The 2024–25 season was the eleventh season in Kerala Blasters's existence, as well as their eleventh season in the Indian Super League.
Following the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, the Blasters started preparations for the new season right away, as just one week after their elimination from the 2023–24 league playoffs, the Blasters announced the departure of their head coach Ivan Vukomanović, who left after his three years at the club as the most successful head coach in the history of the club. Vukomanović was replaced by the Swedish manager Mikael Stahre, who joined the club on a two-year contract in May 2024. The Blasters also bid farewell to their all-time top-scorer and the golden-boot winner, Dimitrios Diamantakos, who left the club in May for a new contract with East Bengal FC. In the following days, the club would announce the departures of more of their foreign players from the previous season as the likes of Daisuke Sakai, Marko Lešković (who signed in the 2021–22 season), and Fedor Černych were released from the club following the end of their contracts. Amidst their Thailand tour ahead of the new season, the club's then longest-serving player at that time, Jeakson Singh was sold to East Bengal for a reported transfer fee of ₹3.2 crores (US$382,300) plus add-ons, with the Blasters receiving the highest transfer fee ever for an Indian player in the nation's football history.
Following their Thailand tour during the pre-season, the Blasters began their 2024–25 campaign with an 8–0 win over Mumbai City in the 2024 Durand Cup in their first competitive match of the season. This victory broke the club record for the biggest win in the Blasters' history and tied the record for the biggest win in the tournament's history, matching the score of the 1889 Durand Cup final. After going unbeaten in the next two group stage matches, the Blasters qualified for the quarter-finals, and met their rivals Bengaluru FC in the fixture, which they lost 1–0 resulting in their elimination from the tournament.
Background
After a rather disappointing 2023–24 season, the Kerala Blasters' quest for their first ever silverware led them to 2024–25 season. The Blasters' 2023–24 season was marked by a roller-coaster journey consisting of injuries and suspensions. Ahead the 2023–24 campaign, the Blasters ended their six-year association with their then-most-capped player at the time, Sahal Abdul Samad, who was involved in a swap-deal with Mohun Bagan for the transfer of Pritam Kotal; with the Blasters receiving a reported transfer fee of ₹90 lakhs (US$108,000). The club went to the United Arab Emirates for their final pre-season camp ahead of the league season. The Blasters began their 2023–24 season with the 2023 Durand Cup, in which they were knocked-out of the tournament after finishing third in the group of four. Following the end of his ten-match ban, the then manager of the Blasters, Ivan Vukomanović, returned to the dugout on 27 October 2023 in the match against Odisha FC. The Blasters had a satisfactory end to the first half of the league, as by the winter-breaks in December, the Blasters reigned at the top of the table, spending 45 days at the spot. During the international breaks in January 2024, the Blasters took part in the 2024 Indian Super Cup, but was disqualified from the tournament for yet again finishing third in the group table. Coming into the second-phase of the league, an injury plagued Blasters' side coupled with dozens of suspensions, lost their winning momentum, as they ended the regular season fifth on the table. However, the Blasters qualified for the league playoffs for a third consecutive time, meeting Odisha FC in Kalinga Stadium on 19 April 2024, who put an end to the Blasters' season, as the Blasters lost the match two goals to one, thus ending a yet another season without a trophy.
Pre-season overview
2024
April On 26 April 2024, the Blasters announced that they had mutually parted ways with their head coach Ivan Vukomanović, after his three season at the club. Vukomanović left the club as the most capped and successful head coach in the history of the club with a win percentage of 44.8% across the league, surpassing his predecessors at the club. He also held the club record for the highest points-per-game ratio (1.58) in the league, as well as was the first Blasters' head coach to take the side to three consecutive playoffs, and left the team as the only Blasters manager to have a positive goal-difference during his tenure at the club.
On 30 April, it was reported by the Times of India reporter Marcus Mergulhao, a prominent sports journalist in India, that the Blasters had signed the Moroccan winger Noah Sadaoui from FC Goa on a two-year deal till 2026.
May On 6 May, it was reported by Marcus Mergulhao that the Blasters had imposed a fine of Indian rupees 1 crore (US$120,000) to their then head coach Ivan Vukomanović following the infamous walk-out incident in the 2022–23 season league playoffs. Although not being formally announced by the club, the figure was disclosed in the Blasters' appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the All India Football Federation on various charges.
On 12 May, it was reported by Marcus Mergulhao that the Blasters had signed the Indian goalkeeper Nora Fernandes from Aizawl FC on a multi-year deal till 2027. In the following day, the Blasters announced the contract extension of their Indian full-back Naocha Singh, who signed a one-year permanent contract, after representing the club in the previous season as a loanee from Mumbai City FC.
On 16 May, the AIFF announced that the Blasters (along with three other clubs in the league) had failed to secure the ICLS Premier 1 club licensing for the 2024–25 season. As per the reports, the Blasters were denied the club licensing due to the safety concerns raised by the AFC General Secretary, Windsor John, over the Blasters' home ground Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. The clubs, who were denied the Premier 1 club licensing were given with an option to seek an exemption to participate in the national competitions by 22 May 2024 by the national federation.
