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#3 Didier Zokora – NorthEast United FC
Didier Zokora is the no-nonsense midfielder every coach loves. Defensively strong, well-built and a good coordinator of link-up play, Zokora is Ivory Coast’s most capped player of all time. The 35-year old defensive midfielder has previous experience of playing in the ISL and that might help the John Abraham-owned side.
Along with being a coach’s delight, Zokora is a leader on the field. He links smoothly with his defensive partners and helps in breaking the opposition’s play. A player in the mould of a certain Claude Makelele, Zokora is never shy of putting in the hard yards or going into a tackle.
Zokora has played for Premier League and La Liga clubs like Spurs and Sevilla, which gave him huge experience at the highest level. NorthEast United FC have been defensively poor the last season, letting in 23 goals and the coach has brought in Zokora to resurrect his team’s defence.
If the team has an assured defence, it will give the Indian youngsters enough freedom to play more aggressively up ahead the pitch, and Zokora, with all his experience, can ensure that.
