Former Newcastle, Hull City, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Liverpool and West Ham stars feature among our starting XI of players now playing in India.
Whilst stars leaving Europe and South America to play in China, the US and even the Middle East has been well-documented, another nation which is far from steeped in footballing tradition has also been trying to up it’s efforts with regards to the world’s most popular sport.
As has been the model set by numerous other nations and league’s, the recently created Indian Super League have aimed to do this by attracting marquee signings who are well-recognised to increase the sports appeal. The likes of Roberto Carlos, Nicolas Anelka and David James have all been and gone, but we take a look at the strongest XI of current players.
Goalkeeper: Duwayne Kerr
Okay, he’s not a household name, that much we’ll admit, but Duwayne Kerr is a full international and the most accomplished shot stopper in the ISL. Capped 15 times by Jamaica, Kerr spent 5 years playing in Norway and Iceland, before swapping the cold of Scandinavia for the heat of India earlier this year. Kerr now stars for Chennaiyin FC.
Left-Back: Richarlyson
Liverpool favourite John Arne Riise would have been a candidate at left-back until recently, but following his departure, we give the nod to Richarlyson. Primarily a defensive midfielder, the versatile FC Goa man can play anywhere from left-back to attacking midfield. Capped twice by Brazil in 2008, the former Sao Paulo man headed to India in 2016.
Centre-Back: Lucio
A treble winner under Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, Lucio was a top defender in his day. Joining Juventus in 2012 was a mistake by the big Brazilian, and after stints with Sao Paulo and Palmeiras, the 38-year-old World Cup winner joined FC Goa of the Indian Super League in 2015.
Centre-Back: John Johnson
Former Middlesbrough trainee John Johnson spent three years with Northampton before taking the unusual career path of heading to India in 2013. He has spent the last three years with Bengaluru, the winners of the very first Indian Super League season, and the 28-year-old is one of the league’s best defenders.
Right-Back: Bernard Mendy
Bernard Mendy warming up whilst at Hull City
Former Hull City, Bolton and PSG man Bernard Mendy was a very exciting player. His unpredictability was what made him both a great and at times a liability. Once renowned for his blistering pace, Mendy is now 35, and has to rely a little more on his technical ability.
Central Midfield: Florent Malouda
Florent Malouda’s 6 years at Chelsea ended somewhat bitterly, as the player refused to leave the club with no other team willing to meet his £80,000 a week earnings. A very good player when at his best, he won 13 trophies and 80 caps for France during his career. Malouda now plays under Gianluca Zambrotta at Delhi Dynamos.
Central Midfield: Bruno Pelissari
Brazilian midfielder Bruno Pelissari will play his fourth season in the Indian Super League next season, two having been spent on-loan at Chennaiyin and one on a permanent with Delhi Dynamos. A well-rounded midfielder, the 24-year-old won the Indian Super League title in 2015.
Central Midfield: Romaric
Romaric slides in on Lionel Messi
A compatriot and former international and club teammate of ex-ISL star Didier Zokora, the duo once again played alongside one and another in midfield for NorthEast United, prior to Zokora’s depature. Romaric played for the likes of Sevilla and Bastia during his prime, and is a dynamic, combative midfielder.
Centre-Forward: Frederic Piquionne
Former Pompey, West Ham and Doncaster Rovers man Frederic Piquionne turns 38 next month, but he’s still plying his trade in the Indian Super League. Capped at full international level by both France and Martinique, the big centre-forward now plays for Mumbai City.
Centre-Forward: Diego Forlan
Diego Forlan and Frederic Piquionne would have seemed like an unlikely strike partnership to ever actually occur a few years ago, but it’s exactly what has happened at Mumbai City. Forlan played for the likes of Man Utd, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan, and was the last man before Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Pichichi Trophy in Spain’s La Liga.
Centre-Forward: Helder Postiga
A relative youngster at the age of just 34 in this team, Helder Postiga was an enormously exciting prospect when he joined Spurs from Porto, but the Portuguese international was a real disappointment in North London. He went on to have sporadic success with Porto, Sporting and Zaragoza, as well as winning 71 caps for Portugal. Postiga now plays under former Spain goalkeeper Jose Molina at Atletico Kolkata.
Former Tottenham striker Helder Postiga alongside Glenn Hoddle
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