NorthEast United FC Atlético de Kolkata Mumbai City FC Delhi Dynamos Owners: John Abraham and Shillong Lajong Owners: Kolkata Games and Sports Pvt. Ltd Owners: Ranbir Kapoor and Bimal Parekh Owners: DEN Networks Coach: Ricki Herbert (partly owned by Atlético Madrid) Coach: Peter Reid Coach: Harm van Veldhoven Key players: Miguel Garcia, Cornell Glen Coach: Antonio López Habas Key players: Syed Rahim Nabi, Fredrik Key players: Morten Skoubo, Steven Dias Player to watch out for: Joan Capdevilla Key players: Climax Lawrence, Borja Ljungberg Fernández Player to watch out for: Alessandro Del Player to watch out for: Nicolas Anelka Piero A serious protege in his younger days, Nicolas Anelka A Juventus legend and one of the greatest strikers of his was first spotted by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in generation, Alessandro Del Piero will play for Delhi 1997 at the tender age of 17. He went on to make Dynamos in ISL. Described by Diego Maradona as “ a appearances for numerous big clubs across Europe, man who feels football in his soul”,the Italian was the including Real Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea. Often complete striker during his illustrious career, possessing loathed for his sulking ways, Anelka moved to Shanghai a solid range of passing, vision and dribbling ability. A Shenhua in 2012, before making a forgettable return to World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, he is Juventus’ England with West Bromwich Albion last season. He will record goal scorer with 290 goals. be FC Mumbai City’s marquee player. REUTERS A MEMBER OF SPAIN’S GOLDEN GENERATION THAT WON EURO 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, Joan Capdevilla played a pivotal role at left back in both those triumphs. Player to watch out for: Luis Garcia A resolute defender who’s good going forward, A FORMER SPANISH INTERNATIONAL, Luis Garcia is best Capdevilla played for Deportivo La Coruna and Villareal remembered for his days at Liverpool. He notched up 77 during most of his La Liga career. After playing briefly for league appearances for the Merseysiders, netting 18 Benfica, he ended his career with Espanyol, his first times. Garcia was a key attacking player in Liverpool’s REUTERS professional club. The 36-year old will lead the successful 2005 Champions League campaign, scoring defensive line for NorthEast United FC. vital goals against Chelsea and Juventus in the run-up to the final. He announced his retirement at the age of 35, but is back to represent Atlético de Kolkata in ISL. <> <> FCPune City Owners: Salman Khan, Wadhawan Group Chennaiyin FC and Italian football club ACF Fiorentina Owners: Abhishek Bachchan and Vita Dani Coach: Franco Colomba Coach: Marco Materazzi Key players: David Trezeguet, Joaquim Key players: Elano, Gouramangi Singh Abranches Player to watch out for: Player to watch out for: Jeje Lalpekhlua Kostas Katsouranis CHOOSE YOUR FOOTBALL HEROES The Indian Super League brings foreign footballers to play alongside ONE OF THE SPARKLING YOUNG STARS of the Indian game, Jeje Lalpekhlua will represent Chennaiyin FC in Indian talent in a two-month-long tournament. Here’s what you need to KOSTAS KATSOURANIS IS THE ONLY PLAYER in ISL to ISL. The young man from Mizoram was instrumental in have played in this year’s FIFA World Cup. He cap- India’s SAFF Cup triumph in 2011. Previously a regular know to pick the team to support, says Dhruv Munjal tained Greece in Brazil. With over 100 caps for his in the national team set-up, the 23-year old has lately country, the 35-year old has all the credentials of a lost his place to Robin Singh. He would be eager to get or a country that finds itself languishing at the they will get a chance to work with coaches like Brazilian solid box-to-box midfielder. A multi-utility player that place back by performing well against some of 158th position in the FIFA rankings and possesses legend Zico, Italian World Cup winner Marco Materazzi and in the middle of the park, Katsouranis is a tough the players he grew up watching. a domestic league where matches are often former England international Peter Reid. tackler, good in the air, and can even score the odd played in front of empty stands on barren patch- Some of the major problems that have plagued India’s goal. He will play an important role for FC Pune City Fes of grass, a bunch of world-class foreign players rather lustreless football history have been the lack of this season. <> hitting its shores for a game of football always seemed a dis- proper infrastructure and quality coaches as well as the tant reality. The last time it happened was in 2011, when failure to put in place an effective youth system. ISL may <> Bayern Munich came to New Delhi to play against the change all