ISL 2017: 5 players who have won both ISL and I-League titles

Indian football got a completely new outlook ever since the Indian Super League (ISL) was introduced in 2014. For three seasons, the franchise-based competition was held just before the I-League, India’s premier football tournament, but from this year onwards, both leagues will run in parallel. This means footballers who used to participate in both events have now had to make a choice.

However, before this step was taken, some players achieved the unique double of winning the ISL as well as I-League champion’s medal for their respective teams.

We go down memory lane to take a look at five of these footballers.

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#1 Kingshuk Debnath (ISL- 2014, I-League – 2014-15)

Kingshuk Debnath (R) posing with the I-League trophy alongside Shilton Paul

The Mohun Bagan right back was taken on loan by ATK in 2014, a season which saw them win their first of the two ISL crowns. He featured in 11 matches for the Red and Whites, forming a solid defensive line with Arnab Mondal, Josemi and Biswajit Saha.

Debnath then went on to win the I-League for Mohun Bagan that very season. He was a regular figure in the Mariners’ back four, who broke the jinx of Kolkatan team’s failure to bag the national title after 11 long years.

He will again turn out for the Green and Maroons in this I-League season.

#2 Jeje Lalpekhlua (I-League – 2014-15, ISL – 2015)

Jeje Lalpekhlua

The destructive Indian striker wore the Mohun Bagan jersey in 2014-15, which gave him a chance to lay his hands on the I-League trophy. While he showed a lot of promise in penalty box during the 12 games he played, a poor conversion rate resulted in just one goal.

However, all that changed when he slipped into the Chennayin FC blue in 2015. After signing a two-year contract, Jeje smashed six goals in eleven matches for the 2015 champions.

Chennaiyin chose to retain him before this year’s draft.

#3 Thoi Singh (I-League – 2010-11, 2013-14, 2015-16, ISL – 2015)

Thoi Singh

Even before becoming a well-known name in the Indian football circuit, the sturdy central midfielder had won the I-League back in 2010-11 with Salgaocar. He then went on to play for United Sikkim and Mumbai Tigers. Finally the then I-League club, Bengaluru FC signed him for the 2013-14 season, which they won contrary to all expectations.

Thoi missed the inaugural ISL season as BFC didn’t release their players. Chennaiyin then bought him for Rs 86 lakhs in 2015, when BFC finally relented. He made an immediate impact and helped Marco Materazzi's side bag their only ISL title.

He returned to BFC again, this time with a matured and powerful presence, which helped the Blues in nullifying Mohun Bagan’s challenge as they romped to their second I-League title in 2015-16.

Thoi was again bought by Chennaiyin for Rs 57 lakhs in the 2017 draft.

#4 Pritam Kotal (I-League – 2014-15, ISL – 2016)

Pritam Kotal

The regular member of Indian national team, he played his best football in Green and Maroon colours and got noticed by the ISL franchises. He was one of best players for Mohun Bagan in their 2014-15 I-League winning season. Featuring in 17 matches, Kotal not only handled the pressure exerted by strikers, but also scored two vital goals to add an extra edge to his team.

He was taken on loan by ATK in 2016 and the right back didn’t disappoint. Playing his part to perfection, Kotal made 12 appearances for the Sourav Ganguly co-owned side which bagged their second title last year.

Delhi Dynamos have picked him up for Rs 75 lakhs to strengthen their defence, ahead of the fourth edition.

#5 Debjit Majumder (I-League – 2014-15, ISL – 2016)

Debjit Majumder

The man from Hooghly district of West Bengal replaced a permanent name in Shilton Paul from Mohun Bagan’s starting XI since 2014. His excellent skills under the sticks churned out results for the Kolkatan giants as they bagged their first I-League title in 2014-15. Keeping clean sheets had become a daily routine for the 29-year-old and it was time that he translated his performances in ISL too.

ATK came calling as they replaced Amrinder Singh, their permanent goal-keeper for 2015 season, with Debjit. Three clean sheets and a total of 32 saves in 15 games turned the Bengal lad into a superstar. He was infact hugely responsible for ATK’s second ISL title as he saved a penalty in the tie-breaker against Kerala Blasters in the 2016 final.

ATK showed complete faith in Debjit by deciding to retain him ahead of season 4.