In a short span of three years since their inception in July 2013, Bengaluru FC have gone from becoming the first team to win the I-League title in their debut season to becoming the first Indian club to qualify for an AFC final following their 4-2 aggregate win over AFC Cup holders Johor Darul Ta'zim. Here's a look at some key dates that have mattered in these three years and a bit.
July 2, 2013
Bengaluru announce the signing of former Manchester United youth player and central defender Ashley Westwood as their coach. They also sign up Indian captain Sunil Chhetri and Thoi Singh -- formerly of Mahindra United, Salgaocar and Mumbai Tigers -- among their first signings, along with the defensive pair of John Johnson and Curtis Osano.
September 22, 2013
Bengaluru play their first I-League match, a home fixture against Mohun Bagan played at the Bangalore Football Stadium. They take the lead through Australian Sean Rooney, but CS Sabeeth equalises for the visitors. The match ends 1-1.
April 21, 2014
Bengaluru claim their first I-League title with one match to go in their very first season, beating five-time national champions Dempo 4-2 away in Goa. "There are very few moments in my career that will match the significance of this one," Chhetri says. "It's been a team effort since Day One. We've fought hard, trained harder and none of us are surprised that we are here today. If anything, we are delighted. This team is going down in history. We are the champions of India." They finish the season by beating Sporting Clube de Goa 2-1 in Goa a week later.
January 11, 2015
Bengaluru cap off their second Federation Cup with their maiden title, beating Dempo in Goa yet again in the final. The goal scorers for Bengaluru are Chhetri and Robin Singh, as they win 2-1 and automatically retain the right to participate in the AFC Cup playoffs.
February 4, 2015
Bengaluru get their first taste of Asian competition, as they play Johor Darul Ta'zim away in Johor Bahru in a one-off AFC Champions League playoff match. Conceding a goal early in the second half, Eugeneson Lyngdoh scores in the last minute of regulation time to take the game into extra-time, where they are beaten 2-1. Later that year, they lose 2-0 to Hong Kong's South China in the AFC Cup round of 16.
May 31, 2015
Bengaluru lose the I-League title to Mohun Bagan following a dramatic 1-1 draw at their new home, the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Johnson heads them into a lead, but Bagan -- needing only a draw to win the league -- equalise in the 87th minute.
April 17, 2016
Bengaluru reclaim the I-League title with a 2-0 win at home against Salgaocar. The goals come from Lyngdoh and Seminlen Doungel as Bengaluru take an unassailable lead over Mohun Bagan, who then beat them 5-0 in an inconsequential final game of the season six days later.
June 1, 2016
Bengaluru FC part ways with Ashley Westwood as head coach at the end of his contract, having taken the team to the knockouts of the AFC Cup for the second successive season. His replacement is Albert Roca, former assistant coach at Barcelona. In the transfer season, Johnson stays but Osano leaves. New signings for the team include Australian Cameron Watson and the Spanish duo of Juan Antonio Gonzalez and Alvaro Rubio.
October 19, 2016
Bengaluru become the first Indian club to reach an AFC final, beating AFC Cup champions Johor Darul Ta'zim 3-1 in Bengaluru (and 4-2 on aggregate). Two of the goals come from Chhetri, with Lyngdoh and Juan Antonio contributing the other two across the two legs.