The second season of the Indian Super League is just two months away, after a wildly successful first season last year which saw Atletico de Kolkata squeeze out a 1-0 victory over Kerala in the final last year. There’s been plenty of activity in the market with clubs shuffling their players and bringing in some fresh new signings. Here’s a look at the marquee players for each team and some of their other overseas stars:
Atletico de Kolkata
Marquee Player: Helder Postiga
The champions won’t have the services of Spanish legend Luis Garcia this season and their attempts to sign Didier Drogba came a-cropper, but in Helder Postiga they have a worthy replacement. The Portuguese striker has played in two World Cups and was part of the Portugal team that were runners-up in Euro 2004. Postiga adds experience and venom to the Kolkata frontline, which struggled at times to score goals last year.
Others: Atletico de Kolkata are definitely not lacking when it comes to overseas talent. Iain Hume, who scored five goals for Kerala Blasters last season and was given the “Hero of the League” award, has joined the champions this season. Their Spanish stars from last season, Borja and Josemi, will also bring in their experience.
Chennaiyin FC
Marquee Player: Elano
Elano became a favourite with the Madras faithful last season, and it’s not surprising to see that he’s been retained as the marquee player by Chennaiyin FC. The Brazilian midfielder, who has played for Manchester City, was a constant danger on the pitch last season and finished as the highest scorer with eight goals. Chennaiyin FC will hope he can replicate that form.
Others: The temperamental Fikru Teferra, who burnt hot and cold for Atletico de Kolkata last season, has moved to Chennai and remains a potent weapon. There’s Bernard Mendy and Bruno Pelissari as well – both of whom played key roles in Chennaiyin’s run to the semi-finals last year.
Delhi Dynamos
Marquee Player: Roberto Carlos
Delhi Dynamos probably pulled off the casting coup of Indian football when they announced that Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos would be their marquee player-cum-manager for the 2015 season. The Dynamos will be hoping Carlos can execute some of those sensational curving free kicks he is famous for, after falling narrowly short of qualifying for the semi-finals last season.
Others: Delhi have retained Hans Mulder, their captain from last year, and that looks to be a good move. At 28, Mulder is in the prime of his footballing career and played his part for Delhi last year. The exciting Gustavo Marmentini has also been retained, who at 21, offers pace and energy to this Delhi team.
FC Goa
Marquee Player: Lucio
Unfortunately, Robert Pires won’t be turning out for Goa this season, but there’s no reason to worry – Goa’s marquee player this season will be Lucio, the Brazilian defender who was part of the 2002 World Cup winning Brazil team. His hard-as-nails style of central defence will add spine to this Goa team.
Others: Goa certainly have backup on the international front. Alongside Lucio, fellow Brazilian Leonardo da Silva Moura has joined FC Goa. Moura is a Flamengo mainstay and has appeared for the Brazilian club over 300 times. Jofre, who impressed for Atletico de Kolkata last season, has linked forces with Goa this year while another Brazilian striker Victor Simoes will bolster Goa’s attack.
Kerala Blasters
Marquee Player: Carlos Marchena
The finalists from last year came desperately close to becoming the first ISL champions but lost out by just a whisker. They will be hoping to make up for it this year. To that end, they’ve roped in Carlos Marchena as their marquee player, who has mostly plied his trade for Valencia. He was a part of Spain’s victorious 2010 World Cup squad – Kerala will hope his success rubs off on them.
Others: There was a lot of talk about Kerala signing John Arne Riise as their marquee player but that plan obviously didn’t work out. They look strong on the domestic front but will hope their international recruits step up – Pulga will continue to weave his influence from midfield while their attack will be bolstered with the arrival of Chris Dagnall, a English footballer who has played for clubs like Tranmere Rovers, Rochdale and Barnsley.
Mumbai City
Marquee Player: Nicolas Anelka
The French great Nicolas Anelka returns as marquee player for Mumbai again but this time his duties are doubled – he’ll also be managing the club. Anelka had a decent season last year, scoring two goals, but that wasn’t enough for Mumbai who finished second from bottom. The French superstar will have his hands quite full this season.
Others: Mumbai FC invested widely in the pre-season and have brought in a quite a few foreign recruits to shake up the team. There’s Frantz Bertin, a central defender from Haiti who has a lot of experience playing football in Spain, complemented by Cristian Bustos, another Spaniard from Mallorca. There’s also Frederic Piquionne, a French striker with experience of playing top-flight football in clubs as varied as Lyon, Monaco and West Ham United.
NorthEast United FC
Marquee Player: Simao
The Highlanders have given their supporters a lot to cheer about with the announcement that Simao will be their marquee player this season. Simao has played for clubs like Atletico Madrid and Benfica in the past, and also had a spell with Barcelona in 2001, under current Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal. His set-piece abilities along with this speed on the left wing will come in very handy for NorthEast United.
Others: Tony Warner, a former Trinidad & Tobago player who coaches the Bolton Wanderers, will be the goalkeeping coach-cum-goalkeeper for NorthEast United. NorthEast have also retained Miguel Garcia, the Portuguese defender while signing up Cedric Hengbart, the French centre-back who played a key role in Kerala’s run to the final last year.
FC Pune City
Marquee Player: Adrian Mutu
Pune FC finished sixth last season, but have greatly bolstered their squad bringing in some big names. The biggest of them has to be Adrian Mutu – who, despite his two failed drug tests, is considered one of the best Serie A strikers of all time. Mutu has had spells with some of the biggest clubs in football, including Juventus, Chelsea as well as Inter Milan.
