NORTH EAST UNITED FC

Based at Guwahati in Assam, NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) is one of the eight clubs that will vie for the title in the inaugural season of the Indian Super League. The team is owned by Bollywood actor John Abraham and I-League club Shillong Lajong and will play their home matches at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium. The region is brimming with talented footballers like Indian football legend Baichung Bhutia.

 

Key Players :-

Simao Sabrosa : The former Portugal international is expected to bring in oodles of experience to the NorthEast United side, and he has already shown what he is capable of. The former Benfica star scored twice in the three preseason friendlies this summer for the ISL side. Simao, who has played alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo as well as Luis Figo, has a total of 22 goals from 85 games in his international career, and he also was one of the key men during Euro 2004, where Portugal finished as the runners-up.

Nicolas Velez : The 25-year-old Argentina forward may not be a big name, but his exploits have made heads turn. The former Warriors FC targetman has scored thrice in the preseason campaign for NorthEast United, and he is slowly turning out to be the dangerman who defenders have to be wary of in the ISL.

Indian -
Boithang Haokip : The 24-year-old midfielder is regarded as one of the best deadball specialists in India, but the player is yet to earn a national team cap. However, those who have been following the player in the I-League will know the player's abilities, with precision crosses and lethal passes his strength. And although he did not get much of an opportunity to make his mark in the ISL last year, Boithang can turn out to be the match-winner on his day.

North East United FC team full squad:

Goalkeepers: Kunzang Bhutia, Rehenesh TP, Alexandros Tzorvas.

Defenders: Aiborlang Khongjee, Jibon Singh, Pritam Singh, Robin Gurung, Massamba Sambou, Miguel Garcia, Tomas Josl, Joan Capdevilla.

Midfielders: Alen Deory, Boithang Haokip, David Ngaihte, Milan Singh, Zodingliana Ralte, Do Dong-Hyun, Guilhermo Castro, Isaac Chansa, Kondwani Mtonga.

Forwards: Durga Boro, Redeem Tiang, Seiminlen Doungel, Cornell Glen, James Keene, Luis Padilla, Sergio Pardo.

                                                                                                                                                                              

FC GOA

FC Goa (also known as The Gaurs) is an Indian professional football franchise based in Goa that competes in the Indian Super League.The club was launched on 26 August 2014. The team is owned by Goan Football Club Pvt. Ltd. which consists of Goan businessmen Dattaraj Salgaocar and Shrinivas Dempo as well asVenugopal Dhoot and Virat Kohli.

 The legendary Brazilian Football player Arthur Antunes Coimbra (Zico) is the club's Manager (Head Coach). Former Brazil skipper, World Cup winner and Champions league winner Lucio has signed as FC Goa's marquee player for the second season.

Strengths :- Domestic talent plays a massive role and the local lads are one of FC Goa’s strengths. Adding to that, the Samba flavour drilled in by coach Zico and the marquee signing of Lucio make Goa a force to reckon with this time as well.

Weaknesses :- FC Goa have lost quite a few players. Arsenal legend Pires is not the only notable loss. Goa's star player of last season Andre Santos will also not be part of ISL this time around and another noticeable is that of Afghanistan captain Zohib Amiri. Another big weakness for the Goa franchisee is that majority of the foreign players are in their late 30s, which means fitness could become a problem area at some stage in the 79-day tournament.

   
Players to watch :-

Jofre Mateu :- FC Goa have brought in Mateu from Atletico de Kolkata. It can be one of the key signings for them. He lends immense stability to this team and will be the playmaker for them this season. A product of Barcelona’s famed youth academy, Mateu surely has enviable passing skills that can be worry for any opposition. He started his career at the famed La Masia academy in Barcelona and made his first-team debut in the final game of the 1997-98 season, wherein he scored the lone goal for his side in a 4-1 loss.

Romeo Fernandes :- During the inaugural season of Indian Super League, Romeo had a fantastic time and was seen as one of the new Indian stars thrown up by ISL. The 22-year Goan was loaned to the Brazilian club Paranaense amidst plenty of hype in January after some noteworthy performances in the ISL. It was said he was personally recommended by coach Zico. And this season he should be on the pitch as an even better player. 

Denson Devadas :- Devadas played almost every game for Chennaiyin FC in the first season of the tournament and he is expected to be in Goa's starting eleven right away. Devadas, who cites midfielders Zinedine Zidane and Andres Iniesta as his footballing idols, will hope to make an impact for his new club. As a central attacking midfielder, he could be the focal point for Zico's men.  
  

SQUAD :-
 
Goalkeepers :- Andrade, Laxmikant Kattimani, Luis Barreto, Keenan Almeida.

Defenders :- Nicolau Colaco, Lúcio, Grégory Arnolin, Raju Gaikwad, Narayan Das, Roy Debabrata.

Midfielders :- Bikramjit Singh, Jonatan Lucca, Pronay Halder, Leo Moura, Jofre, Mandar Rao Desai, Léo Rocha, Denson Devadas, Romeo Fernandes.

PUNE CITY FC

Italian club ACF Fiorentina owns a 15% stake in the franchise. Indian superstar actor Hrithik Roshan co-owns the team.

 
Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Mumbai City FC player-cum-manager Nicolas Anelka believes their match against rivals FC Pune City on October 5 which is considered to be a derby clash will be a tough and a hard game.

''Game against FC Pune City will be a hard game and a tough one. It will be an important game for us and we will look to give out best and win it," Anelka, who was just a player in the inaugural ISL season before taking up an added responsibility of managing the Mumbai side, told reporters here.

FULL SQUAD :-
 
Goalkeepers:  L. Thapa, A. Bhattacharya, S. Simonsen
 
Defenders: R. Johnson, G. Singh, N. Shorey, D, Ravanan, P. Kotal, G.r Kumar, D. Colotto, G. Singh

Midfielders: I. Gurung, E. Lyngdoh, D. Zokora, J .Bailey, L. Rodrigues, M Maithani, S.Mathew, F. Lalrempuia, B. Jairu

Forwards: A. Mutu, Y. Ruiz, T. Sanli, W. Verhoek, K. Uche, J. Singh.

CHENNAYIN FC

MATCH : 1
 
The majority of the fans at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai were left disappointed, as a Postiga double and a neat header from Valmiro Lopes Rocha gave Atletico de Kolkata a 3-2 win over Chennaiyin FC in the opening match of ISL 2015.

Chennaiyin came from behind to level once, in the first half from Jeje Lalpekhlua, but a second comeback, which needed two goals, fell just short, as an Elano penalty late on wasn't enough to give the home team a share of the spoils.

 
Chennaiyin FC were easily the best team in the ISL in the league stages last season, taking top spot and looking primed to become the first winners of the Indian Super League.
The franchise is owned by Vita Dani, Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan and Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Its player-manager is Italian World Cup-winning defender Marco Materazzi.

Chennaiyin FC: Full squad :-

Goalkeepers: A Nidhinlal, Apoula Edima Edel Bete, Karanjit Singh.

Defenders: Eder, Mailson, Abhishek Das, Alessandro Potenza, Bernard Mendy, Dhanachandra
Singh, Justin Stephen, Lalmangaihsanga Ralte, Mehrajuddin Wadoo.

Midfielders: Raphael Augusto, Bruno Pelissari, Dhanapal Ganesh, Elano, Godwin Franco, Harmanjot Khabra, Thoi Singh, Manuele Blasi, Zakeer Mundampara.

Forwards: Balwant Singh, Fikru Teferra, Jayesh Rane, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Stiven Mendoza.