Atletico de Kolkata retro 2014 Kit & Logo URL

Author - Durgesh

June 11, 2022

Club info.

The club signed their first player on 4 July 2014 with the acquisition of former Real Madrid midfielder Borja Fernández.^[11] The team then went on to sign two more Spaniards: their first head coach, Antonio López Habas, and marquee player, former UEFA Champions League winner Luis García, on 8 July 2014.^[12] Luis García was named the first marquee player of the season.

Luis Garcia was the first marquee player of the league

The first Indian signing by the club took place in round one of the 2014 ISL Inaugural Domestic Draft in which Atlético de Kolkata selected Cavin Lobo, midfielder for the city's I-League team East Bengal FC, with their pick. They were the biggest spenders in the draft with an expenditure of 39.1 million, their biggest signing being Sanju Pradhan for 7 million.^[13] In the International Draft, four of Atlético de Kolkata's allotted seven picks were Spaniards, including defender Josemi, a UEFA Champions League winner with Liverpool in 2005.^[14] On 6 September, the team bolstered their midfield with the acquisition of Mamunul Islam, captain of the Bangladesh national team, who stated that the move would help relations between East Bengal (Bangladesh) and West Bengal.^[15]

The club played their first match on 12 October 2014 at home against Mumbai City FC in the opening Indian Super League match.^[16] Fikru Teferra scored the first goal in team and league history in the 27th minute as Atlético de Kolkata went on to win 3–0.^[16]

By finishing third in the league, the club qualified for the end-of-season play-offs, where they advanced via a penalty shootout past FC Goa in the semi-finals after a goalless draw.^[17] At the final against the Kerala Blasters at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, Atlético won 1–0 with an added-time goal by Mohammed Rafique.^[18] At the end of season awards, García was named the Most Exciting Player.