Machhindra FC was established in 1973.[5] For sponsorship reasons, it was named Machhindra Bahal Club in 2004,[6] and Machhindra Energizer FC in 2006.[7] The club was promoted to Nepal's top football division in 2004. They appointed Swede Johan Kalin in 2013, claiming to be the highest qualified coach in Nepalese football history.[8] He led the team to a second-place finish in the league, and was praised for his tactics.[9]
The beginning of the 2020s represented the club's most successful time with two consecutive league championships. On 5 April Machhindra appeared in the 2022 AFC Cup qualifying play-off match against Blue Star of Sri Lanka,[10] at the Dasharath Rangasala Stadium but bowed out of the tournament by losing 2–1.[11]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
