Can Owen Coyle work his second-season magic at Chennaiyin FC?

Owen Coyle’s success in India is certainly well-documented, yet his arrival at Chennaiyin FC on the same day last year marked one of his toughest challenges in recent times. Chennaiyin have a history of making the right decisions and bringing home silverware, but the last five years have seen them fall from grace.

Change after change of personnel, poor decision-making in terms of recruitment, and struggling to find an identity have all cost them. As a result, they have fallen behind several other clubs in the hierarchy.

Enter Coyle. The Scottish tactician was quick to stress that the job he’s taken was a long-term one. Results were certainly expected, but there was never any sort of result-oriented analysis taking place. Instead, for the first time in five years, since John Gregory’s stint (2017-2019), Chennaiyin FC will see a head coach going into his second year in charge.

Coyle’s vision for long-term planning, especially in terms of player arrivals, has already begun to take shape. By June, the club completed all their essential signings, a rarity in recent years.

Expectations are certainly high, but it must be tempered, given that several clubs have greater spending power than the Marina Machans. The primary goal will be to compete with the top three teams in the league, advance further in the ISL playoffs, and make a deeper run in the cup competition.

There is, however, a sense that something special is brewing; and here are a few reasons why Coyle has the potential to create another miracle story in his second season, this time with Chennaiyin FC.

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Improved foreign contingent

Chennaiyin FC’s chop-and-change policy in terms of overseas players has been a significant factor in their recent struggles. This instability is also down to the arrival of a new coach each season, which affects the profile of players the coach prefers.

Last season followed this pattern, with the club parting ways with all six of their foreigners and bringing in a new set of players. However, this season appears different due to a sense of continuity. Chennaiyin have retained two of their top overseas players - captain Ryan Edwards and the versatile Connor Shields, who were the backbone of the team last year.

At the same time, the club has been ruthless in releasing players who didn’t meet expectations. A notable example is Rafael Crivellaro, who recorded seven assists, but was still let go due to the drop in standards in the second half of the season. He has been replaced by the younger and dynamic Brazilian Lukas Brambilla, who joins after an impressive season in Cyprus.

Jordan Murray and Christian Battochio were also deemed surplus to requirements, with Coyle acting swiftly to sign two experienced ISL strikers, Daniel Chima Chukwu and Wilmar Jordán Gil. Additionally, Elsinho Dias, who had a standout debut season with Jamshedpur FC, has been added to the squad.

While these new players may not be the most high-profile, they fit well with Coyle’s tactical vision. Elsinho and Shields offer versatility, capable of playing various positions depending on the opponent, while Chukwu and Jordan provide the physicality upfront and goal-scoring ability that Chennaiyin FC lacked last season.

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Right mix of experience and youth

Coyle has consistently emphasized Chennaiyin FC’s approach under his leadership, which focuses on acquiring and developing young Indian players. Last season, the Marina Machans had one of the youngest average ages in the league, and this trend is continuing this season.

Joining the impressive list of young talents like Jiteshwor Singh, Vincy Barretto, Bikash Yumnam, Irfan Yadwad, and Ayush Adhikari are 23-year-olds Kiyan Nassiri and Jitendra Singh, and 21-year-olds Lalrinliana Hnamte and Gurkirat Singh. These players are not only young but also among the most highly regarded talents in the country.

Nassiri and Gurkirat, two forwards who have particularly impressed when given opportunities, will bring fresh dynamism and quality to the attack. Meanwhile, Jitendra Singh and Hnamte will provide strong competition for Jiteshwor and Adhikari in midfield. There will also be solid competition in goal between Samik Mitra and Mohammad Nawaz, both of whom are under 25.

The squad is certainly brimming with young talents across various positions, but it’s important to note that Chennaiyin also have the experienced players, which creates a well-balanced team.

Two-time ISL champion Mandar Rao Dessai and ISL winner with Jamshedpur FC, Laldinpuia PC, bring that, and will play crucial leadership roles, especially with the many young Indian players in the squad. This mix of experience and youth will be vital for Chennaiyin FC if they are to challenge the front-runners next season.

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Squad depth to match Owen Coyle’s style of play

“To play in my team, we have to be super fit and play with high intensity and energy. That’s why I won the ISL Shield with Jamshedpur FC. We didn’t have the best players, but what we had was a team and they all worked with the plan I designed,” Coyle said to Sportskeeda last season.

And that seems to be aligning now as well. Chennaiyin don't necessarily have the best players in the league, but they certainly have a team aligning with Coyle’s vision. Last season, the team was quite inconsistent, but there were flashes of what the head coach wanted to deliver, especially in the latter part of the season.

The Marina Machans were one of the highest pressing teams in the league. They ranked second in terms of possession won in the final third and second in the most completed crosses. This signified a style built on intense pressing and early ball recovery, while also playing vertically, moving through the flanks, and delivering early crosses into the box.

However, they lacked the squad depth and quality to compete with the top teams, which proved costly. This season, the quality of the squad has improved significantly, with new players who fit Coyle’s tactical approach. They also have two efficient players in every position, allowing Coyle to rotate his squad, a luxury he didn’t have last season.

This improved squad depth and flexibility give the coach various options to adapt his approach based on different opponents, maximizing player performance - something Coyle managed brilliantly at both Jamshedpur FC and Chennaiyin FC.

These factors certainly make for an exciting season ahead for Chennaiyin faithful, and there will undoubtedly considerable optimism about the team’s direction going into the new campaign.