HISTORY OF MAHINDRA UNITED

The history of football in Mahindra & Mahindra goes back four and a half decades, i.e. from 1962. The Mahindra & Mahindra & Allied Company Sports Club which started as a simple set up way back in 1950, has certainly come a long way – from a club with just a few games and a few amenities to an establishment, running a professional team and offering high quality facilities, incentives and allowances.

The originators behind this concept were a few sports oriented members of the company, and they received vital support initially from the founders Late Shri K C Mahindra & Late Shri J C Mahindra and later on from Shri Keshub Mahindra, Late Harish Mahindra and Late Suresh Mahindra, who were sports-men in their own right.

In 1956 inspired by the activities, a group of youngsters enrolled themselves as “M&M official team” in the Bombay football League and made every effort to reach the top of Bombay football. To further improve the standards, the Company provided a full size football field which has been used for practice and training.

At that point in time, with the football teams representing the company at tournaments in Bombay, the need arose to structure the activities as a sports club and give it a positive direction, thus a “Sports club” was formed in 1962 as “Mahindra & Mahindra & Allied Company Sports Club”.

Since then, the team has gone from strength to strength, getting into Bombay’s senior division Harwood League in 1964.  Understandably they earned the sobriquet “The Giant Killers”. As football developed in Maharashtra, so did it in Mahindras.  In 1969 Mr. Harish Mahindra was elected Vice President of Western India Football Association (WIFA). 

Mahindra & Mahindra Allied Sports Club, then known as the “Orange Brigade” was one of the popular team in Maharashtra after strong teams like TATA’s, Mafatlal’s, Caltex etc.  Teams like East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan Sporting went all out to recruit the talented Mahindra Players.  Mahindra’s were a potential threat to all the top teams in the Country.  International Players like P M Shivdas, C Mustafa, Jerry Bassi, Henry Menezes, Santosh Kashyap, Godfrey Pereira, turned out to represent Mahindra Football Team.

In the year 2000 Mahindra Football Team underwent a total revamp wherein the orange brigade turned Red.  And Football became the main sport in Mahindras.  The team was rechristened “MAHINDRA UNITED” under the leadership of Mr. Alan Durante –  the then Executive Director & President of Automotive Sector with backing of our Chairman Shri Keshub Mahindra and  Vice Chairman &Managing Director  Shri Anand Mahindra. This set the ball rolling!

Coaches like Raghavan, International Derek Desouza, Harish Rao, World Cupper Karel Stromsik, English man David Booth, Dhornacharya Awardee Syed Nayeemuddin, have coached the team and brought laurels.

The management designed an Activity Center,  Modern Gymnasium, dressing rooms etc. Players were put up at Players Quarters with mess facility, maintained by the company close to the training ground. Swimming pool facility was also provided to the players.

In the year 2003, Mahindra United recruited  David Booth from UK, as Coach who had a 5 years stint with Ghana, 3 and a Half years with Brunei National Team and 3 years with Myanmar National Team. After he took over as Coach of Mahindra United, the Team won The Mumbai League, Super Cup, Federation Cup.  The victory in the “Federation Cup” of 2003 gave us an entry in the AFC Cup 2004 when “Mahindra United” was listed in the World Cup rankings.  The team was placed 3rd in the National Football League and Mahindra United created History by winning their First International tournament, “The President's Cup of Maldives (POMIS CUP)”.

Brazilian Jose Marcio Barreto Ramires & Ghanian  Yusuf Yakubu are the best foreign recruits who played for Mahindra United.

The year 2005 saw a young 43 years old Indian International, Professional License Coach Mr. Derrick Pereira signing for Mahindra United and alongwith AFC ‘C’ Licence Coach Santosh Kashyap and AFC ‘C’ license Coach Arshad Hussain, straight away took the team to become the Federation Cup Champions. Mahindra United qualified for the AFC Cup 2006 and were in Group A with Bahrain, Lebanon and Bangladesh. Mahindra United were crowned INDIA’S CHAMPION TEAM after winning the National Football League 2005-06.

 Consequent to winning the National Football league in 2005-2006, Mahindra United were given entry to play in the AFC Cup 2007 and was placed in Group E. Mahindra United moved to the quarter finals ( knock out stage), by virtue of the best runners-up team in their group and were denied entry to semi finals by one goal away match difference at Lebanon.

Mahindra United of Mumbai is the only team in Maharashtra to win the Durand Cup & that too twice, which is the second oldest trophy in the world. In fact Mahindra United is only team from Maharashtra to have won the Durand Cup so far. Mahindra United is also the first team in Maharashtra to win the Harwood League and the Nadkarni cup three times in a row. Mahindra United has won the Harwood League Title five times in a row

Mahindra’s have inscribed its name on almost all the tournaments in the country.

The year 2006 saw Mahindra United engraving its name on the IFA Shield for the first time in 112 years.

The year 2007 “Mahindra United” rebuild the team mainly on youth focus and have produced best of young players who can rub shoulders with seniors on & off the ground.

Achievements in Federation Cup and National Football League. 

2003, 2005 Federation Cup

2005 Champions

2004 Fourth Place

2003 Third Place

Team Colours: Red/Black/Black

                        White/White/White

Name of Chief Coach :Derick Pereira, AFC Pro Licence

Players to be watched this season :

NP Pradeep ,Steven Dias , Edeh Chidi ,Mohammed Rafi ,Douhou Sey Peirre ,Sushil Kumar Singh.K Thoi Singh ,KN Ajayan & Manjit Singh.

Contact Address

Mahindra United

Football House

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

Automotive Sector

Akurli Road, Kandivili (East)

Mumbai-400101