The Indian Super League (ISL) has given us some of the biggest names in world football at the twilight of their careers. The likes of Del Piero, Pires, Riise etc. have all graced the Indian football pitches and brought with them a large audience dying to see one last hurrah. What sometimes goes unnoticed, however, is the league’s ability to bring some of the best managers in the world.
Very much in their heydeys, some of these managers have been able to bring out the very best from mediocre players in the past, hoping to do the same with some of the young Indian talent ready to make a splash on the big stage. Their contribution remains vital to the very foundation of the ISL and no doubt creates an impressive buzz around the sub continent’s richest domestic football competition.
Sportskeeda decided to dig up some of the most impressive achievements in the man-management career of these talented coaches and it makes for interesting viewing. Here are five iconic players you would have definitely heard of who received their debuts under current ISL managers:
#5 Gareth Southgate
The current England senior team manager is a well-known and well-respected name in world football. Management experience aside, the Englishman was one of the best defenders in the England senior squad during his playing days. Being the iconic player he was, it comes as a surprise that Southgate actually received his playing debut under current Tata Steel Jamshedpur manager Steve Coppell.
At the age of 20, a young Gareth graced the football world with an appearance for Coppell’s Crystal Palace team in a 3-0 loss to Liverpool in the old First Division. Southgate had a slightly better outing a few months later when he made his Premier League debut in a 3-3 draw with Blackburn under the same manager. As they say, the rest is history.
#4 Gareth Barry
Southgate’s namesake Gareth Barry made his senior bow at the tender age of 17 under a name familiar to ISL fans. Current Chennaiyin FC boss John Gregory was the first team coach at Aston Villa and oversaw the rise of one of England’s most reliable midfielders in the form of Barry. The Hastings native took to the football pitch like a duck to water and it was clear from the off that the kid had talent. A 3-1 win for Gregory’s men against Sheffield Wednesday marked a successful debut for what was to become a glittering career for the now 36-year-old Barry.
#3 Moussa Dembele
One of the fastest rising young stars in Europe is Celtic striker Moussa Dembele. The player has blossomed under the tutelage of Brendan Rodgers and developed into one of the most potent forwards in the Scottish League. The 21-year-old lit up the footballing world following some great goals and silky skills in the hoops of Celtic last season. But few would remember that his early days as a player actually started under current Kerala Blasters coach Rene Muelensteen.
While his Premier League debut came under another manager, Martin Jol, Dembele made his FA Cup bow under Meulensteen as a Fulham player at the age of 17 and took part in a 3-0 thrashing of Norwich City. The former Manchester United assistant coach was known for being a scout of young talent and gave world football the gift that is Moussa Dembele.
#2 Vitolo
The mercurial Spaniard, Vitolo, is better known for his time at Sevilla, leading the club to three Europa League triumphs and becoming a regular under then manager Unai Emery. But few would actually remember when the winger-cum-attacker actually started off his career. Under the guidance of now FC Goa manager Sergio Lobera, Vitolo made a grand first appearance at the age of 22 in the Copa Del Rey. While it can be argued that his debut in the Spanish second division came a couple years earlier, this was the first real taste of the big time for a player who has quickly earned himself high praise for his composure in front of goal and tireless work on the flanks. The debut came for UD Las Palmas under Lobera’s watch. FC Goa will hope that Lobera continues his man management magic at the ISL franchise.
#1 Michu
A question that has been on every Premier League fan’s mind in the past few years has been, where exactly is Michu? The man who couldn’t stop scoring for Swansea has since drifted into relative obscurity but we tracked him down and brought him on to this list for reasons we shall now reveal. The 31-year-old now plies his trade at second division Spanish side and his boyhood club Real Oviedo but made his second tier debut under a familiar face in Indian football.
The current Pune City FC manager, Antonio Lopez Habas, handed Michu one of his first starts in world football as a Celta Vigo player back in 2008 in a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Albacete Balompie at the age of 21. Michu’s career really took off in England under Michael Laudrup as his incredible goal scoring form took Swansea to an epic League Cup win just a few short years ago. The magic of Michu will hopefully be seen in a Pune City shirt soon if manager Habas can pull out all the stops with his current ISL franchise.
