Glitz, glamour and spice, it can only mean the return of the Indian Super League is near. The division has the eight franchise teams once again, with every team meeting twice during the standard season before the campaign culminates with semi-final and final.
The first ISL campaign commenced in 2014 and the league has continued to go from strength to strength as India’s governing body aims to change football in the country for the better.
Last season saw Chennayin take the crown as the second Super League champions – a feat only matched by Atlético de Kolkata in 2014. This Saturday we will see the third ISL commence with North East United taking on Kerala Blasters.
Here is a perfect insight into the third Indian football season as the battle to be India’s biggest team heats up…
Chennayin
Marco Materazzi remains in charge of Chennayin and last season’s champions remain the favourites for the third Super League title.
Liverpool legend John Arne Riise is the club’s marquee signing as he moved from Delhi.
Unlike many other ISL sides, they have been able to strengthen their side with other Super League experienced players which has further weakened their competition. Hans Mulder was signed from Delhi Dynamos and Dudu from FC Pune City.
Former Italy international and Juventus player Manuele Blasi has swapped Italy for India as Chennai aim to become the first Super League side to successfully defend their title.
Delhi Dynamos
Last season’s surprise package, the Delhi Dynamos will require something special to recapture their fourth-placed finish. With a number of the club’s biggest stars departing, Delhi have failed to re-sign any significant stars during the off-season.
New manager Gianluca Zambrotta is not a stranger to success but with his squad severely weakened this campaign it’s inevitable their struggles continue. On a positive note, former Real Madrid player Ruben Gonzalez has joined Florent Malouda.
Arguably the country’s richest team, Delhi remain hell bent on maintaining the majority of an Indian core in the squad and have aimed to sign players from the I-League instead of convincing some of the game’s most icon figures to join.
Former West Brom youth player Samir Nabi swapped Birmingham for Delhi as he aims to become a success for the national side in the near future.
North East United
Normally late bloomers, North East United have become a side known for their late start to campaigns. The most Eastern club in the league, NEU just missed out on that all-important play-off place last season but under new coach Nelo Vingada they will be keen to continue on last season’s upward trajectory.
Former Tottenham and Sevilla midfielder Didier Zakora is the marquee signing for them as he swapped Pune for North East. Ivory Coast international Romaric also joined the Super League this season as the league’s smallest team aim to become the number one side in the country.
If North East are to become the third champions of this glamorous league, then they will be required to kick-off the campaign in a strong and devastating fashion.
Mumbai City
The league’s biggest underachievers in the past two seasons, Mumbai will be keen to put an end to their embarrassment suffered previously.
Diego Forlan was pursued and convinced to join the ever-growing Mumbai, as the team situated in India’s biggest city remain determined to deliver the prized crown.
Indian football’s superstar Sunil Chhetri has re-signed for another season after finishing 2015 as the competition’s highest Indian scorer. If Mumbai remain keen on delivering success they must ensure security in defence remains intact.
Atletico de Kolkata
The inaugural Super League champions are keen to place the disappointment of last season’s semi-final defeat behind them and recapture their crown they impressively claimed in 2014.
Iain Hume and Stephen Pearson are known to Derby County and Leicester City fans, however, it’s Helder Postiga, the former Tottenham striker, that is the club’s marquee signing. Borja Fernandez, the former Real Madrid midfielder, was also re-signed for a third season.
Atletico Madrid own 20% of Kolkata and their style of football is not too dissimilar to that of their Spanish counterparts. Former Villarreal manager Jose Molina faces the task of returning the Indian Super League title to Kolkata this season.
FC Goa
Brazilian legend Zico is one of only two managers to renew his contract in India. Goa were last year’s beaten finalists and gained many plaudits for their fast-paced attacking style of football.
Zico has kept it in the family as such by convincing Lucio to stay with the hopeful champions. One of the greatest defenders of his generation, Lucio’s know-how will be a big boost.
Ex-Barcelona midfielder Jofre also comes into the fold for Zico’s team as the class remains throughout the squad.
A top-four is the most likely for Goa but do not rule out a potential title as Goa’s flair may sweep all before them once more.
Pune City FC
FC Pune are without a doubt, the league’s weakest team this season. Marquee signing Eidur Gudjohnsen has been ruled out of the tournament just days before it commences due to injury.
Gudjohnsen was identified as the man to fire Pune to glory however his injury has given new coach Antonio Lopez Habas a major headache just days before their opening fixture. Habas is not a stranger to success in India as he has managed Kolkata for the previous two campaigns before deciding a new challenge was required.
Gudjohnson wasn’t Pune’s only big signing as Andre Bikey was also brought in.
Kerala Blasters
Owned by India’s greatest sportsman, Sachin Tendulkar, Kerala will be keen to forget last season’s disappointment of finishing bottom of the league table.
Steve Coppell is the man in charge at Kerala with the former Reading manager wasting no time on improving the depth of his squad. Aaron Hughes was the club’s marquee purchase but Antonio German, Graham Stack and Michael Chopra have all been recruited alongside Hughes.
All of the mentioned players have English experience and many experts are viewing Kerala as the league’s dark horses this season.
