The quality of captaincy is a valuable component in football, for they are usually the focal point of their team’s performances on the pitch, the person a manager seems to trust and the player many aspiring youngsters look up to as a role model. Even ISL have had some good captains over the years, and it is no different this season as well.
Here is the list of ISL captains across all the 11 teams in the seventh edition of the tournament –
1) Bengaluru FC – Sunil Chhetri
Who better to kick off the elite list than the Indian national team skipper, Sunil Chhetri himself? Although he is 37 now, he is still fitter than ever and looking to lead BFC to glory this season, by motivating the players and with some goals off his boot as well.
2) ATK Mohun Bagan – Pritam Kotal
An indispensable member of Antonio Habas’ defence last season, Indian right-back Pritam Kotal was rightly given the captaincy duties for the defending champions. Versatile enough to step into central defence when required, Pritam’s experience with the national team has made him a well-rounded player as well as a leader.
3) Mumbai City FC – Amrinder Singh
One of the veteran keepers in Indian football, Amrinder Singh has spent the majority of his ISL career with Mumbai and deservedly, takes the captain’s armband. His saves and dives will all be important for Sergio Lobera’s side, and will no doubt look to infuse energy in a bid to make the Playoffs.
4) FC Goa – Edu Bedia
One of the few foreigners to not leave the team for Mumbai City along with Lobera, Edu Bedia’s performances and loyalty were rewarded in the form of club captaincy by new coach Juan Ferrando. The midfielder who is quite versatile will look to lead by example by supplying goals and assists, as Goa seek to mount a serious title challenge.
5) Odisha FC – Steven Taylor
An experienced English centre-back playing in the lower leagues of British football, Taylor comes with loads of experience and a knack of shutting out opposition forwards. The commanding defender will want to marshal his troops and maintain the squad harmony as Odisha look to perform better this time around.
6) Kerala Blasters – Costa Nhamoinesu
Recruited specially by manager Kibu Vicuna, the Zimbabwean defender brings with himself a treasure chest of skills and leadership that is necessary to get the job done. After Kerala lost defender Sandesh Jhinghan they had to find the requisite leadership profile in a centre-back and will hope Costa is the man for the task.
7) Northeast United – Benjamin Lambot
Another veteran centre-back responsible for leading the football club towards Playoffs contention, is Belgian defender Benjamin Lambot. Already featuring in the 1-0 win against Mumbai a few days back, he was solid in the game and blocked off shots to land his team the victory as well as the clean sheet.
8) Hyderabad FC – Adil Khan
With a contract extension signed until 2023 and showing his worth for the Indian national team, 32-year-old Adil Khan is set to take on leadership duties at Hyderabad FC. With the versatility to play in defence and defensive midfield, Adil will be entrusted of leading his team which has undergone a bit of an overhaul in recent times.
9) Chennaiyin FC – Rafael Crivellaro
Only today announced by the club, experienced attacking midfielder Rafael Crivellaro is rightly the glue in Chennaiyin’s midfield as well as the squad. The Brazilian midfielder has scored 7 goals in 20 games for the Supermachans and alongside other players, will look to guide one of ISL’s most successful teams to further glory.
10) Jamshedpur FC – Peter Hartley
A steely outfit looking to create their own identity and showcase their collective abilities, new signing Peter Hartley will be crucial in that regard. The 32-year-old signed from Motherwell FC brings with him a sense of composure in defence as well as a wealth of experience that he can impart with the youngsters.
11) East Bengal FC – Brandon Vanlalremdika
Robbie Fowler’s club are yet to declare their team captains for this season. But based on recent information, it is possible that 26-year-old Indian striker Brendon Vanlalremdika is appointed to take up the armband.
