When the first Indian Super League began in 2014, three top teams—then reigning I-League champions, Bengaluru FC, Salgaocar FC (Goa) and Pune FC—refused to release their players. Hence, some leading players like current Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC) did not play in the inaugural ISL. The focus was on the foreign players, especially the marquee signings like Alessandro Del Piero (Delhi Dynamos), Luís Garcia (ATK), Joan Capdevilla (NorthEast United), David Trezeguet (Mumbai City FC) and David James (Kerala Blasters) .
In season two, all the I-League clubs relented and allowed their players to sign for ISL franchises. But the focus was still on foreign players like Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda, Adrian Mutu, Elano Blumer, Roberto Carlos and Simão. In the third ISL, in 2016, the renowned players who participated were Malouda, Diego Forlán, Lúcio, Hélder Postiga and Northern Ireland veteran Aaron Hughes. All the franchises invariably fielded the full quota of six foreigners in all their matches. The top Indian players enjoyed the exposure, practice matches abroad and interaction with world famous coaches but also returned on loan to their respective clubs and took part in the I-League which commenced in the New Year.
In the three previous ISL championships, legends such as Zico (FC Goa), Marco Materrazi (Chennaiyin FC), Gianluca Zambrotta (Delhi Dynamos), Steve Coppell (Kerala Blasters) and David Platt (FC Pune City) became coaches of the various franchise teams. These high-profile coaches helped in the overall development of several Indian players. Prolific striker C.K. Vineeth, who played for Kerala Blasters, has acknowledged Coppell’s role in making him a more patient and positive striker.
Similarly, Zambrotta, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, improved talented midfielder Milan Singh’s positional sense, distribution and game awareness and made winger Kean Lewis more confident and consistent. Zambrotta, has helped Anas Edathodika become an established central defender and brought finesse to his game. Zico, who coached FC Goa for three seasons, developed the all-round skills and positional responsibility of wingers Romeo Fernandez and Mandar Rao Desai. Similarly Jeje Lalpekhlua’s mobility and shielding has improved, under the careful supervision of Marco Materazzi (Chennaiyin FC).
However, the scenario in the fourth ISL (November 17, 2017 - March 17, 2018) has completely changed. It has expanded from eight to ten teams (Bengaluru FC, twice I-league champions and newcomers Jamshedpur FC, sponsored by Tatas are the new teams) and will be for four months duration rather than the previous ten weeks. Matches are now spaced out. Forty seven of the 90 ISL matches will be played on weekends. Mumbai City FC's Costa Rican coach Alexandre Guimarães, the only head coach among the ISL franchises to return from last season, is happy that the ISL is of a longer duration. He said, “A longer league means every manager will have more time to impart their ideas to their team and know players better.”
With a longer season and, thereby, increased costs, many teams have opted not to sign a marquee player for this season. As compared to previous seasons, there is a lack of famous names among foreign players, as the rules of recruitment have changed. The ten ISL franchises can now only field five foreigners in their playing XI and recruit a maximum of eight foreigners. Hence, in the fourth ISL, there are fewer big name signings. The most renowned player to join is the Bulgarian international and former Manchester United striker, Dimitar Berbatov, who along with teammate Wes Brown, will play for Kerala Blasters.
The focus is now on Indian players, the established internationals and the developmental players signed by each team. So, due to the increased number of teams, the longer duration of the league and decrease in number of foreigners, the fourth ISL in the 2017-18 season is very crucial. It is to be seen if attendances and media profiles come close to previous year’s levels.
By extending the duration of the fourth ISL to four months, the AIFF is signifying that this is going to be Indian football’s main league in the future. In 2017-18, the ISL is no more a showpiece event but has earned recognition from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The ISL champions will now feature in the AFC Cup qualifying play-off.
There are still some high profile coaches. The Dutchman, Rene Meulensteen who has worked at Manchester United is coaching Kerala Blasters. ATK has roped in another Manchester United legend, 51-year-old Teddy Sheringham, who will be assisted by Ashley Westwood (the coach of Bengaluru FC when they won the I-League in 2014 and 2016). The other two English coaches this season are former Aston Villa boss John Gregory (Chennaiyin FC) and Steve Coppell (Jamshedpur FC). There are also three Spanish coaches—Alberto Roca, who has coached Barcelona’s B team, is in charge of Bengaluru FC. The 40-year-old Sergio Lobero, former coach of Spanish second division club Las Palmas, is with FC Goa and 61-year-old Miguel Angel is with Delhi Dynamos. The 41-year-old Portuguese Joao Carlos Pires de Deus is NorthEast United’s fourth coach in four seasons. Serbian Ranko Popovic has replaced Antonio Habas at FC Pune City. Nine the ten coaches in the ISL are European.
As all the franchises have new look squads, predicting success is hazardous. Bengaluru FC have a settled squad and the AFC Cup match experience should do well for them. Mumbai City FC, who conceded only 11 goals last season, have again opted for a strong defence and retained Gerson Vieira (Brazil) and Lucian Goian (Romania). They will be tough to beat. Kerala Blasters should be a fine attacking side if Berbatov and the Scottish Canadian Iain Hume remain fit and will have the most passionate supporters in Kochi. FC Pune City, who have underachieved in the three previous ISL seasons, are the big money spenders. They have bought outstanding strikers in Marcelinho (Brazil) and Emiliano Alfaro (Uruguay).
The Kolkata-based franchise renamed ATK after the club’s part owners Atletico de Madrid sold their 25 per cent shares, have signed former Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane and ex-Bolton Wanderer’s goalkeeper Jussi Jasskelainen. Twice champions ATK have a new look side and they could struggle without the foreign contingent and expertise provided by Atletico Madrid. Delhi Dynamos did not retain a single player during the player’s draft. They have a new look squad and have given three-year contacts to four U-21 players, midfielder Vinit Rai, defender Sajid Dhot and goalkeeper Sukhdev Shivaji Patel and forward Lallianzuala Chhangte. They do not seem to be strong title contenders.
The Guwahati-based NorthEast United FC represent a region and not a city. They have a strong midfield and will rely on 30-year-old Odair Fortes (Cape Verde) for goals. FC Goa are relying a lot on Spanish strikers (Adrian Colunga and Ferran Corominas) and Goa-based midfielders Brandon Fernandez, Pratesh Shirodkar and Mandar Rao Desai.
The Tatas have spent nearly Rs 50 crore this season on team budget and upgrading the stadium in Jamshedpur. They have a balanced squad—Jose Espinosa (Spain) in defence, Andrey Bikey (Cameroon) and Sameehg Doutie (South Africa) in midfield and international Kervens Belfort (Haiti) in attack. They could be contenders for the title.
Chennaiyin FC have a balanced midfield with Raphael Augusto as a box-to-box midfielder while Jaime Gavilan and Rene Mihelic are good passers of the ball. However, they lack physicality upfront and could struggle in defence also if the foreign players are injured or suspended.
