'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Indian Super League (ISL)'s seventh season is set to begin on Friday, with Kerala Blasters playing against ATK Mohun Bagan at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim, Goa.
In this season unlike any other, which will be played behind closed doors in a bio-secure bubble in Goa, there have been changes to rules regarding the composition of the squads as well.
While ISL teams have been allowed to keep a maximum of seven foreigners in their squad, like last season, there has been a change to the composition of it.
From 2020-21 onwards, it is mandatory for all ISL clubs to have one foreigner registered in their squad, from an AFC-affiliated nation.
Trending
Here's a look at the foreigners playing for each ISL team this season.
#1 ATK Mohun Bagan FC
Antonio Lopez Habas has kept together the core of his title-winning ATK squad from last season, even after the club's merger with Mohun Bagan.
Roy Krishna and David Williams will continue their partnership up front, while they have also reinforced their defence with the addition of Tiri, who has signed from Jamshedpur FC.
Their AFC foreigner is Australian midfielder Bradden Inman, who has signed from Brisbane Roar.
Foreign Players: Roy Krishna, David Williams, Javi Hernandez, Edu Garcia, Carl McHugh, Tiri, Brad Inman
#2 Bengaluru FC
As Bengaluru FC always seem to do, they have kept their core intact as well. They had the best defensive record in the ISL last season, and the lynchpins behind that record - Juanan and Erik Paartalu - have both signed two-year extensions to their respective contracts.
Goal-scoring was a problem last year, and they have attempted to rectify that with the additions they have made. Cleiton Silva is the Thai league's all-time top-scorer, while Norwegian striker Kristian Opseth has joined after a successful spell with Adelaide United in the A-League.
Bengaluru FC didn't have to worry about their AFC foreigner, once they convinced Paartalu to sign a contract extension.
Foreign Players: Dimas Delgado, Juanan, Erik Paartalu, Deshorn Brown, Cleiton Silva, Fran Gonzalez, Kristian Opseth
#3 Chennaiyin FC
With Owen Coyle having moved on to Jamshedpur FC, Chennaiyin appointed Hungarian Csaba Laszlo as their new head coach.
Only two foreigners remain from last season's squad - centre-back Eli Sabia and creative midfielder Rafael Crivellaro.
Chennaiyin are the only team to have a non-Australian as their AFC foreigner, having signed Tajikistan's most-capped player, in winger Fatkhullo Fatkhulloev.
The strikers - Jakub Sylvestr and Esmael Goncalves - have huge boots to fill, with Nerijus Valskis having moved on to join Jamshedpur FC.
Memo Moura has joined Chennaiyin as well, making it the third ISL club in the Brazilian's career.
Foreign Players: Eli Sabia, Rafael Crivellaro, Enes Sipovic, Esmael Goncalves, Fatkhullo Fatkhulloev, Jakub Sylvestr, Memo Moura
#4 FC Goa
The departure of Sergio Lobera just before the end of last season meant that Goa had to look for a new head coach before this season.
They have appointed Spaniard Juan Ferrando, in a bid to carry forward the style and panache of the Lobera days, while coupling that with winning games as well.
Only one foreigner has stayed on at FC Goa from last season, with Edu Bedia set to skipper the side. Hugo Boumous, Ahmed Jahouh and Mourtada Fall have joined Mumbai City FC, Coro has joined Atletico Baleares in Spain, while Carlos Pena has retired from professional football.
The Coro-sized hole in their squad will be filled by another Spaniard in Igor Angulo. Defender James Donachie, on loan from A-League side Newcastle Jets, is FC Goa's AFC foreigner for the season.
Foreign Players: Edu Bedia, James Donachie, Igor Angulo, Ivan Gonzalez, Alberto Noguera, Jorge Ortiz Mendoza
#5 Hyderabad FC
Hyderabad FC were dealt a blow in the off-season, as head coach Albert Roca left before taking charge, after being called by Ronald Koeman to join the Barcelona coaching staff.
Last season, Hyderabad finished bottom of the league. In a bid to improve that, they have signed Spanish striker Aridane Santana, who was terrific for Odisha FC last season.
Spaniards Lluis Sastre, Odei Onaindia and Francisco Sandaza are joined by Brazilian Joao Victor in their first seasons in Indian Football.