Others: The other big signing for Pune is Didier Zokora, a Tottenham Hotspur favourite and the most capped Ivory Coast player in the world. Pune have also signed up Costa Rica striker Yendrick Ruiz and look a very formidable unit now with all their new signings.
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Atletico de Kolkata
Marquee Player: Helder Postiga
The champions won’t have the services of Spanish legend Luis Garcia this season and their attempts to sign Didier Drogba came a-cropper, but in Helder Postiga they have a worthy replacement. The Portuguese striker has played in two World Cups and was part of the Portugal team that were runners-up in Euro 2004. Postiga adds experience and venom to the Kolkata frontline, which struggled at times to score goals last year.
Others: Atletico de Kolkata are definitely not lacking when it comes to overseas talent. Iain Hume, who scored five goals for Kerala Blasters last season and was given the “Hero of the League” award, has joined the champions this season. Their Spanish stars from last season, Borja and Josemi, will also bring in their experience.
Chennaiyin FC
Marquee Player: Elano
Elano became a favourite with the Madras faithful last season, and it’s not surprising to see that he’s been retained as the marquee player by Chennaiyin FC. The Brazilian midfielder, who has played for Manchester City, was a constant danger on the pitch last season and finished as the highest scorer with eight goals. Chennaiyin FC will hope he can replicate that form.
Others: The temperamental Fikru Teferra, who burnt hot and cold for Atletico de Kolkata last season, has moved to Chennai and remains a potent weapon. There’s Bernard Mendy and Bruno Pelissari as well – both of whom played key roles in Chennaiyin’s run to the semi-finals last year.
Delhi Dynamos
Marquee Player: Roberto Carlos
Delhi Dynamos probably pulled off the casting coup of Indian football when they announced that Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos would be their marquee player-cum-manager for the 2015 season. The Dynamos will be hoping Carlos can execute some of those sensational curving free kicks he is famous for, after falling narrowly short of qualifying for the semi-finals last season.
Others: Delhi have retained Hans Mulder, their captain from last year, and that looks to be a good move. At 28, Mulder is in the prime of his footballing career and played his part for Delhi last year. The exciting Gustavo Marmentini has also been retained, who at 21, offers pace and energy to this Delhi team.
FC Goa
Marquee Player: Lucio
Unfortunately, Robert Pires won’t be turning out for Goa this season, but there’s no reason to worry – Goa’s marquee player this season will be Lucio, the Brazilian defender who was part of the 2002 World Cup winning Brazil team. His hard-as-nails style of central defence will add spine to this Goa team.
Others: Goa certainly have backup on the international front. Alongside Lucio, fellow Brazilian Leonardo da Silva Moura has joined FC Goa. Moura is a Flamengo mainstay and has appeared for the Brazilian club over 300 times. Jofre, who impressed for Atletico de Kolkata last season, has linked forces with Goa this year while another Brazilian striker Victor Simoes will bolster Goa’s attack.
Kerala Blasters
Marquee Player: Carlos Marchena
The finalists from last year came desperately close to becoming the first ISL champions but lost out by just a whisker. They will be hoping to make up for it this year. To that end, they’ve roped in Carlos Marchena as their marquee player, who has mostly plied his trade for Valencia. He was a part of Spain’s victorious 2010 World Cup squad – Kerala will hope his success rubs off on them.
Others: There was a lot of talk about Kerala signing John Arne Riise as their marquee player but that plan obviously didn’t work out. They look strong on the domestic front but will hope their international recruits step up – Pulga will continue to weave his influence from midfield while their attack will be bolstered with the arrival of Chris Dagnall, a English footballer who has played for clubs like Tranmere Rovers, Rochdale and Barnsley.
Mumbai City
Marquee Player: Nicolas Anelka
The French great Nicolas Anelka returns as marquee player for Mumbai again but this time his duties are doubled – he’ll also be managing the club. Anelka had a decent season last year, scoring two goals, but that wasn’t enough for Mumbai who finished second from bottom. The French superstar will have his hands quite full this season.
Others: Mumbai FC invested widely in the pre-season and have brought in a quite a few foreign recruits to shake up the team. There’s Frantz Bertin, a central defender from Haiti who has a lot of experience playing football in Spain, complemented by Cristian Bustos, another Spaniard from Mallorca. There’s also Frederic Piquionne, a French striker with experience of playing top-flight football in clubs as varied as Lyon, Monaco and West Ham United.
NorthEast United FC
Marquee Player: Simao
The Highlanders have given their supporters a lot to cheer about with the announcement that Simao will be their marquee player this season. Simao has played for clubs like Atletico Madrid and Benfica in the past, and also had a spell with Barcelona in 2001, under current Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal. His set-piece abilities along with this speed on the left wing will come in very handy for NorthEast United.
Others: Tony Warner, a former Trinidad & Tobago player who coaches the Bolton Wanderers, will be the goalkeeping coach-cum-goalkeeper for NorthEast United. NorthEast have also retained Miguel Garcia, the Portuguese defender while signing up Cedric Hengbart, the French centre-back who played a key role in Kerala’s run to the final last year.
FC Pune City
Marquee Player: Adrian Mutu
Pune FC finished sixth last season, but have greatly bolstered their squad bringing in some big names. The biggest of them has to be Adrian Mutu – who, despite his two failed drug tests, is considered one of the best Serie A strikers of all time. Mutu has had spells with some of the biggest clubs in football, including Juventus, Chelsea as well as Inter Milan.
Others: The other big signing for Pune is Didier Zokora, a Tottenham Hotspur favourite and the most capped Ivory Coast player in the world. Pune have also signed up Costa Rica striker Yendrick Ruiz and look a very formidable unit now with all their new signings.
