Superstars of ISL who made 2019 their own
Last-minute goals, first-time champions, strong performances from the tournament’s big names - the Indian Super League (ISL) 2019 had it all! The past 12 months have been momentous for clubs as well as individual players with each accomplishing personal milestones on the road.
Here we take a look at the top performers in the ISL in 2019, who definitely deserve the ‘Superstar’ tag.
Most Goals - FERRAN COROMINAS
FC Goa were brilliant in the 2018-19 season of the ISL, making it to their second final in four seasons. And a bulk of the credit for their run must go to forward Ferran Corominas, better known simply as ‘Coro’. Playing as the solitary striker in FC Goa’s dynamic 4-2-3-1 formation, the Spaniard benefitted from Sergio Lobera’s attacking football. He scored 13 goals in 2019, averaging almost a goal in every game. Apart from scoring the most goals, the 36-year-old also created the most chances in 2019, eclipsing the likes of Sunil Chhetri and Ashique Kuruniyan.
Most Assists - BRANDON FERNANDES
2019 was well and truly a year when young Goan playmaker Brandon Fernandes came into his own. From getting that maiden Indian call-up to guiding FC Goa to the finals, Fernandes has been in the thick of things in the past 12 months. The 25-year-old notched up seven assists in 2019, more than any other player for that year and has made a good start to the 2019-20 ISL season, nabbing five assists to date.
Most Saves - KAMALJIT SINGH
The 23-year-old shot-stopper Kamaljit Singh was very much a second-choice keeper when he first joined FC Pune City in 2017. The last 12 months however he managed to become a first choice at the club, alongside captaining Hyderabad FC in the 2019-20 season under head coach Phil Brown. Singh repaid the faith put on him by Brown with great diligence, putting in top performances week after week in the ISL. He made 67 saves for his club in 2019. He has continued to shine in the 2019-20 season as well and currently top the ‘Saves’ list.
Most Clean Sheets - GURPREET SINGH SANDHU
India’s first-choice goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu lived up to his lofty expectations in the 2018-19 ISL season, where his assured keeping and assertiveness shepherded Bengaluru FC to their first-ever title. The lanky shot-stopper managed 11 clean sheets for his club in the last calendar year, more than any other ISL goalkeeper. Sandhu also performed admirably when playing for the Blue Tigers, with the highlight being the goalless draw away to Asian champions, Qatar.
Most Successful Tackles - AHMED JAHOUH
Moroccan defensive midfielder, Ahmed Jahouh has been pivotal to FC Goa’s play in the past two seasons. Sitting ahead of the back four, Jahouh has acted as a screen for his club, thwarting the opposition attackers and enabling FC Goa to play their free-flowing football. Jahouh recorded the most successful tackles in 2019, with 86 of his precisely timed slides managing to win back the ball for his team. It was this accurate tackling that helped Goa to reach the finals of 2019, and make a good start to the 2019-20 Indian Super League season as well.
Feature Image courtesy: Twitter / @FCGoaOfficial