ISL 2017: Mumbai City FC announce new nickname for team

Mumbai City FC, popularly known as the Blue Army, have changed their nickname as they head into the fourth season of Indian Super League. Commentators and pundits, in the previous ISL seasons, had given the name -- 'The Blue Army' to the Mumbai-based team.

This season, two new teams have been included in the competition, one of them being Bengaluru FC. They are already known as the Blues by fans and commentators alike and as a result of this conflict of nicknames, the Mumbai City FC officials decided to get a new nickname for the club. For this, they called in on their fans and gave them a chance to contribute.

A few weeks ago, the Mumbai side had announced that they would be creating a new nickname and fans would themselves get a chance to name it. Thousands of fans suggested names like Mumbaikars, Mumbai Bullets, Royals, Bombay Boys, Mumba Boys etc for the club. However, in the end, the name chosen was the 'Islanders'.

The moment we all have been waiting for!Presenting to you the club nickname:"THE ISLANDERS"Congratulations @Nikhirve for suggesting this nickname, you have earned 2 Season Lounge tickets! ??DM us on Facebook to claim your prize. #MadeInMumbai #MCFCNickname pic.twitter.com/G3WQPbl2uh

— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) November 10, 2017

'The Islanders' is really cool name for @MumbaiCityFCLet's bring the gold to this island #LetsFootball #MadeInMumbai #HeroISL pic.twitter.com/YM8zrWNeN1

— Rajendra nayak (@OmoshiroiRaju93) November 11, 2017

The new name was suggested by Mumbai City FC fans, Nikhil Hirve and he was awarded two season lounge tickets from the club.

Congratulations to our #MCFCNickname contest winner, @Nikhirve for suggesting #TheIslanders as our nickname.You have bagged 2 lounge season tickets for our home matches in #HeroISL 2017. #MadeInMumbai #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/OZUQFMAR95

— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) November 11, 2017

Mumbai City, who were last year's semifinalists, have been unlucky for the last three seasons of Indian Super League and this time around, they have revamped the whole team and will hope that they will get their first title under their Costa Rican coach Alexandre Guimarães.

They have a strong lineup consisting of some top Indian talent and clever foreign signings. Their key Indian players include Balwant Singh, Amrinder Singh, Sehnaj Singh and Sanju Pradhan.

In Lucian Goian and Gerson Viera, they have two rock-solid defenders, while Leo Costa and Everton Santos will be key to the side's success in the middle of the park.

The Islanders play their first match of the season on November 19 against Jamshedpur FC.