The Kolkata derby, featuring the two giant clubs of West Bengal, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, represents the most intense rivalry in Indian football and is considered one of the top derbies in Asia. This fixture has created unforgettable moments throughout every competition it has been played in. However, few matches have been as fiercely contested and historically significant to Indian football as those played in the IFA Shield final. It is fair to say that the Kolkata derby has significantly shaped this competition, organised by the West Bengal Football Board, both during the pre-independence and post-independence eras, crafting a lasting legacy.
The first Kolkata derby in the IFA Shield final took place just two years before Independence and since then, 21 derbies have been played, including replays. Record 29-time Shield winners East Bengal won 12 of these derbies, while Mohun Bagan ended up on the winning side in just half of those figures managed by their rivals. The trophy has been shared three times by the teams. The last Kolkata derby played in the IFA Shield final was in 2018, although with U19 squads. The Kolkata derby in the 2025 edition will feature the senior squad in the IFA Shield final for the first time since 2003, with the venue being the same as back then, the Salt Lake Stadium.
Here we look at some of the unforgettable Kolkata derbies played in the IFA Shield final history:
East Bengal 1-0 Mohun Bagan - 1945 IFA Shield Final (First derby)
The first-ever Kolkata derby in any major tournament decider, let alone the IFA Shield final, occurred in 1945 during the British Raj, following the end of World War II. The final was hosted at the Calcutta Ground on August 9, with over 20,000 fans packed into the venue, as football seemed to be the only means of escape at a time when the country was reeling from the war, especially in Bengal, which had witnessed a man-made famine only a few years ago amid the freedom struggle. A thrilling encounter was anticipated as East Bengal, entering the match as underdogs and led by skipper Suresh Chatterjee, faced off against their eternal rivals, Mohun Bagan. The Green and Maroons were captained by the legendary Sailen Manna, partnered by the veteran defender Gostha Pal, known as the "Chinese Wall," alongside a talented midfield that included the maestro Talimeren Ao. However, the name-heavy favourites failed to open up their opponents despite dominating possession with Ao’s visionary passes.
Instead, it was the Red and Golds that had the better of the chances, testing Dwipen Sen on several occasions, but he held firm. The pressure kept on increasing and they broke the deadlock in the 61st minute when Sunil Ghosh's thunderous shot from 25 yards deflected off a Mohun Bagan defender, wrong-footing Sen and falling to Fred Pugsley. The striker, signed from a British regiment, rifled in the only goal of the game, making it a poetic irony that an English import sealed an Indian club’s glory in the colonial era. East Bengal's defence, marshalled by goalkeeper Amitabha Mukherjee, held firm against Mohun Bagan's late siege, including a Manna header cleared off the line to register their second IFA Shield title in three finals, completing a trophy double. The greater reward was winning a historic Kolkata derby, which was the last IFA Shield final during the colonial era.
Mohun Bagan 1-0 East Bengal - 1947 IFA Shield Final (Honour fight in Independence year)
Iconically, the two met again in the IFA Shield final two years later, in the year of independence on 15th November, with the venue being the Eden Gardens this time. With the feeling of freedom and the pain of partition intertwined, the Kolkata giants took the pitch to create another memorable moment in the fight for the first silverware post the British Raj. A Kolkata derby in the first final of a major championship in an independent nation was the crowning achievement, considering Bengal's significance in the freedom struggle. Defending champions East Bengal were gunning to retain the trophy, while Mohun Bagan was seeking revenge for their previous final defeat. Delayed by a semi-final fan riot, the match drew 30,000 with many waving tricolours as the atmosphere ushered in national pride amid the rivalry hostility.
The Green and Maroons were searching for their second IFA Shield title after becoming the first Indian club to defeat a British regiment side in 1911, failing to triumph in the previous three final appearances since their historic achievement. However, the tide was going to change in free India as Mohun Bagan would be able to thwart East Bengal, buoyed by their 1945 win, onslaught. Youngster Dinanath Roy’s flashy run down the right flank drew defenders, allowing a pinpoint cut-back to striker Ali Ahmed, known as Salim, who smashed it past goalkeeper Mustafi from 12 yards for the ultimate winner. The goal sparked delirium with fans even invading the pitch briefly. Their excitement multiplied as they witnessed the charismatic Dinobondhu Sen, informally called ‘Bakai’, standing like a rock in goal to the Red and Gold’s resurgence in the second half, with Sarat Das and Sailen Manna's defensive elegance seeing out Bagan’s win.
