Kerala Blasters FC have retained winger and talisman CK Vineeth for the upcoming Indian Super League season, thereby bringing an end to his trophy-laden spell at Bengaluru FC.

The fleet-footed footballer from Kerala took to Twitter to announce an emotional farewell to the Bengaluru FC fans. The Kerala forward won two I-League titles and took them to the final of the AFC Cup last season.

Here’s the full text of Vineeth’s message:

“I’ve had to say goodbye a few times in my life. But never once like this. Bengaluru, let me tell you how much I will miss you. I will miss the shirt, the fans, the songs, the stands, the chants and the banners. I will miss everything.

Three-and-a-half years of wearing the blue at BFC has been a privilege and an honour. We made memories, we celebrated, we lost trophies to rivals and brought them back home. We did all of this together.

To the West Block Blues, you guys are a special bunch. Running towards you every time we scored was a feeling that can’t be replicated. The club will forever be indebted to you and the one hand that goes on every trophy has always been yours. Believe me that every time I’ve kissed the badge, I’ve meant it. 

Playing on that pitch with your voice in the stands is a different feeling altogether. Then whenever it is in Blue or not is another matter.

To the club, every high and every low the dressing room in Goa, Bengaluru and Cuttack, the tears in Doha and on the touchline on that rainy night in May 2015: Every moment spent as a Blue was one that changed me as a player and as a person. For this, forever I’ll be grateful. Wherever I go, there is a part of me that bleeds Blue.”

Vineeth was a part of a terrifying forward line of the Blues, and helped Bengaluru win both their league titles. He was also instrumental in taking the side to the summit of the AFC Cup, where the side finished as beaten finalists. Starting out as a fringe player in his first season, Vineeth slowly became a vital cog in Bengaluru’s rise and finished with 21 goals from 85 games during his four-year tenure.

CK Vineeth had his first taste of the ISL when he was snapped up Kerala Blasters in the 2015 season, which was a disappointment for him and the club. However, he bounced back in the next season, and was central to taking the Blasters to the final where they finished behind Atletico de Kolkata for the second time in three seasons.