Most titles in Durand Cup history [2025]

Mohun Bagan stands as the most successful club in the history of the Durand Cup, having clinched the coveted title a record 17 times as of 2025. This makes them the most decorated team in the tournament's long and illustrious history. East Bengal follow them in this list, who have won the tournament 16 times.

History of Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest football tournament

The Durand Cup, established in 1888, is Asia’s oldest football tournament. Initially dominated by British Army regiments before Indian independence, it gradually saw Indian football clubs rise to prominence post-1947.

The British regiments, Highland Light Infantry and Black Watch, were early dominant teams, each winning the cup five times during the pre-independence era.

Mohammedan Sporting holds the honour of being the first Indian civilian team to win the Durand Cup, achieving this feat in 1940.

Since Indian independence, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have been the most successful teams of the tournament. Mohun Bagan not only holds the most number of titles but also a unique record of winning the Durand Cup three consecutive times on two separate occasions: first from 1963 to 1965 and then from 1984 to 1986.

East Bengal also achieved a hat-trick of Durand Cup wins from 1989 to 1991.

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Most titles in Durand Cup history

1. Mohun Bagan (17 titles)

Mohun Bagan is the most successful team in Durand Cup history with 17 titles.

They have won the cup in the years: 1953, 1959, 1960 (joint with East Bengal), 1963, 1964, 1965, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982 (joint with East Bengal), 1984, 1985, 1986, 1994, 2000, and 2023.

In the 2023 Durand Cup final, the newly formed Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated arch-rival East Bengal by 1-0 to clinch their 17th title and create the record of winning the most Durand Cup titles.

2. East Bengal (16 titles)

East Bengal closely follows Mohun Bagan with 16 titles.

They have won the title in 1951, 1952, 1956, 1960 (joint with Mohun Bagan), 1967, 1970, 1972, 1978, 1982 (joint with Mohun Bagan), 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 2002, and 2004.

Till the start of the 2000s, East Bengal were the most successful team in Durand history. But, with a degradation in their success, they have not been able to win the title in more than 20 years.

Along with Mohun Bagan, East Bengal has the record for most participation in Durand history, with appearances in 56 editions of the tournament.

3. Border Security Force (7 titles)

Known for their dominance, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s, the Border Security Force Football Team won the title seven times in 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976 (joint with JCT), 1981, and 1988.

Their last trophy came in 1988 when they defeated a strong East Bengal club by 3-2.

4. JCT Mills (5 titles)

JCT, or the Jagatjit Cotton & Textile Football Club, used to be a strong force in Indian football till 2011, before the senior team got dissolved.

The team from Punjab won the first-ever Indian football league in 1966, which later got rebranded as the I-League.

They were the first team from India to sign a foreign coach and the first team outside of Calcutta to win the IFA Shield. Former India captain, Arjuna Awardee Inder Singh, was one of their star players in the late 1960s and later also managed the team.

They won the Durand Cup in 1976 (joint with BSF FT), 1983, 1987, 1992, and 1996.

5. Black Watch (5 titles)

The Black Watch was a British regiment that won the Durand Cup five times during the pre-independence era.

Jim Baxter and Harold Davis were one of the famous Scottish footballers who were part of the Black Watch regiment.

They won the Durand Cup five times in 1897, 1898, 1899, 1911, and 1920.

6. Highland Light Infantry (5 titles)

Highland Light Infantry was a light infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1881, and they were the most dominant and successful team during the early days of the Durand Cup.

They played in the first-ever final but lost against the Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1888. That defeat transformed them into a stronger team as they went on to win the tournament’s next two editions.

They then won the tournament in back-to-back years in 1893, 1894, and 1895.