Play, win, repeat: Ranking the longest winning streaks in Hero ISL history
A total of eight Hero ISL teams appear on this list with Bengaluru FC and Hyderabad FC featuring twice.
There is no better feeling than winning a game in football, and to win the Hero Indian Super League (ISL), nothing has been more important than consistency. Over the years, many teams have dominated the Hero ISL on numerous occasions and enlisted their name in history by going on a brilliant winning streak. Naturally, teams with the longest winning streaks have prospered well and managed to finish at the top half of the table, if not at the top.
A total of eight Hero ISL teams appear on this list with Bengaluru FC and Hyderabad FC doing it twice. Let's take a look at the longest winning streak in Hero ISL history:
1) Mumbai City FC (Hero ISL 2022-23): 10 games*
Mumbai City FC are smashing records left, right, and centre this season, and for all their efforts they are once again eyeing the double. With their current brand of football, the Islanders are asserting domination over Indian football that would never be wrecked.
Post the 2-2 draw against ATK Mohun Bagan in November 2022, Des Buckingham’s side have shown tremendous character to pull off this remarkable feat. Since that match, they are on a 10-game winning streak that is yet to be broken. Moreover, they are on a 15-game unbeaten run, starting on 12th November 2022.
The team has already scored 45 goals in just 15 games. With such momentum, we can witness an Invincible season from the Islanders.
(* - ongoing streak)
2) Jamshedpur FC (Hero ISL 2021-22): Seven games
The 2021-22 Hero ISL season will always have a special place in the hearts of Jamshedpur FC fans. Winning a trophy was something they had wished for since their inception. And that dream came true last season as they waltzed their way to the League Winners’ Shield crown.
Under the leadership of Owen Coyle along with Greg Stewart as their talisman, Jamshedpur FC were a dominant force last season when they went on to win seven straight matches.
The Men of Steel earned 21 out of possible 21 points in their final seven league games and secured their maiden trophy in the club’s history. However, Kerala Blasters FC ended their fabulous run with a 1-0 win over the Men of Steel in the first leg of the Hero ISL 2021-22 semi-final, eventually denying them a Hero ISL double.
3) Bengaluru FC (Hero ISL 2018-19): Six games
Bengaluru FC surpassed their own Hero ISL record of winning five games in a row from the Hero ISL 2017-18 season with six straight wins the following season.
Their winning run helped the Blues secure the top spot of the league table for the second successive season and eventually, Carles Cuadrat’s men became the champions of India, defeating FC Goa 1-0 in a gripping final in extra added time.
4) In chronological order: Chennaiyin FC, Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, ATK Mohun Bagan, Hyderabad FC (twice), Kerala Blasters: 5 games each
ATK Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa, Hyderabad FC (twice), and Kerala Blasters are among the six Hero ISL to win five games on the trot in Hero ISL history.
In the second edition of the Hero ISL, Chennaiyin FC began their campaign in the worst possible manner after a slow start. But Marco Marterazzi's men showed immense character and turned the tide in their favour. Led by Stiven Mendoza in attack, the Marina Machans managed to make it to the final with five wins in a row, where they beat FC Goa 3-2 in the final to notch their maiden Hero ISL title.
Meanwhile, during their debut Hero ISL season in 2017-18, Bengaluru FC showed utter domination over the rest of the teams. During the season, the Blues won five matches on the spin and secured the top spot of the table with an eight-point gap between them and second-placed Chennaiyin FC.
The following season, FC Goa broke plenty of records under head coach Sergio Lobera. The Spaniard led a fearsome FC Goa side with the likes of Mourtada Fall, Ahmed Jahouh, Hugo Boumous, and Coro forming the core of the squad. And the team went on a five games winning streak before shockingly losing 4-1 to Chennaiyin FC in the first leg of the semi-final. The run, however, was key for Lobera’s side as it helped them win the maiden League Winners’ Shield.
The Hero ISL witnessed an epic battle in the 2020-21 season when ATK Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City FC were neck-to-neck in the fight for the League Winners’ Shield. That season, ATK Mohun Bagan ahead coach Antonio Lopez Habas oversaw a five-game winning streak with the strike duo of Roy Krishna and David Williams being the undisputed stars for the Mariners.
Reigning champions Hyderabad FC have equalled the record of winning five straight games twice during the ongoing Hero ISL season. After beginning their season with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Mumbai City FC, Hyderabad FC won five straight games with a scoreline of 1-0, before going down to Kerala Blasters FC at home.
After losing out to Kerala Blasters FC and ATK Mohun Bagan in two games, Hyderabad FC bounced back in style with a 3-1 win over Chennaiyin FC and this victory led to another five-match winning streak. The run again lasted for five games and came to an end after a 1-1 draw against Chennaiyin FC in Matchweek 15.
Kerala Blasters FC are yet another team who have recorded a five-match winning streak this campaign . The Tuskers were struggling at the bottom half of the table with just three points from their opening four games. But, ever since, the Kochi-based side gained momentum and went on an impressive winning streak. Their run of five consecutive wins under Ivan Vukomanovic is the best in the club’s history so far.