'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Pune, October 1, 2014: Rajesh Wadhawan Group owned FC Pune City of the Indian Super League (ISL), has attracted another high profile player - Kostas Katsouranis from Greece. The former Benfica defender very recently led the Greek football team in their campaign at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil early this year. With this move Kostas also becomes the first player to feature in the ISL who has participated in this year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil. This gains further significance as he is not just the only 2014 FIFA World Cup player, but also the captain of one of the tournament favourites.
Kostas will join the likes of former Juventus star David Trezeguet at FC Pune City. Head Coach Franco Colomba has added the playmaker to his squad before the start of the inaugural ISL season on 12th October to further strengthen the team’s lineup.
“Our team needed a strong playmaker who could play box to box. It was one position which we wanted to fill and now with the inclusion of Kostas in the team, we are surely a more balanced unit” said Franco Colomba, Head Coach, FC Pune City.
Kostas comes with a reputation of being a rock solid defender for his team, and has years of experience playing for top notch clubs like AK-Athens and Benfica. With him joining the ranks, FC Pune City now is definitely a force to reckon with. Katsourinis made his international debut for Greece in 2003 against Sweden and scored his first goal against Kazakhstan in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier.Katsouranis was instrumental in Greece’s 2004 UEFA Euro win.
Speaking on the new development, Mr. Gaurav Modwel, CEO, FC Pune City said, “We are delighted to have Kostas in our ranks and would like to extend my heartiest welcome to him. He has been a phenomenal performer for his country and previous clubs; and we at FC Pune City are confident that his inclusion will be a game changer for us in the Indian Super league.”
If Kostas’s signing will strengthen the side manifold, the team’s moral gets a further boost as three of FC Pune city’s young guns have been called for national duty for a one off friendly against Palestine. Midfielder Lenny Rodrigues and ace striker Pritam Kotal have been called to be a part of the national side whereas Arindam Bhattacharya will be the reserve goalkeeper of the squad behind the Indian football team’s captain Subrata Pal.
Kostas Katsouranis’ said, “It is not an impulsive decision for me, I had been in touch with the Pune City Club for over a month. What really attracted me to join them was their desire to win and promote football in India”
