Chirag United Club Kerala is an Indian professional football club based in the city of Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...

, Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. The club was formed in 2004, with Chirag computers as the main sponsors. They play in the I-League

I-League

The I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division...

, the top tier of Indian Football.

History

Chirag United Club Kerala was formed on August 8, 2004. The club officially took off on August 19 in a ceremony at the FACT grounds. The club was formed by group of businessmen who felt the need for the state's representation in country's top football league, the National Football League

National Football League (India)

The National Football League was an association football league competition in India between 1996 and 2007 which was organised into three divisions. The league is now transformed into the I-League and continues with that name...

 (NFL). Viva Kerala's name is the result of a contest, won by Dr. P Ramakrishnan of Ernakulam

Ernakulam

Ernakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...

.

In 2007 the opportunity for a NFL spot came in the way of Second Division NFL. Viva surprised everyone by finishing second in its group and qualified for the final phase. In the final phase, Viva Kerala finished as runners-up of the Second Division NFL to book their place in the I-League 2007-08 on 6 April 2007. The club were then relegated back to 2nd division at the end of I-league 2007-08. Then the next season Viva Kerala were promoted back to the I-League

I-League

The I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division...

 for the 2009-10 season.

In 2010 it was announced that I-League clubs needed to complete the AFC club licensing criteria. In order to do so, Viva had signed P.K Kunhikrishnan (A-licensed coach) as the new Head coach. Then in August 2011 it was announced that Chirag Computers would be the new majority owners and with doing so changed the club name to Chirag United Club Kerala.

Crest

The Chirag Crest is a yellow background with a palm tree behind in the background with the words Chirag United Kerala on the front.

Stadiums

Ever since their creation Chirag United Kerala have played in two different stadiums. For their first three I-League

I-League

The I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division...

 seasons Chirag used the Municipal Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode

Kozhikode

Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...

 which holds a capacity of 53,000. They then after getting bought by Chirag Computers decided to move to the Kaloor International Stadium

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi

Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium is an international stadium in Kochi, Kerala. The stadium has a capacity of 60,000 spectators making it the third largest stadium in India after the Eden Gardens and Salt Lake Stadium, both in Kolkata...

 in Kochi

Kochi

-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...

 which boasts a capacity of 60,000 and has working floodlights. In 2011-12 season of I-League, Kaloor International Stadium

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi

Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium is an international stadium in Kochi, Kerala. The stadium has a capacity of 60,000 spectators making it the third largest stadium in India after the Eden Gardens and Salt Lake Stadium, both in Kolkata...

 in Kochi

Kochi

-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...

 will host 8 matches and 5 matches will be hosted by University stadium in state capital Trivandrum.

Ownership

The club sense founding was ran by Musli Power X-tra (Kunnath Pharmaceuticals) mainly due the Power X-tra being major sponsors of the team. In July 2011 after not signing for then Viva Kerala, Chirag Computers came in a brought full stake in the club and changed the name to Chirag United Club Kerala.

Current Squad

Staff

Position	Name
Manager	Pakir Ali Pakir Ali Pakir Ali is Sri Lakan football coach who currently manages I-League team Chirag United Club Kerala. His last assignment was leading the Sheikh Jamal Dhamondi Club to the Bangaladesh League 2011 crown....
Assistant manager	Vacant
First team coach	Vacant
Goalkeeping coach	Vacant
Physiotherapist	Vacant
Club doctor	Vacant