Delhi Dynamos new coach Miguel Angel Portugal surprised everyone by not retaining players like Kean Lewis, Milan Singh, Souvik Chakraborty and Anas Edathodika, who lit up the Indian Super League under Gianluca Zambrotta. DD was easily the most attractive side last season. Lewis in the strike zone, Milan as attacking midfielder, Souvik and Anas in the defence stepped up their individual game to link up with Florent Malouda and Marcelino.
Portugal, a former Real Madrid Technical Director, has decided to build from scratch and has experience coaching the Madrid’s B and C teams. “I like being a part of new projects from the developmental stage,” he said during his unveiling.
The other team that will make the first moves during the draft is Jamshedpur FC, owned by Tata Steel and managed by Steve Coppell. The Englishman, who will be helped by assistant Ishfaq Ahmed, draft, has knowledge about local players and conditions as well.
The other new entrant, Bengaluru FC, has Sunil Chhetri in its ranks. Coach Albert Roca can use the India skipper’s insight in picking talented domestic players.
FC Pune City’s Antonio Habas, Mumbai City FC Alexandre Guimaraes have been retained.
FC Goa, Chennaiyin FC, Kerala Blasters have replaced their head coach, but deputies Derrick Pereira, Sabir Pasha, Thiangboi Singto have hands-on experience.
Even Ashley Westwood, ATK Technical Director, is a newcomer to ISL though a familiar face for players signed up for the draft.
Pereira (FC Goa), Singto (KB), Pradyuman Reddy (FCPC) are the others from the I-League with similar player connections.
List of Indians retained (U-21 players in brackets):
Atletico de Kolkata: Debjit Majumder, Prabir Das (none). Mumbai City FC: Amrinder Singh, Sehnaj Singh (Rakesh Oram). FC Goa: Laxmikant Kattimani, Mandar Desai (none). Chennaiyin FC: Jeje Lalpekhlua, Karanjit Singh (Jerry Lalrinquala, Anirudh Thapa). Kerala Blasters : C.K. Vineeth, Sandesh Jhingan (K. Prasanth). NorthEast United FC: T.P. Rehenesh, Rowlin Borges (none). FC Pune City: Vishal Kaith (Ashique Kuruniyan). Bengaluru FC: Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh (Malsawmzuala, Nishu Kumar).
