ISL 2019: 5 foreigners who should not be given a contract extension

Signing experienced European and South American players has been a hallmark of the Indian Super League (ISL) since its inception in 2014. Luis Garcia, Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet and Alessandro Nesta hogged the limelight in the inaugural season, while players like David James and Marco Materazzi made it more glamorous. Other players also followed in the subsequent seasons but not every big signing has reaped results in the ISL with a few players emerging as liabilities to the franchises too.

This year too, there have been expensive inclusions in the Indian Super League, but likewise, everyone did not live up to the expectations. Players like Ferran Corominas and Modou Sougou have been brilliant for their respective teams, while others were not.

Let us have a look at five foreigners who should not get a contract extension the next season:

#5 Slavisa Stojanovic (Kerala Blasters FC)

Serbian forward Slavisa Stojanovic had a perfect debut at his new club having scored the second goal in the match against ATK to seal the deal for the away team, which was also the first game of the ISL season. But the foreigner produced nothing to talk about for the rest of the season.

Although he scored a few goals, it did not help his team to a great extent. Apart from the opening tie, Kerala Blasters FC managed to win just a single match, thus enduring one of their worst seasons in the league.

They have been a consistent team, finishing as the runners-up on two occasions, but this was a real heartbreak for the passionate followers of the club. Former England goalkeeper David James was sacked midway through the season while the hunt for the next manager is still on. The management has to re-group ahead of the next season, Stojanovic might get the axe after his below-par display for the ‘Tuskers.’

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#4 Eli Sabia (Chennaiyin FC)

Brazilian stopper Eli Sabia has tons of experience in the South American football circuit as well as in Europe. Chennaiyin FC’s head coach John Gregory would have felt a bit relieved having secured the services of the foreigner at the defence line, but it turned out the other way as the team conceded the most number of goals in the season with 37. Having finished at the bottom of the points table, this was a disastrous season for the defending champions.

Sabia played in each of the 18 matches for Chennaiyin FC, he was devoid of the flair that a foreigner should have. On top of that, his compatriots at the defence have superior statistics compared to him, which makes his position vulnerable in the future.

Even though they played well in the Super Cup and ended as the runners-up, there still needs to be a lot of shuffling to be done before the next season kicks-off.

#3 Marcos Tebar (Delhi Dynamos FC)

Delhi Dynamos FC have largely remained as underachievers in the Indian Super League, they failed to make an improvement from the last season, finished 8th on both occasions. Coach Josep Gambou would be unhappy with the fact that Delhi had big-ticket players at their disposal but they chocked at the time when it mattered the most. One of them was Spanish midfielder Marcos Tebar.

The former Real Madrid star was one of the players that the team was banking on after he reunited with his former employees after a gap of nearly two years. The comeback was not one he would have expected.

A couple of goals and a single assist was all he could register beside his name in this year’s ISL. Spending heavily on foreigners is a waste if they do not win you matches on a regular basis, which is matter to ponder about for the club management.

#2 Iain Hume (FC Pune City)

Iain Hume took the Indian Super League with storm by his brisk pace, creative play and precise goal scoring abilities. It was the most effective signing in the inaugural season even if not their biggest one. Hume was awarded the 'Hero of the Season’ back in 2014

Having ended the first season as runners-up, he donned the red and white stripes of ATK the following season. The forward was equally efficient for the team also, but he did not feature in the ISL the following season.

He was recruited by Kerala Blasters FC after a year's absence from the Indian football circuit and he was subsequently sold to FC Pune City prior to this season. Just a single goal in this ISL doesn't reflect the actual genius the Canadian is. It is actually not fair to judge by a single season, but at this age of his career, his future at the club might be hanging on a thin line.

#1 Everton Santos (ATK)

Even though the two-time Indian Super League champions were in contention for a top-four finish till the business end of the tournament, it was not the kind of season they would have wanted. The fact that their big guns failed to fire reflected there 6th place spot in the cash-rich league this year.

One of ISL’s biggest signings, Brazilian forward Everton Santos, was a huge flop for the Kolkata based side after he was roped in from Mumbai City FC.

The South American did not get his name on the scoresheet for a single time in the entire ISL, which is a disappointment for him as well as his team. Steve Coppell still had faith in him and summoned him for the Super Cup, where he just scored a single goal en-route to ATK’s quarter-final exit. It is unlikely that the player is going to get a contract extension for the next season.