List of Indian Super League marquees

The Indian Super League, from its inception, had a rule that each Super League team must sign one player who would be considered a marquee player. This player would be a world-renowned footballer who has played at the highest levels of the game and had won at those levels as well. The first marquee signed by the league was former French international and Manchester United player Louis Saha, however, he eventually did not play in the league.[1]

History

2014

Luis García of Atlético de Kolkata was the league's first marquee player

On 26 April 2014 it was announced that the Indian Super League organizers, IMG-Reliance, had signed up Hernán Crespo, Dwight Yorke, Robert Pirès, and Fredrik Ljungberg as the initial marquee players for the first season of the Super League.[2] However, eventually, the teams themselves made it known that they themselves would like to sign their own marquee players.

On 6 July 2014, former Liverpool midfielder and Spanish international Luis García was confirmed as the first ever official marquee player in the Indian Super League after he signed with Atlético de Kolkata.[3] Then, on 15 July, it was confirmed that Joan Capdevila would be the second marquee in the league after he signed for NorthEast United.[4]

It was not until the next month that the third marquee was confirmed when Delhi Dynamos signed former World Cup winner with Italy, Alessandro Del Piero as their marquee.[5] This was soon followed up with confirmation that former England goalkeeper David James would be joining the Kerala Blasters as their marquee and player-manager.[6] Two weeks later it was announced that Pune City had signed former France international David Trezeguet as their marquee.[7] Then, the last two marquees of the month were confirmed soon-after when both former Arsenal teammates Fredrik Ljungberg and Robert Pirès signed for both Mumbai City and Goa respectively.[8][9]

The final marquee for the first Indian Super League season was confirmed on 1 October 2014 when former Brazil international Elano signed for late-entry side, Chennaiyin.[10] With eight goals as his team reached the semi-finals, Elano was the inaugural winner of the Indian Super League Golden Boot.[11]

Team Marquee
Atlético de Kolkata Spain Luis García
Chennaiyin Brazil Elano
Delhi Dynamos Italy Alessandro Del Piero
Goa France Robert Pirès
Kerala Blasters England David James
Mumbai City Sweden Fredrik Ljungberg
NorthEast United Spain Joan Capdevila
Pune City France David Trezeguet

2015

For the second season, only Chennaiyin kept the same marquee, loaning Elano back from Santos.[12] Mumbai recalled French striker Nicolas Anelka to serve as theirs, while also being player-manager.[13] Delhi also named a marquee as player-manager, Brazilian full-back Roberto Carlos; at 42, he was the oldest marquee of the season.[14] The youngest was 32-year-old Portuguese forward Hélder Postiga, who replaced García at Kolkata.[15] NorthEast United landed Portuguese winger Simão Sabrosa,[16] while Pune signed Romanian forward Adrian Mutu,[17] and defenders Lúcio and Carlos Marchena joined Goa and Kerala respectively.[18][19]

The marquee players of the second season initially came under criticism for having a poor impact. Roberto Carlos had not played professionally for three years and struggled for fitness, as did Anelka, while Mutu was sidelined until he would lose weight. Marchena, Postiga and Simao were sidelined by injury at the start of the campaign.[20] After only one appearance, Marchena returned home for personal reasons on 4 November.[21]

Team Marquee
Atlético de Kolkata Portugal Hélder Postiga
Chennaiyin Brazil Elano
Delhi Dynamos Brazil Roberto Carlos
Goa Brazil Lúcio
Kerala Blasters Spain Carlos Marchena
Mumbai City France Nicolas Anelka
NorthEast United Portugal Simão Sabrosa
Pune City Romania Adrian Mutu

References

  1. ↑ "Former Man-U striker Louis Saha roped in for IPL-style league". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Mergulhao, Marcus. "Indian Super League franchisees may sign their own icons". Times of India. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Atletico name Luis Garcia as marquee player, Habas as coach". Indian Super League. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "NorthEast sign Joan Capdevila as their marquee player". Indian Super League. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "'Next Stop: India.' Del Piero to join Delhi Dynamos". Indian Super League. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "Kerala Blasters sign Andrew Barisic and Penn Orji". Indian Super League. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  7. ↑ "FC Pune City return home with David Trezeguet". Indian Super League. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "Mumbai City land ‘Invincible’ Freddie Ljungberg". Indian Super League. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "Pirès bringing French flair to Indian Super League". Indian Super League. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "Colombian striker John Stiven Mendoza joins Chennaiyin FC". Times of India. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  11. ↑ "Elano wins Golden Boot for ISL exploits with Chennaiyin". 20 December 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  12. ↑ Bera, Kaustav (17 June 2015). "Elano Blumer retained by Chennaiyin FC for the second edition of ISL". Goal,com. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  13. ↑ "ISL: Mumbai City FC announces Nicolas Anelka as marquee Player-Manager for 2015". Sportskeeda. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  14. ↑ Bali, Rahul (9 July 2015). "Indian Super League: Roberto Carlos named marquee player for Delhi Dynamos". Goal.com. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  15. ↑ Bhattacharya, Nilesh (30 July 2015). "In big coup, Atletico de Kolkata rope in Portugal World Cupper Helder Postiga". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  16. ↑ "Simao: "I come to India and to NorthEast United FC to win"". Goal.com. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  17. ↑ "Adrian Mutu agrees two-year contract with Pune City". Sky Sports. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  18. ↑ "Official: Lucio joins FC Goa as marquee". Goal.com. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  19. ↑ Sangma, Jaksram (28 August 2015). "Kerala Blasters unveil Carlos Marchena as their marquee signing". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  20. ↑ "ISL 2015: In first touch, marquee players far from their best". The Indian Express. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "ISL: Kerala Blasters marquee player Carlos Marchena leaves the club". Zee News. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
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