Chennaiyin FC has announced the 35-man squad for the upcoming season of the Hero Indian Super League. Brazilian footballer Rafael Crivellaro has been left out of the squad while Nasser El Khayati joins the club as a seventh foreign player.
Khayati will team up with a foreign contingent of vice-captain Fallou Diagne, Iranian defender Vafa Hakhamaneshi, German midfielder Julius Duker and attackers Kwame Karikari and Petar Sliskovic from Ghana and Croatia respectively.
Petar Sliskovic had top-scored in the Durand Cup for the Marina Machans with three goals and he will look to continue his good show. Anirudh Thapa will lead the team in the upcoming season. Thapa had scored two goals and assisted three in the tournament.
The two-time champions have roped in players like Jijo Francis, Jockson Dhas, Sourav Das, Ajith Kumar, and Gurmukh Singh and they all will look to add value to the team. The Marina Machans have also appointed Thomas Brdaric as their new head coach and he will look to get the best out of his players.
Chennaiyin FC could not qualify for the semifinal stages in the previous season as they only managed five wins in their 20 league stage matches. Thus, they finished at eighth place in the points table and they will be determined to turn the tables in the next season.
Chennaiyin FC will kick off their ISL 2022-23 campaign against ATK Mohun Bagan on 10th October at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Chennaiyin FC squad for ISL 2022-23
Goalkeepers: Debjit Majumder, Samik Mitra, Devansh Dabas, Lovepreet Singh.
Defenders: Narayan Das, Aakash Sangwan, Vafa Hakhamaneshi, Fallou Diagne, Gurmukh Singh, Md. Sajid Dhot, Ajith Kumar, Monotosh Chakladar, Md. Aqib.
Midfielders: Nasser El Khayati, Jiteshwor Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Edwin Vanspaul, Julius Duker, Sajal Bag, Chris White, Mohammed Rafique, Sourav Das, Suhail Pasha
Forwards: Ninthoi Meetei, Vincy Barretto, Rahim Ali, Romario Jesuraj, Petar Sliskovic, Kwame Karikari, Prasanth Karuthadathkuni, Jockson Dhas, Senthamizh, Jobby Justin, Gulab Singh, Mohamed Liyaakath.