On 18 May, the Blasters announced the contract extension of their club captain and their Uruguayan midfielder, Adrián Luna, on a three-year deal until 2027. Just two days following Luna's contract extension, the Blasters' striker Dimitrios Diamantakos announced that he would be leaving the side after his two-year stint at the club. Diamantakos left the club as their all-time top-scorer across all competitions, having scored 28 goals in 43 games, and after becoming the first player in the Blasters' history to win the league's Golden Boot award, after having scored 13 goals of 17 matches in the 2023–24 season.
On 23 May, the Blasters announced the appointment of the Swede, Mikael Stahre as their new head coach on a two-year deal till 2026, replacing the Serbian, Ivan Vukomanović.
On 27 May, the Blasters celebrated their ten-year anniversary since their first season in 2014. On the same day, it was reported that the Blasters full-back Nishu Kumar, who had played the previous season on loan for East Bengal FC, had signed a permanent contract with the same side, leaving the Blasters after his four-year association with the club.
On 30 May, the Blasters forward Fedor Černych was called up to the Lithuania national team for the 2024 Baltic Cup squad.
On 31 May, the Blasters would announce a series of departures from the club, starting with the departure of their assistant coach Frank Dauwen, who served as the assistant to Vukomanović. They would then formally announce the departure of their striker Dimitrios Diamantakos following the end of his contract, with the latter joining the East Bengal FC. The Blasters would also then bid farewell to their experienced custodian Karanjit Singh following the end of his contract, along with their alternate goalkeeper, Lara Sharma, who also left the club.
June On 1 June, the Blasters announced the departure of their Japanese winger Daisuke Sakai after his one-year stint at the club, followed by that the departure of their Croatian centre-back Marko Lešković, who left the club after his three-years at the club, leaving Luna as the only remaining foreign player from the famous 2021–22 batch. On the same day, the Blasters thanked all of their partners and sponsors from the previous season.
On 3 June, the Blasters announced the departure of their forward and Lithuania national team captain, Fedor Černych, who was signed in early 2024 as an injury replacement for Luna.
On 7 June, the Blasters announced the signing of Swede, Björn Wesström as their new assistant coach, replacing Frank Dauwen. Along with Björn, the Blasters also announced the signing of the 36 year-old Portuguese, Frederico Pereira Morais, as their assistant coach for set-pieces. The club would also announce the retaining of their Indian assistant coach, T. G. Purushothaman, as well as their goalkeeping coach, Slaven Progoveki for the 2024–25 season.
On 8 June, Onmanorama reported that the Blasters will travel to Thailand on the first-week of July for a two-week pre-season camp ahead of the 2024 Durand Cup tournament. The next day, the Blasters confirmed the retaining of their Strength and Conditioning Coach Werner Martens through a social media post.
On 12 June, the Blasters announced the signing of the young Indian goalkeeper, Som Kumar, from Slovenian club NK Olimpija Ljubljana on a four-year deal till 2028, becoming the first Blasters' signing under Stahre.
On 15 June, the Blasters announced that they would be travelling to Thailand for their pre-season preparations; a news which was earlier reported by Onmanorama a week prior to the official announcement. The club announced that they would set up their camp in Chonburi, Thailand from 3 July to 22 July, with the players directly reporting to the Pattana Sports Complex. The Blasters also stated that the team would play at least three friendlies against top-tier Thai clubs during their three weeks at the country ahead of the Durand Cup tournament, which would commence on 26 July 2024.
On 18 June, the Blasters announced the signing of the twenty-one year old Indian full-back, Likmabam Rakesh on a three-year deal till 2027; who signed from the recently relegated I-League club, NEROCA FC.
On 24 June, the Blasters announced the signing of Indian winger R. Lalthanmawia from I-League club Aizawl FC, on a three-year contract until 2027. Three days later, the Blasters officially announced the arrival of the Indian goalkeeper Nora Fernandes, who was also signed from Aizawl on a three-year deal. The club also further stated that both the players would join the squad in Thailand for their pre-season camp on 3 July.
On 28 June, the Blasters' youth team players by the likes of Ebindas Yesudasan and Thomas Cherian, along with Korou Singh were called up to the India national under-20 football team's 36-men probable squad for the 2024 SAFF U-20 Championship.
July On 1 July, the Blasters announced FREEMANS - Measuring Tools as their main sponsors on a five-year sponsorship deal. On the next day, following the months of speculation, the Blasters officially announced the signing of the Moroccan winger Noah Sadaoui, who signed a two-year contract following his spell at FC Goa. The Blasters confirmed the arrival of the team in Thailand for their pre-season preparations on 3 July, and subsequently announced their squad for the pre-season camp. The club also stated that the players who were injured in the last season, along with some players who were sent on loan during the previous season would also be training with the first-team; with Korou Singh to join the camp following his India U-20 national team commitment.