The new Indian Super League’s (ISL) aim is to help football grow in the world’s second-most populous country. Here’s the lowdown on the eight teams given that task.
Sachin Tendulkar leads the way in terms of big-name owners in the ISL.
Kerala Blasters
Owners
The aggressively named Blasters want to shoot the team to both national and international acclaim, and who better to do so than the mighty Sachin Tendulkar, the biggest cricket star in a nation of big cricket stars? Even the local football players are in awe, and the “master blaster” has teamed up with local businessmen to try to bring a first title to the city of Kochi.
Coach
David James is the player-manager, and the former England goalkeeper has to try to forge this group of players — just thrown together — into something resembling a good football team. In truth, James will be relying a lot on his assistant Trevor Morgan.
The more experienced English coach has experience in the I-League, taking East Bengal to a succession of trophies from 2010 to 2013. Morgan could be the best signing Kerala made, and his knowledge and coaching capabilities will be a huge help to James and the team in general. It will be interesting to see how the former Liverpool man performs.
Big names
Well, there’s James and also Michael Chopra. He burst onto the scene as a youngster with Newcastle United but never quite fulfilled that early promise. He thrived in the Championship, though, and represented England at youth level. Former Aberdeen and Bristol City defender Jamie McAllister is also on the books, as is Irish defender Colin Falvey.
Home-grown stars
Renedy Singh has played over 70 times for his country and the midfielder adds vital experience and great set piece ability that could come in very useful. Nirmal Chettri at right-back is one of the top players in the country and was in great demand by a number of other teams. His recent form has not matched his usual standard but he still offers defensive solidity and an ability to get forward. Mehtab Hossein in midfield worked very well with coach Morgan in Bengal, and it was no surprise when the Englishman moved early to get his main man down south.
Prediction
The Blasters are one of the weaker franchises, despite Morgan’s experience. Kerala has not had an I-League team since 2012, and a lot depends on whether Chopra can find his shooting boots.
Peter Reid will have his hands full with Mumbai.
Mumbai City
Owners
Mumbai may not rival Kolkata for passion but there is plenty of money sloshing around this financial and commercial hub, and a good start could see fans getting behind the team in a big way. They are backed by Ranbir Kapoor, who signed for Barcelona in 2011 to be their brand ambassador in India.
Coach
Peter Reid has plenty of experience in England, both as player and coach. Winner of two league titles with Everton and England’s player of the year in 1985, he represented his country at the 1986 World Cup. Elsewhere, he led Manchester City to two successive fifth-place finishes at a time when they were nowhere near the force they are now. In addition to taking Sunderland to successive seventh-place finishes in the Premier League, he also enjoyed a brief spell with Thailand.
Big names
Freddie Ljungberg carries the Mumbai marquee mantle, but Nicolas Anelka is surely the biggest of all names in India’s biggest city. The former Arsenal and Real Madrid striker struggled at Shanghai Shenhua but he was uncomfortable being the main man at both club level and for the entire Chinese league. He is one of many stars in this fledgling new league, and that should help. Ljungberg also has experience in Asia with Japan, and can take pressure off Anelka on and off the pitch.
Home-grown stars
Deepak Mondal offers huge experience as a full-back, and central defender Raju Gaikwad should help provide some stability in defence to give the likes of Anelka and Ljungberg license to do their thing further up the pitch. Syed Rahim Nabi is a top-class wing-back who gets forward, while Sushil Kumar Singh will be expected to supply Anelka with ammunition.
Prediction
A good start and Mumbai could go all the way, even if there is a feeling that they may struggle in defence. A lot depends on Ljungberg and Anelka.
Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has high hopes for Atletico.
Atletico de Kolkata
Owners
As the name suggests, there is involvement from a certain Spanish giant, and this is perhaps the most glamourous partnership of all eight. Not only do fans in Bengal have a club part-owned by La Liga champions Atletico Madrid, Sourav Ganguly is also involved. The cricket legend wants to get involved in football, and he couldn’t have chosen a better partner and region. The state of Bengal makes up India’s most passionate football region.
Coach
The Spanish influence continues in the shape of Antonio Lopez. The 57-year-old tactician may not have made many headlines in the local media, but his experience is extensive. He has had stints at Valencia, Granada and Celta Vigo as well as a spell in charge of the Bolivia national team.
Big names
Luis Garcia, 36, is probably best known in India for his time at Liverpool and his goal against Chelsea in the semifinals of the Champions League in 2005. Another ex-Liverpool Spaniard, defender Josemi, has made the trip east, while experienced La Liga midfielder Borja Fernandez could be a smart acquisition.
Home-grown stars
Climax Lawrence has had a fine career both in the I-League and for the national team. While the lively Cavin Lobo can also assist, Goa-born Denzil Franco has been one of India’s leading defenders for a while.
Prediction
Nobody will relish travelling to Salt Lake Stadium, which will host around 100,000 for the opening game of the season. As the best-supported club, expectations will be high.
Spain’s Joan Capdevila may not be the brightest star in the league but will undoubtedly add quality.
North-east United
Owners
There have already been some backroom wrangles and falling outs with Sanjiv Narain, owner of one-third of the club, walking out over a disagreement with colleagues that include actor John Abraham and local I-League club Shillong Lajong.
It was not a great start, and there have also been concerns about the club’s efforts, or lack thereof, to reach out to the local community.
Coach
Ricki Herbert, the man who took New Zealand through the 2010 World Cup unbeaten, including a thrilling draw against holders Italy. After spending the best part of a decade in the A-League, the 53-year-old has plenty of experience working for new clubs struggling to establish themselves.
