The 21/22 season of the ISL is now wrapped up, and we saw a plethora of goals scored throughout. But alongside the goalscorers, some talented defenders also made a name for themselves. And in this article, we take a look at the top five defenders in the league this past season.
Top 5 defenders in the ISL
Roshan Naorem
The Bengaluru FC full-back was named the ISL emerging player of the season. He provided the most assists for an Indian in the league, and being a defender only adds to the impact of his performances. The youngster has also earned a call up to the Indian National team as a result.
Akash Mishra
Hyderabad FC’s reliable defender was also responsible for making key runs in the opposition’s half. His contributions helped the ISL champions concede the second lowest number of goals in the league.
Tiri
The veteran has now played 110 games in his ISL career. And he only seems to get better with age. While defending extremely well throughout the campaign, he also has exceptional passing ability, which adds to his presence at the back.
Peter Hartley
Jamshedpur FC’s captain was one of their most important players en route to winning the league for the first time ever. Not only did he provide a towering presence at the back, but he also scored three vital goals from set-piece situations to help the team.
Ruivah Hormipam
The 21-year-old had a remarkable run for Kerala Blasters, which earned him the emerging player of the season award for the month of March. He stood out at the back in 14 league appearances, and has a bright future ahead of him.