormous cultural significance.

Imperial States of the First Decades

Bengal (present-day West Bengal) used to lead the early years of the trophy. Between 1941 and 1980, they took several titles and established the standard of the state football leadership. It is clearly apparent in the Santosh Trophy winners list, with Bengal having made itself present in almost every winning list, and in the remaining decades, Bengal is followed closely by Punjab, Kerala, and Services.

Inflection points of the tournament’s history

The first big change came in the 2000s when unknown states such as Mizoram, Manipur, and Services started to enter the Santosh Trophy winners list. This turned the game at the Santosh Trophy winners list, and it has made the competition uncertain. The introduction of new teams introduced speed, fitness, and tactical discipline to the game, and other traditional powerhouses such as West Bengal and Kerala got serious competition.

Santosh Trophy and the Fans

The Santosh Trophy craze got more hyped. People cheer not only at their state teams but also at the stories of the underdog and young players who proved themselves in the tournament. The Santosh Trophy winners list is not only just figures—it is rather a reflection of the Indian football revolution at the grass-roots level. The game of football keeps motivating each nook and corner of the country.

Santosh Trophy and Local Heroes

The Santosh Trophy winners list is not only of the states but also of the individuals who succeeded from the world of nothing. This tournament was the beginning for various Indian football players who later became known as national and international football players.

Here is the winners list of the first 34 seasons of this prestigious tournament.

FAQs

Q1. How many Santosh Trophy titles has West Bengal won?

Ans: West Bengal has been at the forefront in winning the Santosh Trophy, having won it more than 30 times since 1941.

Q2. Which club has the latest Santosh trophy of 2024-25?

Ans: In the year 2024-2025, West Bengal beat Kerala in the final and regained the status of the reigning champions.

Q3. Which Northeast states have been the winners of the Santosh Trophy in the past ten years?

Ans: Mizoram and Manipur hogged the limelight after clinching or becoming the finalists in recent tournaments of the game.

Q4. Who plays in the Santosh Trophy? Is it clubs or states?

Ans: The Santosh Trophy is played by state or government sides and not between professional club football teams.