ISL 2018-19: 10 Former Players each team could use now

Josu is a fan favourite in Ker
Josu is a fan favourite in Kerala

Over the past four seasons of the Hero Indian Super League, many foreigners have lit up the stage and changed their respective team's fortunes with some extraordinary performances.

Cut to the fifth season and the defending champions, Chennaiyin FC, are struggling to mount a challenge to their own title. The results of a couple of other clubs too reflect poorly on the table and many players who we thought would single-handedly change the complexion of the game have thoroughly disappointed.

With every passing season, clubs are becoming more professional and are choosing players who are more apt and favourable to ISL conditions. Starting from season one where the clubs had to rope in marquee players who turned to be clearly over the hill, clubs now acquire the services of players with skill and enthusiasm. Experience and past record is no longer a big criteria in clubs' hiring policies.

The past seasons have seen many legends wear the colours of ISL, few shining while other not enjoying their times. However, most teams have had players who have created an impact that fans remember even to this day.

Here, we list out 10 players that the clubs are thoroughly missing and analyse how they could have changed the clubs' fortunes had they been around.


#10 Josu Currais (Kerala Blasters)

Josu Currais is a name still actively heard in the streets of Kerala. Two seasons with Kerala Blasters - in 2015 and 2016 - earned him a well-deserved place in the minds of fans.

The Spanish player's first season with Kerala Blasters in 2015 saw him play at the heart of Kerala's midfield. He made 11 appearances and scored one goal, along with three assists. More than the stats, Josu's role was crucial in a season where the team had a bad run.

ALSO READ: Josu to return to ISL

This made him receive another chance with the club in 2016, under Steve Coppell. But he was assigned a different role at the left-back position, which he handled well. The La Masia-product adapted well, contributing both in offence and defence.

The presence of Josu Currais in the lineup would have added depth to the squad this season and the fans are now excited hearing the news of the 25-year old possibly making a comeback to ISL in the January transfer window.

#9 Jonatan Lucca (FC Goa & FC Pune City)

Lucca in Pune colours
Lucca in Pune colours

Jonatan Lucca spent three seasons in India - with FC Goa in 2015 and Pune City in the 2016 and 2017 season.

The Brazilian was a huge success in his CDM role at both the teams. In the 2015 season, Lucca was an unavoidable part of the then manager Zico's plans. He scored three goals in his 16 matches apart from the 55 tackles and 35 clearances on the defensive part.

At Pune City, he played 34 matches with 7 assists and 2 goals. He was sharp in his defensive duties in the Orange colours with 35 tackles. The 24-year-old still leads the list of most passes in ISL by a Pune City player with 1,777 passes.

The former AS Roma player is now a part of Portuguese club C.F. Os Belenenses and would have been a good option for Pune City, if he was available.

#8 Robbie Keane (ATK)

Robbie Keane even coached ATK at the end of the 2017-18 season
Robbie Keane even coached ATK at the end of the 2017-18 season

One of the biggest names to play the Indian Super League is Robbie Keane. He was part of the ATK for a single season in 2017-18 and served both as a player and a manager after the sacking of Teddy Sheringham and Ashley Westwood. Though his time was limited due to injuries, the Irish forward made good contributions to the side.

Robbie Keane appeared in nine matches for ATK and scored 6 goals. The 37-year old had difficulties coping with the Indian conditions and injuries came back to haunt him frequently during the season. But he overcame the obstacles and earned his place in the hearts of the ATK fans.

ATK's fortunes up front would definitely be better had Keane re-signed with the Kolkatan outfit this season. The combination of the former Tottenham striker with the likes of Everton Santos or Kalu Uche would surely give opposition defenders nightmares.

Robbie Keane is currently not part of any club after he left ATK.

#7 Bruno Pelissari (Chennaiyin FC & Delhi Dynamos)

Bruno Pelissari scored directly from a corner for Chennaiyin FC
Bruno Pelissari scored directly from a corner for Chennaiyin FC

Bruno Pelissari is one of those young foreign players who came to ISL and made a name for himself. The Brazilian first came to Indian Super League in 2014 for Chennaiyin FC, returned in 2015 and finally moved to Delhi Dynamos in 2016.

The midfielder signed for Chennaiyin FC from Brazilian club Atletico Paranaense and played 11 matches under Marco Materazzi that season. He made good use of the opportunity, scoring 4 goals. The young attacking midfielder was an integral part of the club that had big names like Elano Blumer, Mikael Silvestre and Bernard Mendy. In 2015, he appeared in 14 matches, scoring 3 goals, and had a good impact in Chennaiyin's Cup run.

The 2016 season saw the 25-year-old switch to Delhi Dynamos, where he appeared in 11 matches. But he didn't have much of a good time there, recording zero goals for the Capital side. Pelissari is currently part of Votuporanguense club in Brazil and would have been handy for Chennaiyin FC.

#6 Gustavo dos Santos (Delhi Dynamos)

Gustavo Dos Santos had two enjoyable seasons in the ISL
Gustavo Dos Santos had two enjoyable seasons in the ISL

Gustavo Dos Santos, as he is popularly known in India, was an unstoppable force of energy in the wings for Delhi Dynamos. Gustavo came to India and spent two seasons - both with Dynamos - in 2014 and 2015.

