Churchill Brothers Football Club, commonly known as Churchill Brothers, is an Indian professional football club based in Margao, Goa, that competes the Goa Professional League. Founded in 1988, the club usually participated in the National Football League, then top tier of the Indian football league system.
The club has won the I-League title twice and secured a position among the top three on nine other occasions in the national league. It has also won eight Goa League Champions Cups, three Durand Cups, and a Federation Cup. Churchill Brothers emerged as fourth ranked Indian and 648th universally, in the international rankings of clubs during 2001–2010, issued by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics in 2011.
History
1988–2009
Churchill Brothers FC was founded in 1988 as Varca Sports Club. After one season, they were renamed Brothers Sporting Club. Later on they were bought out by Churchill Braz Alemao and renamed as Churchill Brothers Football Club and emerged as runners-up of the National Football League thrice: 1996–97, 1999–2000 and 2001–02. In the 1997–98 Asian Club Championship, Churchill Brothers went on to represent India. But, they had a forgetful debut outing as the Goan outfit was knocked out in the very first round by Vietnamese club Dong Thap with a 2–1 aggregate loss. In 1998, Churchill roped in Bassim Yonan, the first Iraqi player in India. Noted Scottish manager Danny McLennan trained the club in 1999–2000 season.
After the take over by Churchill, the club went on to win the Durand Cup in 2007, and the 2008–09 I-League, Durand Cup in 2009, IFA Shield in the same year. In 2008, Nigerian World Cupper Emeka Ezeugo was appointed club's head coach. They also emerged as runners-up of the 2007–08 I-League, the inaugural season. Through their I-League win Churchill Brothers FC were able to play in the 2010 Asian Champions League qualifiers which they lost and moved to the 2010 AFC Cup. During the AFC Cup they won two games against Al-Hilal Al-Sahili and finished runners-up in their group, advancing to the next round. Finally, they were defeated 1–2 to Al-Qadsia at the Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium.
2010–2019
Churchill Brothers was managed by Singaporean Vincent Subramaniam for the 2010–11 season. The club went the rest of the season with Croatian Drago Mamić, who helped them win the IFA Shield that year.
On 9 June 2011, Churchill Brothers announced former Portugal national football team assistant coach Manuel Gomes as a permanent coach. His start proved to be successful as the club captured the 2011 Durand Cup for the third time in their history in October 2011, defeating Prayag United 5–4. However, on 15 February 2012, it was announced that Gomes had resigned and that former coach Carlos Roberto Pereira would be brought in on a caretaker basis.
On 13 July 2012, it was announced that Mariano Dias had been signed to become their new coach. After his first season in charge, Dias managed to lead Churchill Brothers to the I-League championship, their second domestic title in the history.
After the end of 2013–14 I-League season, Churchill finished 12th with 25 points in 24 matches and was evicted for not fulfilling the Asian Football Confederation's club licensing criteria. In that season, they clinched the 2013–14 Indian Federation Cup title. In November 2017, it was announced that Ukrainian Mykola Shevchenko joined Churchill as the new coach. His first game as a manager occurred on 2 December 2017, when Churchill took on Shillong Lajong, resulting in a 2–0 loss. His stint came to an end as he was sacked from the position. Churchill then roped in Joseph Afusi of Nigeria as technical director, but were relegated at the end of the 2017–18 season, with just 17 points from 18 games. However, their position was reinstated by the AIFF, after a successful appeal by the club.
In August 2018, Romanian Petre Gigiu was appointed the new coach of the club. His first competitive game was on 28 October 2018 against the reigning champions Minerva Punjab. The match ended in a 0–0 draw. At the end of the 2018–19 I-League season, they finished on fourth position with 34 points.
2020–present
In September 2020, Churchill appointed coach Fernando Santiago Varela. Under his guidance, Churchill emerged as the runners-up of the 2020–21 I-League with 29 points. Although Churchill managed a win against RoundGlass Punjab in their last match, Gokulam Kerala FC were crowned champions, courtesy of a better head-to-head record.
Ahead of the 2021–22 I-League, Churchill roped in their first ever Guinean player Sekou Sylla, and Romanian Petre Gigiu returned to the club as head coach. They finished the season in fourth place. The club reached final of the Baji Rout Cup in Odisha, finishing as runners-up after defeat to Rajasthan United. They later took part in the 2023 Indian Super Cup, and the 2024 Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy. In November, the club appointed Cypriot manager Dimitris Dimitriou as head coach.
In the 2024–25 I-League season, Churchill Brothers provisionally finished top of the table. On 13 April, the club withdraw from the Super Cup, citing "denied rightful place and trophy, against the rules, spirit, and integrity of football". On 19 April, Churchill Brothers was declared champions of the I-League 2024–25 after the official verdict given by Appeals Committee of the All India Football Federation, which ensured their promotion to the Indian Super League. The AIFF's decision was overturned by the CAS on 18 July 2025, which crowned Inter Kashi the champions.
Crest
In 2011, a new red and black coloured crest was introduced. The crest of Churchill Brothers originally had a football on green grass with yellow representing the sun's rays, with initials of the club name. and blue for away matches,
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Ownership and nickname
Churchill Brothers has been owned and led for decades by Goan entrepreneur and politician Churchill Alemao, who served as president of the Goa Football Association and Chief Minister of the state. His daughter Valanka Alemao is current CEO of the club.
Churchill Brothers is predominantly nicknamed the "Red Machine".
Stadiums
Since the I-League began, Churchill Brothers have always played mainly at the Fatorda Stadium in the South Goan city of Margao, along with other Goan clubs (Dempo, Salgaocar, Sporting Goa and Vasco). They also used Tilak Maidan Stadium for both the I-League and the Goa Professional League matches.
During the 2012–13 season, Churchill Brothers temporarily played at the Duler Stadium in Mapusa, Goa, while the Fatorda Stadium was being renovated for the 2013 Lusophony Games and the Tilak Maidan was being renovated up to the AFC standards. During the 2013 AFC Cup, Churchill Brothers used Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune as their home ground. In 2022, the club moved to GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim.
In 2024–25 I-League season, the club used Raia Panchayet Ground, located in Raia, as their home venue.
Rivalries
Churchill Brothers has a major rivalry with their fellow Goan side Dempo, popularly known as the "Goan Derby".
They have also rivalries with other two Goan sides, Sporting Clube de Goa and Salgaocar, whom they faced in I-League, and currently in Goa Professional League.
Players (2025)
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Personnel (2025)
Honours
League
I-League
Champions (2): 2008–09, 2012–13
Runners-up (4): 2007–08, 2009–10, 2020–21, 2024–25
National Football League
Runners-up (3): 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2001–02
Third place (2): 1997–98, 1999–00
National Football League II
Runners-up (1): 2005–06
Cup
Durand Cup
Champions (3): 2007, 2009, 2011
Runners-up (2): 2001–02, 2008
Federation Cup
Champions (1): 2013–14
IFA Shield
Champions (2): 2009, 2011
Rovers Cup
Runners-up (3): 1997, 1999, 2000–01
Goa Governor's Cup
Champions (3): 2000, 2002, 2003
Runners-up (2): 1999, 2001
Goa Police Cup
Champions (1): 1999
Runners-up (1): 2018
Baji Rout Cup
Runners-up (1): 2022