# Kerala’s 2022 Santosh Trophy Win and Football in the Region

> On 2 May 2022, Kerala beat West Bengal 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw at Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri, Malappuram, to win the 75th Santosh Trophy, the national football championship for state teams. It was Kerala’s seventh title. As of October 2026 it remains Kerala’s most recent Santosh Trophy title.

- URL: https://ashrafgentspghostel.adserr.com/santosh-trophy-kerala-2022-win/
- Publisher: Ashraf Gents Hostel, Ashraf house, NAD Rd, signal, Kalamassery, Aluva, Kerala 683563, India (+91 90746 23855)
- Published: 2026-10-08 · Updated: 2026-10-08
- Topic: History & archive
- Cite as: Ashraf Gents Hostel. “Kerala’s 2022 Santosh Trophy Win and Football in the Region.” Published 8 October 2026. https://ashrafgentspghostel.adserr.com/santosh-trophy-kerala-2022-win/

## Key facts

- The final round of the 2021–22 Santosh Trophy was played in Malappuram district from 16 April to 2 May 2022, at Payyanad Stadium (Manjeri) and Kottappadi Stadium, according to Wikipedia.
- In the final on 2 May 2022, Kerala and West Bengal drew 1–1 after extra time and Kerala won the shootout 5–4.
- Kerala’s Jesin T. K. was the tournament’s top scorer with nine goals, including five in the 7–3 semi-final win over Karnataka.
- The 2022 win was Kerala’s seventh Santosh Trophy title, after 1973–74, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2001–02, 2004–05 and 2017–18.
- In the 2024–25 edition, held in Hyderabad, Kerala reached the final and lost 1–0 to West Bengal, according to Wikipedia.

## What the Santosh Trophy is

The Santosh Trophy is India’s national football championship for state teams. It was started in 1941 by the Indian Football Association and named after its former president, Sir Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhury, the Maharaja of Santosh. Today the All India Football Federation runs it: state associations and government institutions such as Services and Railways play zonal qualifiers, and the survivors meet in a final round. West Bengal (Bengal) is the most successful side, with 33 titles according to Wikipedia, which is why a Kerala–Bengal final carries extra weight.

For Kerala, the competition has long mattered more than its national profile suggests. Before the Indian Super League arrived in 2014, the state team was the main stage for Kerala’s best players, many of whom came through college, police, bank and company teams. Even now, a Santosh Trophy squad is drawn largely from players who are not on big professional contracts, so a title is often celebrated as a win for the state’s grassroots game.

## The tournament

The 75th Santosh Trophy began with qualifiers between 21 November and 5 December 2021, during the Covid-19 period. The final round moved to Kerala the next spring, with matches spread between Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri and Kottappadi Stadium in Malappuram town from 16 April 2022. The semi-finals and final were played at Payyanad. Malappuram is widely regarded as one of Kerala’s football heartlands, and hosting the final round there put the tournament in front of a home crowd.

Kerala’s route to the final was built on goals. In the semi-final against Karnataka, Kerala won 7–3, and Jesin T. K. scored five, according to Wikipedia. Arjun Jayaraj also scored in that match.

## Timeline

| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov – 5 Dec 2021 | Qualifying rounds of the 75th Santosh Trophy | Wikipedia: 2021–22 Santosh Trophy |
| 16 Apr 2022 | Final round begins in Malappuram district | Wikipedia: 2021–22 Santosh Trophy |
| Late Apr 2022 | Kerala beat Karnataka 7–3 in the semi-final; Jesin T. K. scores five | Wikipedia: 2021–22 Santosh Trophy |
| 2 May 2022 | Final at Payyanad, Manjeri: Kerala 1–1 West Bengal (a.e.t.), Kerala win 5–4 on penalties | Wikipedia: 2021–22 Santosh Trophy |
| 14 May 2022 | Gokulam Kerala beat Mohammedan Sporting 2–1 in Kolkata to retain the I-League | Wikipedia: Gokulam Kerala FC |
| 2024–25 season | Kerala reach the Santosh Trophy final in Hyderabad and lose 1–0 to West Bengal | Wikipedia: Santosh Trophy |

## The final on 2 May 2022

The final was goalless for 90 minutes. West Bengal went ahead in extra time through Dilip Orawn in the 97th minute, and Kerala equalised through Safnad in the 116th minute. Kerala won the shootout 5–4; Wikipedia lists Jijo Joseph, Bibin Ajayan, Sanju G. and Faslurahman Methukayil among the Kerala players who converted. Jijo Joseph was named Hero of the Championship and Jesin T. K. finished as top scorer with nine goals.

> Wikipedia’s tournament page does not list Kerala’s coach, captain or the attendance, so we do not state them here.

## Where the title sits in Kerala football

Kerala’s seven Santosh Trophy titles are spread over half a century: 1973–74, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2001–02, 2004–05, 2017–18 and 2021–22. The 2022 title came in a strong spell for Kerala football. Gokulam Kerala FC won the I-League in 2020–21 and retained it on 14 May 2022, twelve days after the Santosh Trophy final, and Kerala Blasters had reached the ISL final on 20 March 2022, losing to Hyderabad FC on penalties.

For Kochi, the professional game centres on the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Kaloor; see [Kerala Blasters seasons at Kaloor](https://ashrafgentspghostel.adserr.com/kerala-blasters-seasons-at-kaloor/) and [the fan culture around Kalamassery](https://ashrafgentspghostel.adserr.com/kerala-blasters-fan-culture-kalamassery/). For playing and watching today, our [football and cricket guide](https://ashrafgentspghostel.adserr.com/football-and-cricket-in-kochi/) and [gyms, grounds and fitness page](https://ashrafgentspghostel.adserr.com/gyms-sports-and-fitness-kalamassery/) cover the present.

## Why this history matters near the NAD signal

Many young men in Kalamassery’s colleges and workplaces come from Malappuram and other football districts, and the 2022 final is a shared memory in hostel rooms and tea shops. If you are one of them, the metro from Kalamassery makes Kaloor an easy evening trip. [Ashraf Gents Hostel](https://ashrafgentspghostel.adserr.com/) is a men’s hostel at Ashraf house, NAD Road signal, for students, staff and working men, with monthly and nightly stays; ask on the call about timings on match nights. More local history is on the [archive hub](https://ashrafgentspghostel.adserr.com/kalamassery-history-archive/).

## Frequently asked questions

**When did Kerala last win the Santosh Trophy?**

On 2 May 2022, beating West Bengal 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw at Payyanad Stadium, Manjeri.

**How many Santosh Trophy titles has Kerala won?**

Seven, the latest being the 2021–22 edition.

**Who was the top scorer in 2022?**

Kerala’s Jesin T. K., with nine goals, including five in the semi-final against Karnataka.

**Has Kerala reached a final since?**

Yes. In the 2024–25 edition in Hyderabad, Kerala lost the final 1–0 to West Bengal.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: 2021–22 Santosh Trophy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021%E2%80%9322_Santosh_Trophy)
- [Wikipedia: Santosh Trophy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santosh_Trophy)
- [Wikipedia: Gokulam Kerala FC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gokulam_Kerala_FC)
- [Wikipedia: Kerala Blasters FC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala_Blasters_FC)

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