The Brazilian was seen wearing the Delhi colours on 28 occasions across the two seasons, where he scored 8 goals and provided assists in another 2. He played alongside legends like Alessandro Del Piero but never disappointed on any occasion. Dos Santos was an active power on the wings and the opposition defenders always found it difficult to deal with the youngster.

He remained a constant pick under Roberto Carlos in the 2015 season too. Having played 16 matches that season, he pulled off 3 goals. But the winger didn't return to India after that and is now part of FC Alashkert in the American Premier League. He would have been a great pick for Delhi Dynamos in this dull season.

#5 Iain Hume (Kerala Blasters & ATK)

Iain Hume has most appearances for a player in the ISL
Iain Hume has most appearances for a player in the ISL

Iain Edward Hume is a name that will remain in the hearts of two power-houses of ISL - Kerala Blasters and ATK. The Canadian was with Blasters in 2014, then moved to ATK for two seasons and returned to the yellow army in 2017.

Hume has played 59 matches in ISL and scored 28 goals. He recorded 10 goals in 29 matches for Blasters. With the Kolkata franchise, he made 30 appearances and struck on 18 occasions. The striker is well known for his ability to convert half chances into goals. ISL spectators have seen his prolific ability to develop and convert attacks.

Iain Hume is currently signed with Pune City, but is not in the squad due to an injury that he suffered in the previous season. Seeing Kerala Blasters waste easy chances, any fan would wish this man was with them, once again.

#4 Florent Malouda (Delhi Dynamos)

Florent Malouda lit up the Delhi Dynamos' attack (Image: ISL)
Florent Malouda lit up the Delhi Dynamos' attack (Image: ISL)

While the right wing of Delhi Dynamos in the 2015 season was occupied by a man already on the list (Gustavo dos Santos), the attacks through left wing was guided by the big man - Florent Malouda. The Frenchman played the ISL in the 2015 and 2016 season, both with Delhi Dynamos. The fact that the club qualified for the semi-finals in both these years shows how important he was for them.

Florent Malouda made 32 ISL appearances, scoring 3 goals and assisting in 13. In the 2015 season, he didn't manage a single goal, but assisted on 8 occasions, showing how good he was on the Indian fields. The former Chelsea player was sharp at his passing, taking up the role of a midfield general.

The 38-year old now plays for Luxembourgish club FC Differdange 03. If the midfielder had continued in the ISL, Delhi Dynamos would have had different stories to tell, staying one of the best in the league.

#3 Elano Blumer (Chennaiyin FC)

Elano Blumer helped Chennaiyin FC win the ISL
Elano Blumer helped Chennaiyin FC win the ISL

Every set-piece Chennaiyin FC prepares of reminds us of Elano Blumer. The Brazilian midfielder was well-known for his accurate and dangerous set-pieces which came to the fore in the ISL too. He spent the 2014/15 and 2015/16 season with Chennaiyin FC.

Elano Blumer was a key man at Marco Materazzi's squad, playing 26 matches across the 2 years. He scored 12 ISL goals and provided 5 assists. The attacking midfielder will be known as ISL's first 'Golden Boot' award winner with eight goals in the inaugural season. The former Manchester City player was used as a sharp link between Chennaiyin's combat defence and sharp offence.

After leaving Chennaiyin FC, Elano signed with Santos and remained there for a season before retiring from the game. Elano Blumer still remains one of the fan favourites of ISL and the fans still wish to see him in Chennai colours.

#2 Borja Fernandez (ATK)

Borja Fernandez controlling the rhythm of the game
Borja Fernandez controlling the rhythm of the game

Borja Fernandez is a player no ISL team would pass on. The Spaniard was part of ATK in the first three seasons and played a crucial role in the club emerging champions in both the 2014 and 2016 editions. The 37-year old plied his services as a defensive midfielder, not letting any opposition attack enter their face.

Borja played 47 ISL matches and struck two goals and provided 6 assists. Most of his contributions came on the defensive side - 181 tackles, 115 interceptions and 127 clearances.

In the first season, the former Real Madrid star made the most number of tackles by any player - 63. He also topped the list of players with most touches and passes in different seasons. All through, Borja remained a constant presence and contributor at the centre of the pitch for ATK.

He is now a part of Real Valladolid in La Liga and would have surely been a big boost to ATK's shaky defence this season.

#1 John Stiven Mendoza (Chennaiyin FC)

John Stiven Mendoza went on to play for New York City FC and Amiens
John Stiven Mendoza went on to play for New York City FC and Amiens

John Stiven Mendoza is yet another player whose market value rose after the ISL and his previous club is still after him. The Colombian player was a promising and dependent member in the attack for Chennaiyin FC in the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Being a promising forward, Mendoza made 9 appearances for the club in the 2014 season and scored on 4 occasions. It was the second season in the ISL that redefined the young gun's career. From the 16 matches he was picked in, Mendoza bagged 13 goals, winning the 'Golden Boot' award of the season.

When joined with the likes of Elano Blumer and Bruno Pelissari, the former Colombia U-20 player turns a nightmare for the defenders. He certainly was the driving force behind Chennaiyin's championship.

Leaving the ISL in 2015, Mendoza sfhited a few clubs and is now part of the Ligue 1, playing for Amiens. However, the 26-year-old has not enjoyed the same success elsewhere. The points table would certainly look different if the player was still in the colours of Chennaiyin FC.

Quick Links

Edited by Aravind Suchindran