The third edition of the Indian Super League will kick-off with NorthEast United FC hosting Kerala Blasters on Saturday, and the remaining six teams will also play their opening match in the next few days.
The ISL might not be able to compete with cricket, but football fans have been coming out in huge numbers to watch the match.
With an array of stars in all the teams in the competition, ISL fans have been treated to a wonderful exhibition of football in the last two editions. There are a number of players from Spain and Brazil among others, which adds all the flair in football, making it one even more worth watching.
The last two editions have been wonderful for Atletico de Kolkata and Chennaiyin FC, who won the ISL in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Though they might have emerged victorious, teams like Goa FC and Kerala Blasters have been a strong team, and will be keen to give their all in order to win the maiden title.
Teams must have understood about the strategies needed to shine in the competition, so the fight for ISL 2016 title is going to be tough. Having all bases covered, with a strong bench, is one of the important requisite for a league, which runs till December without a break.
All the eight teams participating in the ISL 2016 have a strong squad, which has been further improved by signing some Indian and foreign players. Here is a look at all squads, starting with defending champions Chennayin FC.
Chennaiyin FC
Marquee player: John Arne Riise
Goalkeepers: Karanjit Singh, Pawan Kumar, Duwayne Kerr (Jamaica).
Defenders: Abhishek Das, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Dhanachandra Singh, Nallappan Mohanraj, Jerry Lalrinzuala Eli Sabia, Eder Monteiro, Bernard Mendy.
Midfielders: Raphael Augusto, Hans Mulder, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Dhanpal Ganesh, Zakeer Mundampara, Siam Hanghal, Baljit Sahni, Thoi Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Bodo Baoringdao, Bedashwor Singh, Manuele Blasi
Forwards: David Succi, Maurizio Peluso, Prosenjit Chakraborty, Uttam Rai, Jayesh Rane, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Dudu Omagbemi
FC Goa
Marquee player: Lucio (Marquee)
Goalkeepers: Laxmikanth Kattimani, Subhashish Roychowdhury, Sukhdev Patil
Defenders: Debabrata Roy, Denzil Franco, Fulganzo Cardozo, Gregory , Rafael Dumas, Keenan Almeida, Luciano Sabrosa, Raju Gaikwad, Sanjay Balmuchu.
Midfielders: Romeo Fernandez, Pratesh Shirodkar, Richarlyson Felisbino, Jofre, Mandar Rao Desai, Sahil Tavora, Trindade Goncalves.
Forwards: Julio Cesar, Rafael Luiz, Renaldo Oliveira, Robin Singh
Atletico de Kolkata
Marquee player: Helder Postiga
Goalkeepers: Dani Mallo, Debjit Majumder, Shilton Paul.
Defenders: Pablo Gallardo, Kinshuk Debnath, Keegan Perreira, Prabir Das, Arnab Mondal, Jose Luis Espinosa, Pritam Kotal, Robert Lalthlamuana.
Midfielders: Abinash Ruidas, Bidyananda Singh, Jewel Raja, Bikramjit Singh, Borja Fernandez, Javi Lara, Lalrindika Ralte, Bikash Jairu, Ofentse Nato, Sameehg Doutie, Stephen Pearson.
Forwards: Iain Hume, Juan Belencoso.
Delhi Dynamos
Marquee player: Florent Malouda
Goalkeepers: Antonio Doblas, Soram Poirei, Sanjiban Ghosh
Defenders: Ibrahima Niasse, Lalchhawnkima, Lalruatthara, Ruben Gonzalez, Rupert Nongrum, Souvik Chakraborty.
Midfielders: Alwyn George,Bruno Pelissari, Denson Devadas, Anas Edathodika, Amoes Do, Konsham Singh, David Addy, Emerson, Malsawmzuala, Marcos Tebar, Milan Singh.
Forwards : Arjun Tudu, Richard GadzeBadara Badji, Kean Lewis, Marcelo, .
NorthEast United FC
Marquee player: Didier Zokora
Goalkeepers: Subrata Paul, Rehenesh TP, Wellington Gomes.
Defenders: Gustavo Lazzaretti, Shouvik Ghosh, Reagan Singh, Robin Gurung, Mailson Alves, Nirmal Chhetri, Salam Ranjan Singh, Wellington Priori.
Midfielders: Fabio Neves, Fanai Lalempuia, Holicharan Narzary, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Katsumi Yusa, Koffi Christian, Rowlin Borges, Setiyasen Singh.
Forwards: Emiliano Alfaro, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Nicolas Velez, Robert Cullen, Sasha Aneff, Sumit Passi. Manager: Nelo Vingada
Mumbai City FC
Marquee player: Diego Forlan
Goalkeepers: Albino Gomes, Amrinder Singh, Roberto Neto.
Defenders: Aiborlang Khongjee, Anwar Ali, Ashutosh Mehta, Facundo Cardozo, Gerson Vieira, Lachhuanmawia Fanai, Lalmangaisangha Ralte, Lucian Goian, Munmun Lugun, Walter Ibanez.
Midfielders: Boithang Haokip, David Lalrinmuana, Jackichand Singh, Krisztian Vadocz, Leo Costa, Matias Defederico, Brito Alves, Pronay Halder, Rakesh Oram, Sejnaj Singh, Sony Norde, Udanta Singh.
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Gaston Sangoy. Manager: Alexandre Guimaraes
FC Pune City
No marquee player
Goalkeepers: Edel Bete, Arindam Bhattacharya, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders: Andre Bikey, Augustin Fernandes, Dharmaraj Ravanan, Eduardo Ferreira, Gourmangi Singh, Narayan Das, Rahul Bheke, Yumnam Raju, Zodingliana Ralte.
Midfielders: Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Momar Ndoye, Francis Fernandes, Lenny Rodriguez, Manish Maithani, Jonatan Lucca, Arata Izumi, Bruno Arias, Pitu, Sanju Pradhan.
Forwards: Anibal Zurdo Rodriguez, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Gustavo Oberman, Jesus Rodriguez Tato. Manager: Antonio Lopez Habas
Kerala Blasters
Marquee player: Aaron Hughes
Goalkeepers: Graham Stack, Kunal Sawant, Mohammad Ansari, Sandip Nandy
Defenders: Cedric Hengbart, Gurwinder Singh, Pratik Chaudhari, Rino Anto, Sandesh Jhingan
Midfielders: Josu Currais, Ishfaq Ahmed, CK Vineeth, Mehtab Hossain, Azrack Mahmat, Didier Kadio, Elhadji Ndoye,Vinit Rai.
Forwards: Antonio German, Duckens Nazon, Farukh Chaudhary, Kervens Belfort, Michael Chopra, Mohammad Rafi, Mohammed Rafique, Prasanth Karuthadathkuni, Thongkoisiem Haokip.