It was a moment to savour, not only for defeating rivals or ending a 37-year trophy drought in the competition but for the triumph that came on a special occasion for the nation. The 1947 IFA Shield final became a landmark event in Indian football and it was almost fitting that Green and Maroon were the victorious side in the battle. There is a popular legend that after the 1911 triumph, a priest asked the Mohun Bagan players when the Union Jack would be taken down from the entire nation. The players responded the day the club would win the Shield again. The success solidified Mohun Bagan’s glorious status of ‘the national club’. The excitement around the Kolkata derby also hit new heights as football became immensely popular in Bengal, with the IFA Shield being the competition that crafted the most cherished events in Indian football.
Mohun Bagan 3-1 East Bengal 1969 IFA Shield Final (Tactical Revolution)
The 1969 Kolkata derby IFA Shield final became memorable because it was the first time the fixture was filled with a lot of goals than before, but most importantly, it provided a tactical revolution that brought a different spectacle to this clash, reshaping Indian football and even inspiring coaches beyond the borders. The craze was centred around Mohun Bagan’s coach, Amal Dutta's tactics, the then revolutionary ‘diamond’ 4-2-4 formation with overlapping full-backs, which was later adopted with different forms by managers worldwide. He also earned the moniker of ‘the Diamond coach’ from fans. It signified a golden era for the Green and Maroons in the 1960s and this encounter particularly stands out. Having already won the league, this was the chance to do the double, beating their rivals.
It was easier said than done because East Bengal, managed by the legendary P.K. Banerjee posed a strong challenge, yet Dutta's charisma with his tactics made Bagan an indestructible force. They struck first with winger Prasanta Banerjee's cross met by striker Subrata Bhattacharya's header. Even though the Red and Gold equalised, the momentum stayed with Bagan as they regained the lead through a strike from skipper Arun Ghosh before Deepak Mukherjee’s clinical finish put the seal on a resounding 3-1 win, clinching the ninth IFA Shield for the Green and Maroons in front of 40,000 attendees. It was also the first outright Kolkata derby IFA Shield final win for the club since their 1947 triumph. Dutta's innovative masterclass went on to influence European cup-winning managers like Rinus Michels, with this victory preserving his legacy forever.
East Bengal 5-0 Mohun Bagan 1975 IFA Shield Final (Historical battering)
However, the most talked-about Kolkata derby in the IFA Shield final for generations came in 1975, which sent shockwaves and became one of the symbolic games in derby history. The venue for the game was Mohun Bagan Ground, which became one of the contributing reasons that etched an eternal scar on the Green and Maroon brigade. The 1969 derby victory marked the end of Mohun Bagan's golden era, transitioning into a period of dominance for East Bengal in the 1970s. During this time, East Bengal maintained an unbeaten streak in the Kolkata derby that lasted for 1,932 days following that loss. Hence, the vibrant Red and Gold entered the 1975 IFA Shield final with a bag full of confidence, having beaten their rivals in the previous edition and were seeking a staggering fourth straight title in this era under coach P.K. Banerjee.
Mohun Bagan, led by Bimal Ghosh, had a star-studded squad that included goalkeeper Bhaskar Ganguly, defender Subrata Bhattacharya, captain Sisir Guho, and striker Johor Das. However, they were taken aback by the events that unfolded that fateful day. Surajit Sengupta’s sixth-minute screamer started an unexpected rout, with the lead extended by the meticulous Shyam Thapa, but not before he missed a spot-kick. Ranjit Mukherjee added a third just before half-time as Bagan’s disorganised defence began to crumble. Thapa completed his brace five minutes into the second half, forcing changes amid the chaos as goalkeeper Bhaskar Ganguly and later Nimai Goswami were substituted to bring Prasanta Mitra and Compton Dutta on the field, respectively.
However, nothing could have avoided the damage and humiliation that was inflicted, with East Bengal’s substitute Subhankar Sanyal hitting the last nail in the coffin in the 84th minute. Mohun Bagan fans were in disbelief and it sparked a riot, which resulted in Green and Maroons players escaping the field of play with great difficulty and hiding inside a boat overnight to save themselves from the angry supporters. Even P.K. Banerjee’s own brother, Prasun Banerjee, who played as a midfielder in that humiliating final, was part of the group that faced those remonstrations. This became the biggest margin of victory in derby history and although Mohun Bagan bounced back from this heartbreaking loss with the 1977 Shield triumph, the ‘5-0’ chant became a mainstay for East Bengal fans to taunt their rivals for years to come, irrespective of the good and bad periods the clubs go through.
