At the end of the ISL 2016 season, let us take a moment to appreciate the talent that Indian football fans witnessed, something that they never thought they would ever be able to experience in India just a few years ago.
World Cup winners, modern greats and footballers who have played in some of the biggest leagues in Europe and the rest of the world have taken part in the 3 years of the ISL.
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Let’s take a trip down memory lane to relive the glory of these names being announced as participants in India’s annual football festival:
#5 Alessandro Nesta
A lot of international superstars were announced before the start of the Indian Super League’s inaugural season. Each of them made a splash in the media and the general footballing populace, and collectively India came together to celebrate the arrival of some phenomenal talent. Once the season was underway, the focus shifted to the on-field performances.
Thus, when it was announced on 28 November 2014, more than halfway through the season, that Alessandro Nesta would be playing for Chennaiyin FC, the entire ISL fanbase was stunned. To be able to secure the services of one of the best defenders of all time, in the middle of the season, was nothing short of a miracle. His debut came in the last game of the season, where he performed admirably in a 2-2 draw versus Delhi Dynamos.
Marco Materazzi pulled out all the stops to ensure that the best talent available at his disposal would feature in the ISL, and this surprising signing ensured that Chennaiyin ended the first season at the top of the table.
#4 Roberto Carlos
For most Indian fans, football is synonymous with Brazil. Their flamboyant, attacking style of play has won the hearts of fans the world over, and more so in India where only the most iconic elements of the game manage to transcend the football cult and reach out to the mainstream.
When the ISL was announced, it was clear that the country was expecting a few Brazilian footballers to put on a show and dazzle the spectators.
Enter Roberto Carlos. It may have taken him a year to arrive but when he did, the entire city of Delhi rejoiced. To have the former Real Madrid and Brazil legend play and manage the club was nothing short of revolutionary. El Hombre Bala’s credentials as “the most offensive-minded left-back in the history of the game” were evident in his philosophy for the Delhi-based club: they scored in 10 out of their 14 league games and scored 10 goals in their last 5 games of the 2015 regular season.
These tactics and performances were enough to catapult Delhi into the top-four, bettering their fifth-place finish at the end of the 2014 season.
Roberto Carlos’s main role for Delhi Dynamos was to manage the club, but he did put on the player’s jersey in three games.
#3 Nicolas Anelka
The vast majority of football fans in India are Premier League fans. Simply put, the English league has the widest global appeal amongst all domestic competitions. There is simply no other country that comes even close to the amount of recognition that England manages to garner. The mantra for footballers is simple: if you make it in England, you have made it worldwide.
After David Beckham and Didier Drogba almost single-handedly revolutionised the fame of the MLS and the Chinese Super League respectively, the acquisition of an internationally recognisable superstar became inherent to the success of any domestic league.
Nicolas Anelka has had a long playing career, playing for clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. He also had two spells at Paris Saint-Germain and played for Real Madrid, Juventus, Fenerbahce and Shanghai Shenhua.
For a player of such widespread global appeal to play (and manage) for Mumbai City FC meant that owner Ranbir Kapoor’s comments upon Anelka’s signing are unsurprising: “We are delighted to announce the signing of Nicolas Anelka and thrilled that a player with a stunning pedigree such as his is part of our team. His abilities and experience are known the world over and I am certain his presence will give us the firepower required upfront. We welcome him to the Mumbai City FC squad.”
Anelka’s time in the ISL was full of controversy due to his outspoken nature, but he provided a credibility to the Indian Super League and brought some international acclaim to the fledgling competition.
#2 Diego Forlan
Mumbai City FC clearly know how to make audacious statements; for the 2016 season, Mumbai clearly needed an adequate replacement for the departing Anelka. They managed to attract Diego Forlan, whose reputation for elevating team performances and having an outstanding commitment to his football is only eclipsed by his cult following.
Having played for Manchester United, his Indian fan following was virtually guaranteed. La Liga enthusiasts were much more appreciative and excited following the Uruguayan’s addition to the Mumbai City FC roster.
To receive the talent of Forlan was nothing short of extraordinary, especially since he had already gone back to play for his boyhood club, Penyarol, in what was expected to be his final club before hanging up his boots.
Mumbai can rejoice also with Forlan’s statement after the conclusion of their campaign this season, wherein he expressed his desire to return to India for the next season of the ISL. His inclusion in the squad ensured that Mumbai City ended this edition at the top of the table, and his five goals and four assists for a goal-shy Mumbai team meant that his performances were catalytic to Mumbai’s good fortunes this season.
One highlight in particular, and one that will definitely be remembered fondly during the long hiatus is his hat-trick in Mumbai’s 5-0 demolition of Kerala Blasters.
#1 Alessandro Del Piero
The Italian and Juventus legend absolutely electrified the country when it was announced that he would be playing in the inaugural ISL season. Having won the 2006 FIFA World Cup and being a finalist at the UEFA Euro 2000 would be a commendable achievement for any player, but for Del Piero it was just a part of his impressive repertoire.
He is the joint highest scorer for Italy, the most prolific forward in Juventus’ star-studded history and one of the best players of his generation.
His loyalty to his club was reflected in Juventus’ darkest moment - their relegation to Serie B in the Calciopoli footballing scandal. Del Piero vowed to stay on as captain and guide his team back to the top-flight: they managed to return to Serie A in the very next season.
Del Piero left the Old Lady as a champion, and embarked on a voyage to spread the joy of football to a wider audience. His travels brought him to Delhi, where he put in spirited performances but could only manage to score once. However, his presence in the capital energised the residents of the city who came to the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium en masse to see the legend in the flesh.
