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Displaying their intent of continuity, FC Goa made a brave call by retaining most of their squad and signing very few new players. That move paid dividends to a large extent as they clinched the League Winners Shield in the ISL. In the process, the club became the first Indian club to participate in the AFC Champions League group stages.
But, things won't be the same next season. The contracts of a lot of players are set to expire and FC Goa will have a tough time in trying to retain the entire squad again. Given the players' splendid performances, their market value has increased and it is no secret that other ISL clubs are chasing them.
In this article, we take a look at those players who are most probably going to leave the shores of Goa and explore newer opportunities elsewhere in the league.
#5 Chinglensana Singh (Hyderabad FC)
Chinglensana Singh rose through the youth setups of Mahindra United, Air India, and Tata FA, before penning his first senior contract with Shillong Lajong. The Manipur-born player established himself as a regular in I-League at the age of 19 and played 12 matches for the Delhi Dynamos (now Odisha FC) in their semi-final run of the 2016 season.
FC Goa took note of his talent, particularly his passing ability, and bought him at the 2017 ISL Draft. However, with competition coming in the form of Mourtada Fall and Carlos Pena, the young centre-back has only managed to notch up 731 minutes of playing time in the last two seasons.
Singh a has been approached by Hyderabad FC and is set to sign a deal with them for the upcoming season. Albert Roca seems to be impressed with his abilities and believes he can come handy for them.
#4 Jackichand Singh (Jamshedpur FC)
Jackichand Singh rose through the ranks of Royal Wahingdoh in the second division of the I-League. Since then though, he has embarked on a nomadic journey that has seen him play for five different ISL and I-League clubs in four years.
The 28-year-old finally settled in at FC Goa in the last two seasons and has played an integral role in their playoff runs and their Super Cup triumph. Jackichand has played a total of 39 ISL matches for them and scored nine goals whilst registering seven assists.
The speedy winger is known for his ability to cross the ball and he also doesn't shy away from helping out his defence. His goalscoring exploits shouldn't be underestimated either, as there are very few Indian players who can score more than an average of 0.2 non-penalty goals per game.
Jamshedpur FC are interested in signing him and Singh is most likely set to pen a deal with them. The Red Miners have been consistently missing out on a spot in the playoffs, and roping in a player who has made it there three times is a good move.
#3 Manvir Singh (ATK - Mohun Bagan)
Manvir Singh has been approached by the new merged ISL franchise ATK - Mohun Bagan and is set to sign for them, thereby ending his tenure at Goa. The India international began his professional career in Kolkata and this move will be akin to a homecoming for him.
Manvir first signed for Mohammedan to play in the I-League Second Division and Calcutta Football League. He scored the winning goal for West Bengal against Goa in the final of the 2017 Santosh Trophy.
His exploits piqued the interest of FC Goa and they signed him immediately. In his three-year stint with them, Manvir has played 47 matches, mostly as a substitute, and has come up with three goals and one assist. His aerial prowess and dribbling abilities make him a perfect number nine.
Manvir, however, will have to fight for a place in the starting line-up given that ATK already boasts of big-name forwards like Roy Krishna, David Williams, and Edu Garcia. Jayesh Rane, Balwant Singh, and Jobby Justin too struggled to get playing time during their respective stints at the club.
#2 Mandar Rao Dessai (Mumbai City FC)
One of the trusted stalwarts of FC Goa, Mandar Rao Dessai is set to embark on a fresh journey with Mumbai City FC, if recent reports are to be believed. The India international has been a constant presence in the Gaurs unit and became the first player in ISL history to turn up 100 times for the same club.
Mandar's biggest transformation, however, was switching from the role of a left-winger and becoming a left-back - a move which was masterminded by Sergio Lobera. He got his international call-up to the Indian national team under Igor Stimac after the transition.
Apart from representing FC Goa in the ISL, the Mapusa-born player represented his state in the 2014 Lusophony Games, where he helped the Goa U-20 side clinch the gold medal. He also played for Dempo in the I-League and the I-League second division.
Mandar will fill the shoes of Subhasish Bose, who is set to join ATK - Mohun Bagan after the latter's tenure with Mumbai City FC expired.
#1 Ahmed Jahouh (Mumbai City FC)
While FC Goa will undoubtedly miss the four names already mentioned in the article, the biggest departure will be that of Ahmed Jahouh. Like Mandar Rao Dessai, the Moroccan is also reportedly set to join Sergio Lobera's Mumbai City FC.
Jahouh operates as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield, with his pin-point long-range passes turning defence into attack in no time. He is also efficient with his sliding tackles but his temper issues and poor discipline record can have a negative effect on his new team.
Jahouh's association with Lobera existed long before the duo arrived in India. He played under the Spaniard in the 2014-15 season when Moghreb Tetouan reached the second round of the CAF Champions League Qualifiers and finished fourth in the league. Moreover, he even made one appearance in the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup.
Lobera is best known for unlocking the potential in his players and Jahouh is the best example of it. It remains to be seen whether he can continue to weave his magic for Mumbai City FC next season.
