Victoria Sporting Club, commonly known as Victoria SC, is a football club based in
Dhaka
Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city ...
,
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...
.
Founded in 1903, the club competes in the
Dhaka Senior Division League
Dhaka Senior Division Football League, also referred as First Division Football League, is the third tier of football league in Bangladesh. Until 2006, it was the top-tier league of the country. It was established in 1948 as Dhaka League, while B ...
, the third tier of
football in Bangladesh
Football is the second-most popular sport in Bangladesh, after cricket, and is governed by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF). An interest in cricket resulting from the nation's success in Test cricket and participation in the Cricket Wor ...
.
They were relegated from the
Bangladesh Championship League
Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) is the second-tier football league of Bangladesh run by the Bangladesh Football Federation. It was founded in 2012. The league is also known as TVS Championship League for sponsorship agreements from 2018–1 ...
, in 2021.
History
Victoria Sporting Club, commonly known as ''Victoria SC'', is a football club based in
Dhaka
Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city ...
.
It was established in 1903, and named after
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...
during the
British regime. It is one of the oldest clubs in
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...
(formerly
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a Pakistani province established in 1955 by the One Unit Scheme, One Unit Policy, renaming the province as such from East Bengal, which, in modern times, is split between India and Bangladesh. Its land borders were with India ...
), and in 1948 they made history by becoming the first ever winners of the
Dhaka League
Dhaka Senior Division Football League, also referred as First Division Football League, is the third tier of football league in Bangladesh. Until 2006, it was the top-tier league of the country. It was established in 1948 as Dhaka League, while ...
.
Aside from their historic triupmh, they emerged champions of the league during the 1962 and 1964 edition/season, while finishing runners-up in 1960 and 1961. The club also participated in the historic
IFA Shield
The IFA Shield is an annual football competition organized by the Indian Football Association. The IFA is the governing body of football in the state of West Bengal, came into existence in 1893. Named after the association, the IFA Shield tourn ...
before the
partition of Bengal.
[ Fourth oldest football tournament, organized by the ]IFA
IFA or Ifa may refer to:
Organisations
Economics
* Independent financial adviser, a type of financial services professional in the UK
* Index Fund Advisors
* Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, representing actuaries in the UK
* Institute of Ac ...
( W.B.), and played between the local clubs of West Bengal
West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...
and other invited ones.
In 1962, Victoria clinched the prestigious
Aga Khan Gold Cup
The Aga Khan Gold Cup was a tournament played in Dhaka, Bangladesh which invited the top club sides from leading football playing nations of Asia to compete. Many renowned football pundits regard this competition as a predecessor of AFC Champio ...
title, dismantling the
fedder team for
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
,
Young Taegeuk Football Association 5–1. Many at the time considered Victoria SC to be the strongest club side in South Asia.
Head coach
Honours
Domestic tournaments
*
Dhaka League
Dhaka Senior Division Football League, also referred as First Division Football League, is the third tier of football league in Bangladesh. Until 2006, it was the top-tier league of the country. It was established in 1948 as Dhaka League, while ...
**Winner (3): 1948, 1962, 1964
**Runners-up (1): 2010
*Dhaka First Division League
**Winner (3): 1996, 1999, 2001
*
Aga Khan Gold Cup
The Aga Khan Gold Cup was a tournament played in Dhaka, Bangladesh which invited the top club sides from leading football playing nations of Asia to compete. Many renowned football pundits regard this competition as a predecessor of AFC Champio ...
[The competition is widely regarded as the predecessor of ]AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League (abbreviated as ACL) is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation, and contested by Asia's top-division football clubs. It is the most prestigious club competition ...
(held for the first time in 1967), since it was the first organized international competition that involved club teams around Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...
, organized by the football authorities of East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a Pakistani province established in 1955 by the One Unit Scheme, One Unit Policy, renaming the province as such from East Bengal, which, in modern times, is split between India and Bangladesh. Its land borders were with India ...
, in collaboration with Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal in some countries/territories in Asia and Oceania. It has 47 member countries most of which are located in Asia. Australia, formerly in ...
(AFC).
**Winner (1): 1962
*Nar Narayan Shield
**Winners (1): 1948
Invitational
*
Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup
**Runners-up (1): 1993
Notable players
* Muhammad Umer (1961)
*
Abdul Ghafoor Majna (1962–1964)
*
Shabbir Ali
Shabbir Ali (born 26 January 1956) is an Indian football manager and former player. He was awarded the Dhyan Chand Award, the highest award in Indian sports for lifetime achievement, given by Government of India in 2011. He is the first footba ...
(1984–1985)
*
Raju Kaji Shakya (1986–1988)
Cricket section
See also
*
List of football clubs in Bangladesh
This is the list of professional football clubs and sport clubs with a football team in Bangladesh. There is a total of 40 clubs in Bangladesh playing football.
Bangladesh Premier League
The Bangladesh Premier League is the top tier of Bangla ...
*
History of football in Bangladesh
Notes
References
External links
Team infoat Global Sports Archive
Team profileat Soccerway
Team profileat Sofascore
{{Portal bar, Bangladesh, Association football
Football clubs in Bangladesh
1903 establishments in India
Sport in Dhaka
Bangladesh Championship League
Association football clubs established in 1903