Hyderabad FC have signed striker Joel Chianese from Perth Glory to fill the AFC quota.
Foreign Players: Aridane Santana, Lluis Sastre, Odei Onaindia, Joel Chianese, Joao Victor, Francisco Sandaza
#6 Jamshedpur FC
Owen Coyle has taken over as the Jamshedpur FC head coach, after orchestrating a sensational turnaround for Chennaiyin FC last season. He has taken his hitman Nerijus Valskis with him.
Aitor Monroy and David Grande have remained at Jamshedpur FC from last season, while they have looked to strengthen their defence with the additions of Peter Hartley and Stephen Eze.
Nick Fitzgerald, an Australian forward who last played for Newcastle Jets, has joined them as their AFC foreigner.
Foreign Players: Aitor Monroy, David Grande, Nerijus Valskis, Peter Hartley, Stephen Eze, Alex Lima, Nick Fitzgerald
#7 Kerala Blasters FC
One of the ISL's most-followed teams, Kerala Blasters have gone through another rebuild in the build-up to this season.
Last season's I-League winning head coach for Mohun Bagan - Kibu Vicuna - has taken over at Kerala Blasters, and has retained only one foreigners from last season's squad, in Spanish midfielder Sergio Cidoncha.
Much will hinge on the form of English striker Gary Hooper, who left Wellington Phoenix to join Kerala Blasters.
Australian Jordan Murray is their Asian foreigner.
Foreign Players: Sergio Cidoncha, Gary Hooper, Jordan Murray, Vicente Gomez, Bakary Kone, Facundo Pereyra, Costa Nhamoinesu
#8 Mumbai City FC
The riches of the City Football Group have meant that Mumbai City FC were able to activate Hugo Boumous's release clause, that saw him leave FC Goa.
With Sergio Lobera being their head coach, he has also brought in Ahmed Jahouh and Mourtada Fall.
Mumbai City FC also have the most fearsome strike partnership in the league with Bartholomew Ogbeche being joined by Englishman Adam Le Fondre.
Their Asian foreigner is Cy Goddard, who has signed on loan from Serie A side Benevento.
Foreign Players: Ahmed Jahouh, Hugo Boumous, Mourtada Fall, Bartholomew Ogbeche, Adam Le Fondre, Hernan Santana, Cy Goddard
#9 NorthEast United FC
After a disappointing last season, NorthEast United have appointed young Spaniard Gerard Nus as their new head coach.
Uruguayan Federico Gallego is the only foreign player that remains from last season. Strikers Kwesi Appiah and Idrissa Sylla could be the deciding factors in how their season pans out.
Their Asian foreigner is centre-back Dylan Fox, who joined them from Wellington Phoenix.
Foreign Players: Federico Gallego, Idrissa Sylla, Kwesi Appiah, Dylan Fox, Benjamin Lambot, Luis Machado, Khassa Camara
#10 Odisha FC
Odisha FC have only decided to re-sign Manuel Onwu and Diawandou Diagne among last season's foreigners.
New head coach Stuart Baxter has appointed a new captain, in Steve Taylor, who joined them from Wellington Phoenix in the off-season.
Marcelinho is now a proven name in the ISL, and Odisha will be looking for him to provide them with more than he managed for Hyderabad FC last season.
Centre-back Jacob Tratt is their AFC foreigner, having signed from Perth Glory in the off-season.
Foreign Players: Manuel Onwu, Steven Taylor, Marcelinho, Jacob Tratt, Cole Alexander, Diego Mauricio, Diawandou Diagne
#11 SC East Bengal
The ISL's newest entrants, East Bengal have managed to sign six foreigners for coach Robbie Fowler to work with for the start of the season.
Proven names form the UK such as Jacques Maghoma, Anthony Pilkington and Danny Fox have been added to players that Fowler has worked with or seen before.
Australian Scott Neville and Aaron Amadi-Holloway played under Fowler for Brisbane Roar, while midfielder Matti Steinmann also played in the A-League for Wellington Phoenix.
Foreign Players: Anthony Pilkington, Jacques Maghoma, Scott Neville, Danny Fox, Matti Steinmann, Aaron Amadi-Holloway
