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What's the story?
English Premier League side Liverpool FC have named former and current ISL players and managers in their squad for a Liverpool vs Bayern Munich Legends charity game.
Ex-ATK marquee payer Luis Garcia, former Chennaiyin FC and Delhi Dynamos FC defender John Arne Riise and current Kerala Blasters manager David James have been named in the Liverpool squad for the game.
In case you didn't know...
Luis Garcia who played for ATK in the inaugural season of the ISL has been named in the squad. The Spaniard had an impressive season in India, with two goals from 14 appearances for the Kolkata side.
David James was the marquee player-manager of Kerala Blasters in the inaugural season of the ISL. He played twelve matches for the Kochi-based side. He later returned in 2018 as the manager after a series of poor results. David James has also extended his contract for Kerala Blasters as the head coach for the next season of the franchise tournament.
John Arne Riise got his first taste of the ISL in 2015 when Delhi Dynamos picked him up. He made 15 appearances for the Delhi side with one goal. The following season, Riise joined Chennaiyin FC and made 10 appearances, netting one goal for the Super Machans.
The heart of the matter
The LFC Legends will take on their Bayern Munich counterparts on Saturday March 24, 2018 in aid of the LFC Foundation.
As much as 90 percent of the proceeds from the match will go to the LFC Foundation, which aims to create life-changing opportunities for children and young people. The additional 10 percent of the funds raised will be donated to Bayern’s charity 'FC Bayern Hilfe e.V'.
Liverpool Squad: Jerzy Dudek, David James, Bjorn Tore Kvarme, Jason McAteer, Daniel Agger, Phil Babb, John Arne Riise, Steve McManaman, John Aldridge, Steven Gerrard, IIan Rush (player-manager, Robbie Fowler (captain), Luis Garcia, Michael Owen, Vladimir Smicer, Xabi Alonso, Patrik Berger, Dietmar Hamann, Dirk Kuyt, Gary McAllister, Jamie Carragher
Bayern Munich Squad: Hans-Jorg Butt, Matthias Zimmermann, Bixente Lizarazu, MichaelTarnat, Daniel van Buyten, Martin Demichelis, Roy Makaay, Hans Pflugler, Giovane Elber,Lothar Matthaus, Marcel Witezcek, Uwe Gospodarek, Paulo Sergio, Xabi Alonso, Ze Roberto, Andreas Ottl, Luca Toni, Alexander Zickler, Michael Sternkopf, Zvjezdan Misimovic.
What's next?
David James who is currently the head coach of ISL Side Kerala Blasters, will return to India and take over the reigns at the Kochi-based outfit for the upcoming Super Cup. Kerala Blasters face Neroca FC in the Round of 16 on April 5.
Author's Take
The inclusion of former ISL players and a current manager certainly proves that ISL has been largely successful in bringing in quality foreign stars and an aesthetic international appeal. Several other ISL stars have also featured in several legends and charity games earlier. Such instances are a positive sign for Indian football.