that. Swanky new stadiums are in place, an Indian national team in a one-off promotional friendly. The opportunity to work with world-class coaches beckons, German champions were welcomed by a rapturous home and franchises have put together a scouting system, crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. For a major part of which, hopefully, will spot much-needed talent. More than 90 minutes that evening, the Bavarians bedazzled the the impact on the pitch, the success of ISL will be deter- capacity crowd at the stadium and thousands others watch- mined by its ability to refurbish India’s youth system and ing on TV with some sumptuous football. For once, the improve the grass roots level game, two areas that have partisan Indian crowd rooted for the opposition been woefully neglected by the All India Football Kerala Blasters FCGoa team, urging them to go on and score a few more. Federation for several years now. Owners: Sachin Tendulkar and Prasad V Owners: Virat Kohli, Venugopal Dhoot, Bayern ran out comfortable 4-0 winners in the When Pirès, famously of Arsenal in the English Potluri Dattaraj Salgaocar and Shrinivas Dempo end. The Indian team, led by Bhaichung Bhutia Premier League, landed in India, his first words Coach: David James Coach: Zico may have imploded on the pitch, but the fans were: “India needs a start. I’m here to give you that Key players: Tolgay Ozbey, Andre Santos went back home ecstatic. For one evening per- start.” The Frenchman’s dissection of the lamentable Key players: Nirmal Chettri, Renedy Singh Player to watch out for: Robert Pirès haps, but they had got a taste of European football state of Indian football couldn't have been more apt. Player to watch out for: — and the opportunity to see the likes of Arjen ISL will give young Indian players the platform to shine, Michael Chopra Robben, Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger Young Indian and maybe trigger a football revolution in the and Thomas Mueller live in action. players will benefit country. The major European leagues enjoy a Three years later, the country's football immensely from massive fan following in urban India, with enthusiasts can look forward to many more such working with Manchester United, Liverpool and Real Madrid evenings. The Indian Super League (ISL), foot- quality coaches all featuring heavily on television sets over the ball’s version of the Indian Premier League, is all and world-class weekends. Now, it's time to translate that pas- set to kick off on October 12. Aimed at promoting foreign players sion into popularising the game at the grass the sport in the country and putting Indian foot- roots level. In a sporting season that has seen a ball on the global map, the league will follow a round robin sport like kabaddi soar to unthinkable heights, football, system featuring eight franchises. There were serious already immensely popular, will look to inspire young kids REUTERS REUTERS doubts about the number of quality foreign players the through ISL. organisers would be able to bring to India, but with names While national team stars like captain Sunil Chhetri, such as Robert Pirès, Alessandro Del Piero, Fredrik striker Robin Singh and goalkeeper Karanjit Singh will not A MEMBER OF ARSENAL’S 2003/04 “Invincibles” squad, Ljungberg and Nicolas Anelka on board, ISL can boast of be playing in the league, the likes of Syed Rahim Nabi, Jeje THE FIRST PLAYER OF INDIAN PARENTAGE to play in the Robert Pirès was one of the finest foreign players to some truly world class players. With several of them com- Lalpekhlua and Nirmal Chettri will have the chance to rub English Premier League, Michael Chopra is best grace the English Premier League. Equally devastating ing out of retirement, and most of them well past their shoulders with some of their heroes. FIFA President Sepp remembered for scoring the fastest goal by a with either foot, the Frenchman was an integral part prime, it would be ludicrous to expect these players to per- Blatter once described Indian football as “a sleeping giant”. substitute in Premier League history. Originally a of Arsene Wenger’s side that won three FA Cups and form the way they did in their heyday. But even their pres- Maybe, it’s time for the giant to finally wake up. Here’s a product of the Newcastle United youth system, Chopra two Premier League titles. He enjoyed a prolific ence in the team dressing room, along with their experi- look at the teams and the players to watch out for during has made appearances for Sunderland, Cardiff City, international career too, winning the 1998 World Cup ence, will hugely benefit young Indian players. Moreover, the two-month long league. Ipswich Town and Blackpool. Chopra will play upfront and Euro 2000 with the French national team.