5 current ISL players who played for top European clubs

The first few seasons of the Indian Super League (ISL) witnessed numerous big names from European football trying their luck in India. From Roberto Carlos to Dimitar Berbatov, many household names of the global game, graced the league.

But many such moves yielded limited success as they couldn't adapt to the new setting fast enough. Fitness and starkly different climatic conditions remained a challenge for those who aimed to sign off on a high note from India.

Recently, there has been a reversal of this trend as domestic players have improved in quality and technique. Clubs and managers prefer worthy foreign players than big-priced legends way past their prime.

However, the quality of foreign signings plying their trade in the ISL hasn't gone down in these intervening years. Even those who are in the twilight of their careers have come up with valuable contributions.

Let us look at five current ISL players who played for some top European clubs.

#5 Asamoah Gyan - Sunderland/Udinese

Asamoah Gyan was one of the biggest foreign signings of the 2019-20 season of the ISL. The striker arrived at NorthEast United with huge expectations and settled in well before being hindered by an unfortunate injury.

Subsequently, the Ghana legend could play only eight matches in the league from which he scored four goals along with an assist. Though Gyan spent very little time in India, he came to the country with a rich experience from European leagues.

The 34-year-old joined Serie A club Udinese in 2003 and played 40 matches in five seasons. After two years, the striker landed in England after signing for Premier League club Sunderland. Gyan enjoyed a better stint with Sunderland as he scored eleven goals from 37 games.

Under Steve Bruce, he took up goal-scoring duties and delivered at crucial times to emerge as the club's joint-highest goal-scorer that season.

He was loaned to Al-Ain FC the next season but had earned a reputation with his time at England. The striker made a permanent move to the UAE club in 2012 and then set off a journey before arriving in India.

Gyan has 51 goals from 107 international games for Ghana and is one of the best footballers the nation has ever produced.

#4 Ferran Corominas - RCD Espanyol

Ferran Corominas, FC Goa's star striker, spent almost 15 years in Spain and a single season in Cyprus before reaching Goan shores.

With Goa, he has played 57 matches in the ISL and scored 48 goals, winning two Golden Boot Awards in 2017/18 and 2018/19. Although the striker has had a smooth-sailing career with the Gaurs, he had an even better relationship with Spanish club Espanyol.

Coro joined RCD Espanyol's reserve team in 2001, at the age of 18, and got promoted to the first team in 2003. Until 2011, he featured in 191 matches for the Barcelona-based club and scored 22 goals in all competitions. He won the Spanish Cup with the club in 2005/06 season after scoring a goal in the final.

After leaving Espanyol, the striker appeared for several Spanish clubs including Girona FC and RCD Mallorca, mostly in the second tier.

#3 Nili Perdomo - Barcelona

Nili Perdomo, Bengaluru FC's January transfer purchase, used to be a part of La Liga giants FC Barcelona a few seasons back.

Nili was signed by BFC to replace Manuel Onwu and represented the club in 10 games in ISL and AFC Cup Qualifiers. Though his contribution in the league was limited to an assist from six fixtures, Nili scored twice and assisted thrice during the AFC Cup Qualifiers.

The 26-year-old was signed by Barcelona for the reserve team in 2016 and scored one goal from 18 games. During the time, he managed to make one appearance for the senior team, as a substitute in a Spanish Cup fixture.

Nili was also seen on the bench during Barca's Champions League clash against Manchester City in November 2016.

However, he couldn't extend his contract with Barcelona and joined second division club Albacete before moving to Greece in 2018.

#2 Marcos Tebar - Real Madrid

While Nili represented Barcelona in La Liga, Odisha FC's Marcos Tebar donned bitter rivals Real Madrid's jersey.

The midfielder's first stint in India was with Delhi Dynamos in 2016. The following year, he moved to Pune City but rejoined his former employers for the 2018-19 season. He has sincced donned the Odisha colours and has 59 ISL games to his name from four seasons.

The 34-year-old was a long-time Madridista as he joined the club academy in 1998 and continued with the reserves side until 2010. He played several seasons in the second and third-tier leagues for the reserves, barring a short-term loan in 2006.

Tebar's only senior team appearance came in 2009 when he came off the bench against CA Osasuna. The Spaniard then moved to Girona FC and played four seasons before signing for UD Almeria. He then represented a few clubs in Spain and England before reaching India.

#1 Bartholomew Ogbeche - Paris Saint-Germain

Kerala Blasters captain Bartholomew Ogbeche used to wear the PSG colours in Ligue 1 between 2001 and 2005.

The talisman first came to India to represent NorthEast United in the 2018-19 season and joined Kerala Blasters the next term. He has enjoyed two fruitful seasons in the league with him netting 27 goals from 34 games.

Ogbeche has a wandering past, representing 12 clubs before arriving in India. However, his career started with French giants Paris Saint-Germain. The striker rose through the club youth system and made his first-team debut in 2001.

For the next four years, he remained with the club and scored eight goals from 75 matches. Bart appeared for the club in Ligue 1 fixtures and various cup tournaments but did not enjoy the greatest record in finishing.

He was then sent on loan to SC Bastia and FC Metz in France before a permanent move to Al-Jazira in UAE. The 35-year-old then played for clubs in Spain, England, Macedonia and Netherlands.

Edited by S Chowdhury