List of Indian Super League marquees

The Indian Super League, from its inception, had a rule that each Super League team must sign one player who would be considered a marquee player. This player would be a world-renowned footballer who has played at the highest levels of the game and had won at those levels as well. The first marquee signed by the league was former French international and Manchester United player Louis Saha, however, he eventually did not play in the league.[1]

History

On 26 April 2014 it was announced that the Indian Super League organizers, IMG-Reliance, had signed up Hernán Crespo, Dwight Yorke, Robert Pirès, and Fredrik Ljungberg as the initial marquee players for the first season of the Super League.[2] However, eventually, the teams themselves made it known that they themselves would like to sign their own marquee players.

On 6 July 2014, former Liverpool and Spanish international Luis García was confirmed as the first ever official marquee player in the Indian Super League after he signed with Atlético de Kolkata.[3] Then, on 15 July, it was confirmed that Joan Capdevila would be the second marquee in the league after he signed for NorthEast United.[4]

It was not until the next month that the third marquee was confirmed when Delhi Dynamos signed former World Cup winner with Italy, Alessandro Del Piero as their marquee.[5] This was soon followed up with confirmation that former England goalkeeper David James would be joining the Kerala Blasters as their marquee.[6] Two weeks later it was announced that Pune City had signed former France international David Trezeguet as their marquee.[7] Then, the last two marquees of the month were confirmed soon-after when both former Arsenal teammates Fredrik Ljungberg and Robert Pirès signed for both Mumbai City and Goa respectively.[8][9]

The final marquee for the first Indian Super League season was confirmed on 1 October 2014 when former Brazil international Elano signed for late-entry side, Chennaiyin.[10]

Current marquee players

Team Marquee
Atlético de Kolkata Spain Luis García
Chennaiyin Brazil Elano
Delhi Dynamos Italy Alessandro Del Piero
Goa France Robert Pirès
Kerala Blasters England David James
Mumbai City Sweden Fredrik Ljungberg
NorthEast United Spain Joan Capdevila
Pune City France David Trezeguet

References

  1. ↑ "Former Man-U striker Louis Saha roped in for IPL-style league". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Mergulhao, Marcus. "Indian Super League franchisees may sign their own icons". Times of India. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Atletico name Luis Garcia as marquee player, Habas as coach". Indian Super League. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "NorthEast sign Joan Capdevila as their marquee player". Indian Super League. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "'Next Stop: India.' Del Piero to join Delhi Dynamos". Indian Super League. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "Kerala Blasters sign Andrew Barisic and Penn Orji". Indian Super League. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  7. ↑ "FC Pune City return home with David Trezeguet". Indian Super League. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "Mumbai City land ‘Invincible’ Freddie Ljungberg". Indian Super League. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "Pirès bringing French flair to Indian Super League". Indian Super League. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "Colombian striker John Stiven Mendoza joins Chennaiyin FC". Times of India. Retrieved 10 November 2014.