#4 Steve Coppell
Trending
The Kerala Blasters manager saw his side overcome a poor start to reach the ISL final.
What changed it for Coppell was that he finally found a formula, a set of players who started every game – a set of players who could win Kerala matches. It was a challenge for him to find goalscorers. Kerala had scored only four goals in their first seven games. They scored 12 goals in their next 10 games. And in those 10 games, Kerala only conceded six goals.
Coppell was helped in no small measure by CK Vineeth returning from AFC Cup action with Bengaluru FC to lift Kerala. The man from Kannur scored six goals in the ISL, and it would be fair to say that Coppell depended more on Vineeth than any other individual in his side.
But the experience of Aaron Hughes and Cedric Hengbart was also pivotal for Kerala. In all, Coppell had the personnel in his side and it was his courage to play some over the others that lifted Kerala. For example, Michael Chopra was struggling to make any sort of impression and Coppell did not hesitate to drop him from the side.
His extreme knowledge about his own team and what would serve the team’s needs the best was central to Kerala’s success.
