East Bengal Club were established in 1920. The club was named so because the founders of the club hailed from the eastern region of Bengal.

East Bengal were the first Indian club to win the IFA Shield for three consecutive years(1949-'51).

East Bengal club were regarded as "The Best Club of India" by the Football Association of England in 1951.

East Bengal have a record of winning the Calcutta football league for 6 years in a row between 1970 and 1975.

The club have a record of winning 23 trophies from Indian capital New Delhi which includes sixteen Durand Cup and seven DCM Trophy titles.

East Bengal also have a multi-collaborative tie-in with Leicester City FC for an exchange program of junior footballers, in respect to coaching techniques, sports science and other developmental programs.

In 1970, East Bengal created history by defeating Pas Club of Iran by a margin of 1-0 in the IFA Shield final. It was the first victory of an Indian club over foreign team since the independence. East Bengal have a glorious past record against the foreign clubs. They are the only club in India to participate in Asian Club Championship/AFC Cup 10 times.

In 1998, the name of the club was changed from East Bengal Club to Kingfisher East Bengal Football Club after the producers of Kingfisher beer, the United Breweries Group became 50% stakeholder and the main sponsor of the club.

In 2003 July,East Bengal became the first Indian club to win a continental competition of repute, when they won LG Asean Cup held at Jakarta beating BEC Tero Sasana in the final.

They became the first club in India to win back to back National Football League titles in 2003 & 2004.