For decades, football in West Bengal has revolved around the dominance of the traditional “Big Three” — East Bengal FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Mohammedan Sporting Club. Their history, fan following and success have shaped the state’s football culture. But now, a new club is beginning to command attention across Indian football — Diamond Harbour Football Club.

Founded just six years ago, Diamond Harbour FC has completed a remarkable rise through the Indian football pyramid and is now set to become a top-flight club in 2026. What started as a small project with long-term ambition has rapidly transformed into one of the country’s most talked-about football stories.

The club earned affiliation from the Indian Football Association two years after its formation and quickly established a clear objective — earn promotion on merit. To lead that vision, the management turned to experienced Spanish coach Kibu Vicuna, who had previously guided Mohun Bagan to an I-League title and also managed Kerala Blasters and Mohammedan Sporting.

“The difficulties were very great because winning one championship is very difficult, but winning three consecutive titles was a seriously difficult task,” Vicuna said while reflecting on the club’s rise.

Diamond Harbour entered I-League 3 through nomination and immediately focused on building a competitive squad. Vicuna and his staff scouted extensively across local competitions, including the Calcutta Football League and the I-League, steadily improving the quality of recruitment each season.

One of the breakthrough signings was local striker Naro Hari Shrestha, who had helped West Bengal win gold at the 2022 National Games. The forward finished as the top scorer in I-League 3 with 10 goals in 11 matches before adding five more in I-League 2.

Between September 2024 and April 2025, Diamond Harbour achieved back-to-back promotions by winning both I-League 3 and I-League 2, placing the club one step away from the Indian Super League.

The challenge became significantly tougher in the Indian Football League, where established clubs such as Aizawl FC, Shillong Lajong FC and Gokulam Kerala FC have previously struggled for promotion. Vicuna responded by bringing in experienced names including Luka Majcen, Mirshad Michu, Melroy Assisi, Bryce Miranda and Halicharan Narzary.

Diamond Harbour also made headlines during the Durand Cup, reaching the final after defeating three ISL clubs. The team’s strength this season lay in its attacking philosophy and deadly set-pieces, with 20 of its 31 league goals coming from dead-ball situations.

Perhaps most impressive was the club’s resilience. Diamond Harbour recovered from losing positions in nine of its 13 league matches, collecting 17 points through comebacks alone. In the title-deciding clash against Dempo SC, the club once again fought back after trailing 0-1 before Hugo Diaz scored a crucial equaliser.

Vicuna insists there is no secret behind the mentality.

“It is about our values — we are an offensive team. We want to always score more goals than the opponent,” he explained.

With promotion secured and expectations rising, Diamond Harbour may now be preparing to write a historic new chapter in West Bengal football.