Top five attacking duos in I-League history

Penn Orji (left) and Tolgay Ozbey

2. Bhaichung Bhutia & Jose Ramirez Barreto (Mohun Bagan 2007-2009)

The two 'Bs': Bhaichung (lef) and Barreto

The two ‘Bs’: Bhaichung (left) and Barreto

Bhaichung Bhutia had joined Mohun Bagan back in 2002 following his spell in England with Bury FC but unfortunately injury problems didn’t allow him much of a chance to play alongside club legend Jose Barreto and make the green-and-maroon brigade successful. That pair was reunited again in 2006 and they revived the glory days at Mohun Bagan despite both being close to the age of 30. After winning the Federation Cup in 2006, the two star strikers lit up the inaugural season of the I-League with some stellar performances. Bhaichung, being the ultimate goal-poacher, was the perfect partner for Barreto, who enjoyed playing as the second striker.

In the 2007-08 I-League, Mohun Bagan managed just 22 goals in 18 matches, but Bhaichung and Barreto scored 15 of those. The two stars also gave inspiring performances in the 2007 AFC Cup, where Mohun Bagan narrowly missed out on qualification to the quarters. Their best showing though came earlier in 2007 when Mohun Bagan thrashed Dempo 4-0 in the Super Cup. Bhaichung scored a hattrick but Barreto played his part in four goals. The following season, under Karim Bencherifa, Mohun Bagan once again won the Federation Cup and finished runners-up in the I-League with the two ‘Bs’ in superb form as once again they bagged more than half of their team’s overall tally. Just imagine how good this pairing would have been if they had played together at their peak.

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Edited by Staff Editor
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