This season marks the addition of four new teams, with Lajong SSC,

Pune FC Pune Football Club was an Indian professional football club based in Pune, Maharashtra. The club has competed in the I-League, then top flight of Indian football league system. The club was one of the most professional clubs in Indian foot ...

Salgaocar Sports Club Salgaocar Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Vasco, Goa, that competes in the Goa Professional League. They have also played in the I-League, then top flight of Indian football league system. Founded in 1956, the c ...

and

Viva Kerala Viva Kerala Football Club (also known as Chirag United Club Kerala) was an Indian professional association football club based in the city of Kochi, Kerala, India. The club was originally formed in 2004, as ''Viva Kerala''. They participated in ...

are confirmed to participate in the

I-League The I-League (known as Hero I-League for sponsorship ties with Hero MotoCorp) is the second-tier men's professional football competition of the Indian football league system. It is currently contested by 12 clubs across the country with the w ...

. With the inception of these four clubs, many club transfers have been undergone within India, and around the world. The length of the regular season will be longer than in previous years, with 26 rounds rather than 22. The season kicked off on 1 October 2009 with

Mahindra United Mahindra United Football Club (formerly known as Mahindra & Mahindra) was an Indian professional football club based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Founded in 1962, the club competed in the I-League, then top tier of Indian football league system, befo ...

hosting defending champions

Churchill Brothers Churchill Brothers FC Goa, or simply known as Churchill Brothers, is an Indian professional football club based in Margao, Goa, that competes in the I-League, alongside Goa Professional League. Founded in 1988 in Margao, the club usually part ...

in Mumbai.

Rule changes

India became the latest member association to adopt AFC's 3+1 rule which will allow clubs to recruit one player of Asian origin in addition to their regular quota of three foreigners. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) executive committee decided to embrace the new AFC rule which encourages the mobility of talented Asian players and provides a fillip to the regional game.

AFC Campaign

Two of the I-League teams were playing in the

2010 AFC Cup The 2010 AFC Cup was the seventh edition of the AFC Cup, playing between clubs from nations who are members of the Asian Football Confederation. With the Asian Football Confederation currently reviewing the format of the AFC Champions League bet ...

. This had caused some delays in scheduling. East Bengal lost all its round robin matches and was out of the tournament, but Churchill Brothers were at Knockout stage.

Stadia and locations

Managerial changes

League table

Fixtures and results

Top goalscorers

''As of 18 May 2010'' (season end) ;21 goals * Odafa Onyeka Okolie ''(

)'' ;16 goals *

Muritala Ali Subair Muritala Ali (born in Nigeria) is a Nigerian football player. Muritala earlier played for Mahindra United Mahindra United Football Club (formerly known as Mahindra & Mahindra) was an Indian professional football club based in Mumbai ...

''(

)'' * Josimar ''( Chirag United Kerala)'' * Ekene Ikenwa ''( Salgaocar)'' ;15 goals * Ranty Martins ''(

Dempo Dempo Mining Corporation Limited is a prominent mining company from the western Indian state of Goa. The mineral business was founded by Mr. Vasantrao S. Dempo in 1941 along with his younger brother Mr. Vaikuntrao Dempo. Mr. Vasantrao S. Demp ...

)'' ;14 goals *

Edmar Figueira Edmar Figueira (born 13 May 1984) is a Brazilian professional footballer who last played for SC São Paulo. He is a left-footed striker. Career Figueira made his first football steps as a youth in Brazilian clubs Paraná Soccer Technical Cente ...

''(

Pune Pune (; ; also known as Poona, (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name from 1818 until 1978) is one of the most important industrial and educational hubs of India, with an estimated population of 7.4 million ...

)'' * N.D.Opara ''(

Air India Air India is the flag carrier airline of India, headquartered at New Delhi. It is owned by Talace Private Limited, a Special-Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of Tata Sons, after Air India Limited's former owner, the Government of India, completed the sa ...

)'' *

Mohammed Rafi Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) was an Indian playback singer and musician. He is considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Rafi was notable for his versatility and ...

''(

)'' *

Jose Ramirez Barreto Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods. * Jose ben Abin * Jose ben Akabya *Jose the Galile ...

''(

Mohun Bagan Mohun Bagan Athletic Club is an Indian professional sports club based in Kolkata, West Bengal. Founded in 1889, its football section is one of the oldest in India and Asia. The club is most notable for its victory over East Yorkshire Regiment ...

)'' ;12 goals *

Chidi Edeh Chidi Edeh (born 18 August 1987) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker. He played most of his career for clubs in India. Career Dempo In 2007, Edeh signed with I-League side Dempo SC and appeared in 15 league matches. H ...

''(

)'' * Edmilson ''( Chirag United Kerala)'' ;11 goals * Felix Chimaokwu ''(

)'' ;10 goals *

Arata Izumi is a Japanese-born Indian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is currently a youth coach with the Reliance Foundation Young Champs. Izumi began his professional career in Singapore with Albirex Niigata Singapore and ...

''(

)'' * Junior Obagbemiro ''( Sporting Goa)''

Hat tricks

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2009-10 I-League I-League seasons 1

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...