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The latest season of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) is just a week away, and with the sides slowly returning from their foreign pre-season tours the excitement is finally building up. The new season saw the entry of two new teams to the league with Jamshedpur FC and former I-League champion Bengaluru FC joining the initial eight and with that followed a massive reshuffle in the squads.
Players were transferred and new players joined in the form of world stars like Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Wes Brown. We look at all the players expected to take up the captain's armband from each side.
#1 Robbie Keane (ATK)
The former Republic of Ireland and LA Galaxy captain and a legend of the game, Robbiie Keane is all set to grace the league with reigning champions, ATK managed by former Manchester United and England striker Teddy Sheringham. The striker from Ireland who was last seen plying his trade in the MLS is a well travelled man.
Keane started off at Wolverhampton but over the years played for the likes of Leeds United, Inter Milan, Tottenham, Liverpool, and West Ham. The all time record goalscorer for the Republic of Ireland is an experienced man and the Kolkata side will be resting a lot of their hopes of retaining the title on the back of his performances in this season. He is the number one in line to don the armband for the Red and Whites, but his game time, because of his age, might be a factor.
#2 Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC)
The Indian team captain has been seen leading the Blues during their previous I-league campaigns and is most likely to take up the armband again for the Bengaluru outfit. Bengaluru FC,who are the new entrants to the league will be looking to take the league by storm just like they did with the I-League and they will be hoping that their beloved captain, Sunil Chhetri, will be leading the line this time around too. Chhetri, who has time and time again proved his importance to the club, will be hoping to have another goal-laden season up front, spearheading the attack for the Blues.
#3 Lucian Goian (Mumbai CIty FC)
One of the most experienced campaigners in the league and with previous ISL experience, Romanian centre back, Lucian Goian is again a part of an industrious Mumbai City FC team after coming back from his short detour Down Under, playing for Australian A-League side Perth Glory.
The defender will be hoping to have a successful second stint with the team from Mumbai after getting much acclamation for his defensive performances during his previous season with the side. Goian has previously played for the likes of CFR Cluj and Dinamo Bucharest and has even made 6 appearances in the UEFA Cup, now Europa League, for Dinamo. Goian is the number one candidate for club captaincy for Mumbai City.
#4 Sandesh Jhingan (Kerala Blasters)
The new season of the Indian Super League brings in all new edge and excitement among football lovers throughout the country especially down south, in Kerala where, Sachin Tendulkar-owned local club Kerala Blasters are a massive favorite.
The Blasters have plenty of experience and have played two finals in the past three seasons. They have a new coach and a few new faces in the side, as former Manchester United assistant manager Rene Muelensteen took over the side from Steve Coppell who is now managing Jamshedpur FC.
While the Blasters have the likes of Wes Brown and DImitar Berbatov among their ranks, the most likely player to pull up the armband is defensive chief Sandesh Jhingan. Jhingan who has proved his worth time and time again to both club and country could get the arm band ahead of former Manchester United player Wes Brown, with regular match fitness being a worry for the Englishman.
#5 Inigo Calderon (Chennayin FC)
The 35-year-old Spanish defender, who is a youth product of the Alaves academy and has played almost 200 games for present Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion during their times in the Football League and the Championship, is the first choice captain for former Champions Chennayin FC.
Calderon, who started his career with Alicante in the Spanish third tier, returned to Alaves and spent two years at the club, making 52 appearances. Calderon's big break came when he signed for Brighton in 2010. The defender made a great impact at the club and played a key role in the club's promotion to the Championship that year, scoring 8 goals in the process and earning a place in the League's team of the season.The Spaniard is the first choice captain for the Chennai outfit, but with regular gametime a worry given his age, Portuguese defender Henrique Sereno could act as his deputy.
#6 Pritam Kotal (Delhi Dynamos)
The Dynamos side has undergone a lot of changing and chopping, with many of their key players from the previous seasons leaving the club. The club which has only played in the semi finals twice so far, will be hoping to go at least one better this time around. The Dynamos had a mediocre pre season as they managed to win only 1 game out of five during their tour of Spain and Qatar, failing to win a single game in Spain. The side from the capital looks to be all set to be led by national team defender Pritam Kotal.
Kotal, who had previous stints with FC Pune City and ATK on loan from Mohun Bagan, won the ISL last season with the Kolkata club. He made a permanent switch to Delhi this season and is expected to don the armband for the Lions.
#7 Marcos Tebar ( FC Pune City)
Marcos Tebar , who is a product of the Real Madrid academy and has played close to a 100 games for their B side, will be hoping to have a better campaign during his second stint in the Indian Super League after a poor campaign with Delhi Dynamos back in 2014.
A defensive midfielder, Tebar has made just one appearance for Los Blancos before making a loan move to Girona permanent, back in 2010. The Madrid-born midfielder made 109 appearances for the club and later went on to play for the likes of Almeria and even Brentford in the English Football League.
Tebar, who was one of the few players who had caught the eye during their first season with the Dynamos, was roped in by FC Pune City this year and is expected to captain the Stallions in their latest league campaign.
#8 Mehtab Hossain (Jamshedpur FC)
The former East Bengal midfielder and captain Mehtab Hossain, has previously played in the ISL for the Kerala Blasters for three years, but switched to new entrants Jamshedpur FC during this season's draft.
An experienced man, Mehtab has been in the thick of Indian football for almost over a decade and collected plenty of accolades and praises for his performances in the middle of the park. Mehtab, who plays as a holding midfielder will be one of the key players for the new boys Jamshedpur and has already proved his importance during the side's pre season training in Thailand. Mehtab, who has previously captained East Bengal for so many years is expected to reprise his role for the Men of Steel in their debut season.
#9 Robert Lalthlamuana ( North East United FC)
The Mizoram-born left back will be playing for the first time for the Highlanders this season after previous stints with Delhi Dynamos and another championship winning campaign with ATK last season.
Robert, who previously played in the Indian Super League on loan from his parent I-League club Kingfisher East Bengal, has now made a permanent move to the side from North East. At 29, Robert is a fairly experienced fullback, who loves the defensive side of the things more than darting forward, he previously captained East Bengal during the absence of Mehtab Hossain, who was the designated club captain, and is expected to lead the team for the Highlanders this season.
#10 Bruno Pinheiro ( FC Goa)
The Portuguese defensive midfielder makes his return to the Gaurs this season after he made 14 appearances for them during the first season of the league. Pinheiro who started off his career at Boavista back in Portugal is a well traveled and experienced man. Pinheiro was playing for Israeli Premier Division side Hapoel Halifa for the last two seasons, making 55 appearances for the club during his time there. Pinheiro, a defensive midfielder by trade can also play as centre back and had garnered praise for his performances in the ISL during his debut season, returning to FC Goa, he is expected to captain the side and will be hoping he can maintain his form and performances as his side look to win the tournament this year.
