Emami East Bengal FC has confirmed the signing of talented India U-23 player Mark Zothanpuia to a three-year contract that will see him stay with the club until the end of the 2026-27 season. It is his versatility of playing in both midfield and defense that made East Bengal interested in signing him.
Vibhash Vardhan Agarwal of the Emami Group seemed too excited about the signing: “Mark happens to be one of the most versatile young players in India and is a valuable addition to our squad. He has a bright future ahead of him, and we’ll nurture him to bring out his best abilities.”
Head Coach Carles Cuadrat further added to it with respect to Zothanpuia: “Mark is a young player with excellent qualities. His versatility will enable us to field him in different roles to support the team. He had a respectable amount of ISL experience and joined Emami East Bengal at the correct phase of his career to reach higher as a player. The correct environment will be provided to ensure his development and success.
Zothanpuia is from Mizoram, and his football career began as part of the youth ranks in FC Pune City before moving to Hyderabad FC’s reserve team. He was promoted to Hyderabad FC’s first team in the 2020-21 season.
The 22-year-old midfielder came into the fray in the last season, with several starts for Hyderabad FC and gradually becoming integral to the team. He was also a part of Hyderabad FC’s ISL Cup-winning squad in the 2021-22 season.
Zothanpuia’s stats from the last season are a testament to his performances on the pitch. He clocked 1,971 minutes in 24 matches – 18 of them in the Indian Super League, three in the Kalinga Super Cup, and three in the Durand Cup. Though essentially a midfielder, his versatility also fits him well as a left-back, which got him into the India U-23 team that played friendlies against Malaysia in March.
Throughout the 2023-24 ISL season, Zothanpuia demonstrated his versatility in being cast several times in each position: left back, left wing-back, defensive midfielder, and center back. His strong stats include one assist, an 81% passing accuracy, 23 key passes, 73 won duels, 95 recoveries, 20 interceptions, 26 clearances, and the creation of 24 chances in 18 appearances.
While expressing his views on coming to Emami East Bengal FC, Zothanpuia beamed with excitement, “It is a dream for any young Indian player to play for a big club like East Bengal. Kolkata is the Mecca of Indian football, and I simply can’t wait for the amazing experience of playing in front of the East Bengal fans. I am grateful to Coach Carles and the Emami East Bengal management for having faith in me.”.
