When the Indian Super League began in 2014, it was expected that the league would throw a plethora of Indian stars on the National stage. Two years and a number of young talents later, the Indian Super League is being touted for bigger things already. While legends like Roberto Carlos, Alessandro Del Piero and Robert Pires all had stints with the various clubs, rubbing shoulders with them have surely helped the Indian players.
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With all the foreign presence, it’s the Indian players who have actually benefited from the right mix of Samba and South American football, and Spain giving the much-needed input of one-touch passing football. From Africa, the much-needed grit and determination are supplied to the league and from Asia, a different flair is provided.
While India has been able to unearth its talent in the form of the Sandesh Jhingans, Rino Antos and Anas Edathodika, there has been a majority of foreign players who have found a stepping stone in the Indian league. The home-grown players have shown a lot of maturity and level-headedness to learn from the foreign contingent in the league. According to ISL rules, every franchise is allowed to have 10 foreigners in the squad.
Here, we take a look at the countries which have the highest representation in the league.
#5 Japan and Cameroon (2 each)
With creative flair, Japan is the only Asian country in the list. Joining Japan in the fifth spot is another African country, Cameroon. With the advent of Asian football in recent years, Japan has been one of the superpowers in the region.
With Cameroon increasing the African presence in India, the players from the Central African country provide the much-needed fight and warrior’s instinct on the field. The only player with two ISL titles, Apoula Edel Bete plies his trade for FC Pune City. Partnering him in the same team is Andre Bikey, the right-back.
For Japan, NorthEast United holds the bragging rights this season. Both Katsumi Yusa and Robert Cullen ply their trade for the Highlanders, with Yusa being heavily important for the Nelo Vingada side.
#4 Italy, Uruguay, Ghana, Senegal, Haiti and Ivory Coast (3 players)
Italy are one of the pillars of global football and have made their presence felt in the Indian Super League, with four Italians plying their trade in the sub-continent. Alongside the Italian footballing power-horse is South American country Uruguay, led by Diego Forlan, who is one of the biggest names in World Football.
Joining Italy and Uruguay are African nations Ghana, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Completing the fourth position of this list is North American country Haiti, the only representative from its continent.
With Marco Materazzi at the helm, Chennaiyin FC can boast of having all three Italians in their squad. Uruguay has two of its players at the NorthEast United FC, while Mumbai FC have talisman Diego Forlan. Delhi Dynamos coach has shown immense faith in Ghana, lapping up all three of its players, also having one from Senegal. The other two from Senegal are at Kerala Blasters and FC Pune City.
Kerala Blasters have two Haitian forwards in their line-up as well, while Mumbai City FC have another Haitian star in their ranks. Coming to Ivory Coast, NorthEast United have two beasts from the African country while Kerala Blasters have another.
The top players from the European heavy-weights are Davide Succi and Emanuel Blasi. Uruguayans Diego Forlan and Emiliano Alfaro have put the league on fire, while Ghana superstars David Addy and Richard Gadze are key men for league leaders, Delhi Dynamos. For Haiti, Kervens Belfort and Sony Norde have starred for Kerala Blasters FC and Mumbai City FC.
Senegalese striker Badara Badji is another key player for Delhi Dynamos while Didier Zokora and Kadio Boris have played influential roles for NorthEast United FC and Kerala Blasters FC.
#3 Argentina and France (5 each)
If Brazil is on a list, Argentina ensures it features on it. Adding to the South American rivalry and joining the list at third place, Argentina has five players in the ISL. Standing at joint third position is another European heavyweight France, the team which reached the World Cup finals in 2006.
Argentina has most of its presence in Mumbai City FC, with three Argentines in the squad. FC Pune City and NorthEast United FC take the rest of the number. For France, only Kerala Blasters have two players in the team. The other three are equally divided in Chennaiyin FC, Delhi Dynamos and FC Goa.
The South American country has provided one of the most exciting players in the league, with Matias Defederico and Nicolas Velez being among the best players for Mumbai City FC and NorthEast United FC respectively. For France, Florent Malouda is the leading light, captaining capital side Delhi Dynamos and being their marquee player.
Kerala Blasters boast of a strong defensive-minded pair of Cedric Hengbart and Azrack Mahamat, while Bernard Mendy and Gregory Arnolin are the first names on the sheet for Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa respectively.
#2 Spain (14 players)
When Atletico de Kolkata joined hands with Spanish club Atletico Madrid, India was licking its fingers for this association. The Spanish nation provides the Indian Super League with the second highest number of players, 14. The European country has a Latin history and have been world leaders in football in recent years and a part of the Spanish masala has come on Indian shores this ISL.
With Atletico de Kolkata having 6 players from Spain, the team is fulfilling its promise to recreate the Spanish magic on the Indian stage. Delhi Dynamos and FC Pune City have three Spaniards each, while Kerala Blasters and FC Goa have one Spaniard each in their squad.
With Spain winning the Euro Cup in 2008 and 2012 and the Football World Cup in 2010, it was written on the wall that the European country has finally made it to the footballing powerhouses.
While Tiri and Borja are key players for Jose Molina’s ATK, Marcos Tebar, Antonio Doblas and Ruben Gonzalez Rocha form the backbone of current league leaders Delhi Dynamos. Other than these players, Josu Currais has impressed in every game for Kerala Blasters, while Bruno Arias and Tato remain to be important players for FC Pune City. Jofre Mateu, plying his trade for FC Goa, is another important player from Spain.
#1 Brazil (25 players)
With the plethora of footballing talent available at the South American country’s disposal, there’s no questioning which country has the highest contribution in the Indian Super League. With a similar climate and food, Brazilians have always felt at home-away-from-home in India and have looked comfortable on the pitch.
The South American country has always had heavy presence in the Indian sub-continent even before the advent of ISL. With a total of 80 foreign players allowed in the league, Brazil holds the bragging rights comfortably, contributing as much as 25 players! FC Goa, alone, has 8 Brazilian players in its squad, all of them featuring regularly.
FC Goa, thus, is called mini-Brazil of the ISL. Coached by former Brazilian superstar Zico, the team has always looked strong on the pitch and has a flavor of Joga Bonito with its creative brand of game-play.
After FC Goa, NorthEast United FC has the second highest Brazilian numbers in its squad, 5. Mumbai City FC, on the third spot, have four Brazilians in their squads, while both Delhi Dynamos FC and Chennaiyin FC have three Brazilian players. FC Pune City complete the roster with the other two Brazilians in their squad.
Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly owned sides Kerala Blasters FC and Atletico De Kolkata have no Brazilian flavor in their ranks. The major players from the South American country this season have been Delhi Dynamos’ Marcelinho, Chennaiyin FC’s Raphael Augusto, FC Goa’s Rafael Coelho and Rafael Dumas, FC Pune City’s Jonathan Lucca and NorthEast United FC’s Gustavo Lazzaretti.