Big names
Spain’s Joan Capdevila doesn’t have the pulling power of his marquee counterparts, possibly because he is a left-back or perhaps because the World Cup winner was one of the few in the 2010 squad who did not belong to either Real Madrid or Barcelona. Atletico Madrid, Espanyol, Villarreal and Benfica hardly make for a poor résumé, though.
Home-grown stars
Milan Singh has a bright future ahead as the midfielder is only 22 and could emerge as one of the stars of the season.
Prediction
Not having big foreign names may not be a major problem but the Indian talent is not as deep as it is in some clubs. Herbert faces a tough challenge, but local talent could produce a team spirit that can help make the first season reasonable.
David Trezeguet will lead the Pune side up front.
Pune City
Owners
You can’t be taken seriously as a Bollywood star these days if you don’t co-own an Indian Super League franchise, and in Pune, Salman Khan is the one who has forked out.
Khan is working with Serie A side Fiorentina to provide an Italian flavour to the city not so far from Mumbai. Pune is known in some quarters as the home of Venky’s, the infamous owners of former Premier League club Blackburn Rovers. Fans of the new franchise will be hoping that a combination of acting, business and Italian football offers a better standard of operation.
Coach Franco Colomba has managed 16 Italian clubs, from the illustrious Parma to little-known Olbia. With no experience outside of his homeland, India is not the easiest place for a first destination abroad.
Big names
World Cup winner David Trezeguet may not have the pace and power of days of yore but should still have enough to score goals in India, as recent stints in Argentina suggest. Pune’s best signing could be Greek star Kostas Katsouranis. The midfielder won the 2004 European championship and featured at last summer’s World Cup.
Home-grown stars
Lenny Rodrigues is one of the most versatile and talented Indian players. Mehrajuddin Wadoo has been a mainstay of the I-League as well, but all eyes will be on Pratik Shinde. The talented 18-year-old is precisely the kind of player who is supposed to benefit from this new league.
Prediction
Trezeguet and Katsouranis need to hit form. If the Frenchman shines and scores, all could be fine even if the team does not seriously challenge for the title. Finishing in the top half would be a success.
Alessandro Del Piero is the league’s biggest star.
Delhi Dynamos
Owners
It would be unthinkable to have a Super League without a team from the capital. One of India’s leading cable distribution companies, DEN Networks, owns and operates the club, and there is also a partnership with Feyenoord.
Coach
It is fair to say that Harm van Veldhoven is not exactly going to get the fans excited. The Belgian tactician does however have a solid background in his homeland, and has performed well in the Netherlands with Roda SC — success that resulted in a recommendation from Feyenoord.
Big names
Perhaps the biggest marquee name in the whole league is Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero. His signing captured the attention of Delhi and the world, and his technique and vision haven’t gone anywhere.
Home-grown stars
Steven Dias has been a reliable performer in midfield for various I-League clubs and the Indian national team over the years, and should be one of the leaders of the local contingent. Anwar Ali is another solid player, a centre-back who is imperious in the air. With Del Piero’s set pieces, Ali could be a real threat. At the other end of the pitch, Manandeep Singh has a burgeoning reputation, and the young player of the year for the 2012-13 season could make a real name for himself.
Prediction
Much depends on Del Piero and how he inspires those around him. There is a fear, though, that Del Piero’s ageing legs may not be enough to carry the team. If so, Delhi look a little short of the talent necessary to mount a title challenge.
Chennaiyin player-coach Marco Materazzi is best known for his role in Zinedine Zidane’s sending-off in the 2006 World Cup final.
Chennaiyin
Owners
India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the co-owner of this franchise along with Abhishek Bachchan, a well-known actor married to a former Miss World. Chennai does not have a team in the current I-League, meaning there are millions of potential fans that don’t currently have a club to support. Chennaiyin could profit from that.
Coach
Marco Materazzi is one of the more intriguing appointments in the league. There will be lots of people inside India and out who will be very interested to see how the Italian gets on in his player-coach role. He already has the star quality that fans and media love; now he has to build a new team and challenge for the inaugural title.
Big names
The fans wanted Ronaldinho but will have to settle for former Manchester City player Elano, as well as ex-Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre.
Home-grown stars
Materazzi has one of the hottest Indian properties among his attacking arsenal in the shape of Jeje Lalpekhlua. The 23-year-old striker is tipped for bright things, while Gouramangi Singh is an experienced centre-back who will help provide some stability and local leadership in defence.
Prediction
The team has an inexperienced coach, and compared to some rivals, they lack real edge in attack. Much rests on Lalpekhlua — he will need plenty of ammunition from the likes of Elano.
Arsenal’s former hero Robert Pires will be key to Goa’s hopes of the title.
FC Goa
Owners
Goa FC were born on the back of Videocon, an electronics company; some wealthy businessmen; and cricket star Virat Kohli, one of the biggest names in Indian sport.
Coach
Zico has more experience in Asian football than any of his coaching counterparts, although it remains to be seen how his time with Japan and Iraq can benefit Goa. His playing career was a thing of magic. but Zico will have to work hard to build a new team.
Home-grown stars
All the Indian players spend most of their time with I-League club Dempo. Clifford Miranda has been one of the most talented players in the I-League for a number of years and could benefit from the presence of Pires. Narayan Das is a 21-year-old striker who has just broken his way into the national team. A product of Pailan Arrows, the league’s development team for young prospects, Das could really make a name for himself over the next few weeks.
Prediction
Goa FC will be one of the teams to watch; this is basically the Dempo FC team that has done so well in the I-League over the years. Pires may be fading as a football force but there should be enough teamwork and organisations to succeed, especially if Zico can produce in the coaching stakes.