The Indian Super League (ISL) has hosted numerous well-known football players since its start in 2014. The ISL has urged teams to sign a star player to boost their profile throughout the course of the seasons. In the first few seasons, it was common practice, but ISL teams have subsequently adjusted their hiring procedures for high-profile players. Several clubs shelled out a lot of cash to bring in players who had won the FIFA World Cup, participated in the UEFA Champions League, and had previously played for the top clubs in Europe. As a result, the league included several well-known and well-respected football players who generated interest across the nation and helped the Indian Super League become more well-known. Find the list of the top 10 ISL signings of all time below.
10. Marco Materazzi
In their inaugural Indian Super League season, Chennaiyin FC signed the contentious Italian defender. Materazzi quickly established himself as a crucial member of the group, having an impact both on and off the pitch. At the beginning of the 2014 season, Chennaiyin FC was able to achieve some success thanks to Materazzi’s solid defense. He was injured, though, and didn’t play again until the ISL playoffs against Kerala Blasters, helping us start our list of the Top 10 ISL signings of all time.
9. Freddie Ljungberg
When Mumbai City FC brought back former Arsenal player Freddie Ljungberg from retirement in 2014, many people were taken aback. Before the Islanders were able to persuade the Swedish winger to come out of retirement, he had already retired in 2012. The return, however, fell short of expectations. Due to an injury, Ljungberg was forced to sit out several of their first contests.
8. Asamoah Gyan
Many people were astonished when NorthEast United FC signed Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan. The striker’s exploits at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where he helped Ghana advance to the semifinals, had already made him well-known in India before he ever signed with the team.
7. Alessandro Nesta
Alessandro Nesta, a former star of AC Milan, was also signed by Chennaiyin FC in their first season as part of their effort to assemble the greatest defensive team. The Italian arrived with a wealth of experience, having won the Champions League, Serie A, and FIFA World Cup throughout his career. However, the Italian’s poor level of fitness at the time made the job difficult for him. In the 2014 season, Nesta only made four appearances for Chennaiyin FC. He ended up having a lacklustre experience in the ISL because he was unable to assist them overcome Kerala Blasters in the playoffs either.
6. Florent Malouda
One of the first well-known acquisitions that truly excelled in the Indian Super League was Florent Malouda. He joined Delhi Dynamos in 2015 and played for Roberto Carlos. The Frenchman flourished in their open-ended system, having a significant impact in two campaigns. He made 14 appearances in the inaugural season and contributed three goals and the same number of assists, assisting them in making the playoffs. He contributed to eight goals in his second season and served as club captain as they advanced to the playoffs. The seasoned forward demonstrated his talent in the ISL with a few standout games, and he departed with a strong record.
5. Robert Pires
In the first ISL season, FC Goa stunned many by bringing in former Arsenal great Robert Pires, one of the most well-known acquisitions in league history. Prior to joining the Gaurs, the Frenchman had not played for a few years and was unable to adapt to league life as normal. He was given a two-game suspension for disrespecting Atletico de Kolkata boss Antonio Habas during his one and only ISL season. Pires failed to duplicate his performance from his time at Arsenal, scoring just one goal in eight games. After a disappointing season, he quit the team and declared his retirement from football.
4. Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov, a former striker for Manchester United, stunned many people by electing to play with Kerala Blasters in the 2017–18 season. The Blasters have assembled a potent squad to ultimately claim the ISL crown. But things quickly turned bad for the Bulgarian player, who was frequently used in a midfield position due to his lack of fitness. In eight appearances, he managed six shots on goal and one goal. After departing, Berbatov reacted angrily to former head coach David James because of the way he had been playing. After leaving India, he said that the Englishman was using a very antiquated strategy by throwing long balls to the striker and attempting to score from there.
3. Roberto Carlos
Delhi Dynamos made a major effort to win the championship in 2015 and hired Brazilian superstar Roberto Carlos. He signed as a player-manager, becoming one of the most well-known signings in the history of the ISL, mostly due to his poor health. Carlos played for the squad just three times, but he did a great job as the coach. For the first time in their history, he assisted them in making it to the Indian Super League playoffs. However, Carlos departed the team and decided not to play with them again the following year after they lost the playoff match against FC Goa.
2. Diego Forlan
When Mumbai City FC revealed the acquisition of Uruguayan icon Diego Forlan for the 2016 ISL season, they pulled off a major victory. The 2010 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winner, a former star of Manchester United and Atletico Madrid, arrived with a lot of knowledge. Forlan quickly acclimated to his new surroundings as he impressed the Islanders with his finishing and imagination. With stunning goals, including a hat-trick against Kerala Blasters, Forlan dominated the ISL. They played Atletico de Kolkata in the playoff round after receiving assistance from the Uruguayan. Before getting dismissed from the game and contributing to Mumbai City’s defeat, Forlan contributed two assists in the second leg.
1. Alessandro Del Piero
The Delhi Dynamos made a statement by signing Italian superstar Alessandro Del Piero for the inaugural Indian Super League season. It was designed to increase attendance at their games, which it accomplished. Nevertheless, Del Piero was past his prime when he joined the team. He had a hard time keeping up with the games’ intensity and frequently came up empty. In 13 appearances, the World Cup champion Italian only managed one goal and one assist. Del Piero’s spell did not prove to be successful because he was unable to assist Delhi in securing a playoff position, despite the fact that the goal was a famous free-kick in his team’s last match against Chennaiyin FC, helping him to the top of the list of the Top 10 ISL signings of all time.
For more football news, click here
