The Santosh Trophy is a national football tournament in India, which is contested by states and government institutions. The tournament was first held in 1941 and is named after Maharaja Sir Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhary of Santosh, who donated the trophy for the tournament.

The Santosh Trophy is organized by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and is one of the oldest football tournaments in India. The tournament was initially contested by regional teams, but in 1950, it was opened up to all states and union territories of India. The tournament has been held annually, except for a few years during the 1950s and 1960s.
The format of the tournament has changed over the years, but it usually involves a group stage followed by knockout rounds. The winner of the tournament is awarded the Santosh Trophy.
Santosh Trophy
The Santosh Trophy has been a platform for emerging football talent in India, and many players who have gone on to play for the national team have started their careers in this tournament. The tournament has also helped to promote football at the grassroots level and has contributed to the development of the sport in India.
Over the years, many states and government institutions have won the Santosh Trophy multiple times. West Bengal has been the most successful team, winning the tournament 32 times, followed by Goa with 6 titles and Kerala with 5 titles. The most recent winner of the Santosh Trophy is Services, who won the tournament in 2019.
History of Santosh Trophy
The Santosh Trophy is one of the oldest football tournaments in India, first held in 1941. The tournament was named after Maharaja Sir Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhary of Santosh, who donated the trophy for the tournament. The tournament was initially contested by regional teams, but in 1950, it was opened up to all states and union territories of India.
The tournament has seen many changes in its format over the years. Initially, the tournament was played on a knockout basis, but later, a league-cum-knockout format was introduced. The format has continued to change, with the number of teams and the number of rounds being adjusted to accommodate the changing needs of Indian football.

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India Santosh trophy
Over the years, the Santosh Trophy has played a significant role in the development of football in India. It has provided a platform for emerging football talent to showcase their skills and has contributed to the growth of the sport at the grassroots level. Many players who have gone on to play for the national team have started their careers in this tournament.
The tournament has also witnessed many memorable moments and performances. The rivalry between West Bengal and Goa has been a highlight of the tournament, with both teams winning multiple titles. Some of the most memorable matches in the history of Indian football have been played in the Santosh Trophy, and the tournament has helped to generate interest in football among the Indian public.
In recent years, the Santosh Trophy has faced some challenges due to the emergence of new football leagues in India, but it continues to be an important tournament in the Indian football calendar. The tournament provides a platform for players from across the country to come together and compete, and it has played a vital role in the development of football in India.
Santosh trophy is related to
The Santosh Trophy is a football tournament in India that is contested by the states and territories of the country. It is named after the late Maharaja Sir Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhary of Santosh, who was a football enthusiast and had donated the trophy. The Santosh Trophy was first held in 1941 and is considered to be one of the oldest and most prestigious football tournaments in India. The tournament is organized by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and is held annually.
Santosh Trophy Winners List
Here is a list of all the winners of the Santosh Trophy since its inception in 1941:
- 1941: Bengal
- 1942: Bengal
- 1943: Bengal
- 1944: No tournament held due to World War II
- 1945: Bengal
- 1946: Bengal
- 1947-48: Bengal
- 1948-49: Bombay
- 1949-50: Bengal
- 1950-51: Services
- 1951-52: Hyderabad
- 1952-53: Services
- 1953-54: Bengal
- 1954-55: Services
- 1955-56: Bengal
- 1956-57: Services
- 1957-58: Bengal
- 1958-59: Andhra Pradesh
- 1959-60: Bengal
- 1960-61: Bengal
- 1961-62: Bengal
- 1962-63: Bengal
- 1963-64: Bengal
- 1964-65: Bengal
- 1965-66: Bengal
- 1966-67: Bengal
- 1967-68: Bengal
- 1968-69: Bengal
- 1969-70: Bengal
- 1970-71: Bengal
- 1971-72: Bengal
- 1972-73: Kerala
- 1973-74: Bengal
- 1974-75: Bengal
- 1975-76: Bengal
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- 1976-77: Karnataka
- 1977-78: Karnataka
- 1978-79: West Bengal
- 1979-80: Punjab
- 1980-81: West Bengal
- 1981-82: West Bengal
- 1982-83: Goa
- 1983-84: Goa
- 1984-85: West Bengal
- 1985-86: West Bengal
- 1986-87: Kerala
- 1987-88: Kerala
- 1988-89: Punjab
- 1989-90: Kerala
- 1990-91: Kerala
- 1991-92: Kerala
- 1992-93: Kerala
- 1993-94: Manipur
- 1994-95: Punjab
- 1995-96: West Bengal
- 1996-97: Goa
- 1997-98: West Bengal
- 1998-99: Punjab
- 1999-2000: West Bengal
- 2000-01: Kerala
- 2001-02: Punjab
- 2002-03: Goa
- 2003-04: Kerala
- 2004-05: West Bengal
- 2005-06: Goa
- 2006-07: Punjab
- 2007-08: Services
- 2008-09: Services
- 2009-10: Bengal
- 2010-11: Bengal
- 2011-12: Services
- 2012-13: Services
- 2013-14: Mizoram
- 2014-15: Services
- 2015-16: Services
- 2016-17: Bengal
- 2017-18: Kerala
- 2018-19: Services
- 2019-20: No tournament held due to COVID-19 pandemic
- 2020-21: No tournament held due to COVID-19 pandemic
FAQs on Santosh Trophy
Which of the following sports is associated with Santosh trophy?
The Santosh Trophy is associated with football. It is a football tournament in India that is contested by the states and territories of the country.
How many times Kerala won Santosh trophy?
Kerala has won the Santosh Trophy, the football tournament in India, a total of 6 times. The first time Kerala won the Santosh Trophy was in 1973, and they have since won the tournament in 1992, 1993, 2001, 2004, and 2018. Kerala is one of the most successful teams in the history of the Santosh Trophy, having reached the final of the tournament on several other occasions as well.
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