The club then won their first international tournament named POMIS Cup in Malé, defeating New Radiant SC. The club then won the Rovers Cup again by beating Mohun Bagan again and were then one of the original 12 teams in the first National Football League in 1996. The club then got relegated in 1999–2000 but got promoted the very next season and then the club won their first NFL championship in 2004. Dempo also won the last NFL Season. Dempo then won the first I-League season in 2007–08. As a result of this title win, Dempo played in AFC competition in 2008 during the 2008 AFC Cup, Dempo ended as semi-finalist. They again won the league in 2009–10 and 2011–12. After the 2012–13 season, where Dempo finished in 5th place, they parted ways with their most successful coach Armando Colaco, with whom they had won 5 League titles. They appointed Arthur Papas, who had previously been the head coach of the Indian U23 Men's National Team.