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The Indian Super League runs contrary to it's name and for reasons that can and must be deemed right. The ISL is truly a global league in every sense of the word. Using any other adjective would defeat the purpose of the tournament - which is to take Indian football to the world. Sportskeeda takes a look at the countries most widely represented in the league.
#1 Wide array of players from countries with credible football leagues
Credit to the the league committee for placing a cap on the number of foreign recruits permitted in the starting eleven of every team. While it means more opportunities for Indian players, it also means teams had to carry out diligent research before picking up players to add to their foreign roster.
This season will see players from a wide range of countries - Portugal, South Africa, Haiti, Australia, England and Ghana, to name a few. It must be noted that the most if not all of the countries mentioned here have credible and solid football leagues.
As a result, the international recruits from these nations will bring with them a good amount of experience and exposure to the quality football. Hopefully, we shall get to see it being translated now on Indian soil.
#2 Spain
Like in previous seasons, sides in the ISL have developed an affinity towards Spanish players and understandably so. The Spaniards are good on the ball and play a crucial role in building the attack from the bottom-up. You'd rarely find a Spaniard in the league play an aimless long ball. It's just not in their genes.
16 players from Spain will ply their trade in the ISL this season. Among the 10 clubs, Bengaluru FC and FC Goa have the most number of Spanish players - 4 and 6 respectively. Expect, controlled football and precision passing from these two outfits.
#3 Brazil
If the Spaniards ensure control on the ball, the Brazilians ensure unpredictability, a vital trait. Teams that can pose unpredictable threats in attack will be the teams who will ultimately succeed in unlocking defences.
This season will see 10 Brazilians partake in the ISL. Mumbai City FC have four in their ranks, which is rather surprising given coach, Guimaries' pragmatic approach to the game. Players from the South American nation's possess risk taking abilities which will have to be unleashed against defenses that park the bus.
It will be interesting to see how much of their style they can successfully replicate and execute in the ISL.
#4 Cameroon and Venezuela
Two countries that one wouldn't usually associate the ISL with. In Andre Bikey, Jamshedpur FC have one of the most experienced defenders in the league. Having made 70 appearances for Reading in English football's top flight, the Cameroonian will be a vital addition to the ISL debutants.
Mumbai City FC too have a player from the African nation - Achille Emana. This will be his first time playing football on Indian soil. The 35-year-old may be past his prime, but since he's a man who has been part of the African Cup of Nations, it's safe to say that Achille knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
In Miku, Bengaluru possess a Venezuelan international, who has made 51 senior appearances. Delhi too possess a regular national team player in Gabriel Cichero.
#5 Finland, Slovenia, Bulgaria - Unusual suspects
Jaaskelainen may have made more than 400 league appearances for top English clubs like Bolton and West Ham, but when he takes to the pitch in ATK colours, the Finnish goalkeeper is going to have an extremely hard time in acclimatising.
The temperature in Finland remains below zero degrees for over 100 days. A polar opposite situation awaits him in the ISL.
In Rene Miheli?, Chennaiyin have the youngest football player ever to have played for the Slovenian national team. Rene made his debut for his country when he was just 19-years-old.
This league would not have been the same had a Bulgarian not flown down for season 4. Dimitar Berbatov will be the most famous player this season and he will play for one of the most passionate clubs in the country - Kerala Blasters.
