Retained as head coach for ISL season two, Brazilian icon Zico’s influence on FC Goa is visible in a number of domestic players retained and other locals signed from the open market during ISL 2015.
FCG has the highest number of Indians (six retained, five signed) going into the players draft, resulting in the minimum purse of Rs. 2.18 crore available from the Rs. 5.50 crore each franchise can spend.
Chennaiyin FC, FC Pune City and Kerala Blasters FC also retained the maximum allowed six domestic players, reflecting continuity in team management thinking and trust in local hands.
List of Indians retained or signed from open market:
ATK: Players retained: Arnab Kumar Mondal; Baljit Sahni; Denzil Franco; Nallapan Mohanraj. Signed from open market: Nadong Bhutia; Jewel Raja; Sushil Kumar Singh; Syed Rahim Nabi; Clifford Miranda.
Chennaiyin FC: Retained: Jayesh Rane; Abhishek Das; Harmanjot Singh Khabra; Jeje Lalpekhula; Dhanachandra Singh; Balwant Singh.
Open: Godwin Franco; Mehrajuddin Wadoo.
Delhi Dyamos: Retained: Francis Fernandes; Anwar Ali; Syhlo Malsawmtluanga; Robert Lathlamuana; Souvik Chakraborty. Open: Subhashish Roy Chowdhury; Seiminlen Doungel.
FC Goa: Retained: Romeo Fernandes; Mandar Rao Desai; Laxmikant Kattimani; Narayan Das; Debadrata Roy; Bikramjit Singh. Open: Pronay Halder; C.S. Sabeeth; Denson Devadas; Joaquim Abranches; Raju Gaikwad).
FC Pune City:Retained: Lenny Rodrigues; Arindham Bhattacharya; Ravanan Dharmaraj; Israil Gurung; Pritam Kotal; Manish Maithani. Open: Gourmangi Singh.
Kerala Blasters: Retained: Sandesh Jhingan; Ishfaq Ahmed;Mehatab Hossain; Gurwinder Singh; Saumik Dey; Sandip Nandy. Open: Mohammed Rafi; Nirmal Chettri; Ramandeep Singh.
Mumbai:Retained: Subrata Paul; Subhash Singam Singh; Lalrindika Ralte. Open : Gabriel Fernandes; Kingshuk Debnath; Rowlin Rodrigues.
North-East Union FC:Retained: Rehnesh; Aiborlang Khongjee; Robin Gurung; Boithang Haokip; Alen Deory. Open: Sanju Pradhan; Holicharn Narzary.