Indian Super League buzzing with reports of Carlos arrival

Roberto Carlos​

'MUMBAI (Reuters): Amid talks of former Brazil and Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos joining the Delhi team as marquee manager, the second season of the Indian Super League is kicking up the same kind of buzz that preceded the inaugural edition of the tournament.

The eight-team league kicked off with a rousing start last year with Brazilian Zico headlining the managers’ list and marquee players including Italian duo Alessandro Del Piero and Marco Materazzi, and Frenchman Nicholas Anelka.

While Zico has returned for his second year at the helm of FC Goa, who also signed Carlos’ 2002 World Cup-winning teammate and former Bayern Munich defender Lucio as their marquee player, the Mumbai team retained Anelka as player-cum-coach.

Carlos, who was part of the Brazilian World Cup squads that reached the 1998 final and that won the tournament in 2002, is expected to replace Dutchman Harm van Veldhoven, under whom Delhi finished at fifth spot last year.

The Delhi team refused to confirm Carlos’ signing yet the deadline for registering the coaches of the ISL teams passed on Wednesday.

Former India coach Armando Colaco welcomed the arrival of Carlos, who was the manager of Turkish side Akhisar Belediyespor last season.

“Anybody who comes from a higher level of football has a lot to offer to India,” Colaco told Reuters.

“He has played under the best coaches at Real Madrid and Brazil and will be able to pass on valuable knowledge here.

“It is now up to the Indian players and coaches to grasp on to his knowledge.”

The 62-year-old Zico, who was an outstanding creator and goal scorer for Brazil and played in the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups, has also coached in Brazil, Japan, Turkey, Russia, Greece, Iraq and Qatar.

Carlos was considered one of the best left-backs of his generation and was also famous for his speedy overlaps and curling free kicks.

However, not everyone is convinced Carlos the manager will have the same impact in promoting the game in India as he could have done as a player for a nation ranked 141 by FIFA.

“Apart from initial excitement it will have no long-standing impact on Indian football,” soccer writer Jaydeep Basu told Reuters.

“He’s not coming on a long-term coaching role and he won’t be seen in action on the field.

“People initially will be at the ground to see him but the craze will eventually faze out.”

Anelka returns to Mumbai as player-manager

Nicolas Anelka

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Former France and Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka will return to Mumbai City FC as the team’s marquee player-manager for the second season of the Indian Super League (ISL), the club announced on Friday.

The 36-year-old, who scored two goals for Mumbai in the inaugural edition of the eight-team league last year, took on a similar dual role in 2012 for Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.

“I would like to say thank you to the Mumbai City FC staff for giving me the opportunity to coach the club,” Anelka, who has played for a host of English Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, said in a statement.

“We are all very excited to start this new season. I’m personally very eager to take on this new role for the club and put a strong competitive team on the pitch,” added the well-travelled Frenchman.

Owned by, among others, Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor, Mumbai finished seventh last year.

“I’m thrilled to have Nicolas as our marquee player-cum-manager,” Kapoor said.

“Last year, he impressed us all with his tactical knowledge and excellent motivational skills. It’s a role both parties have been discussing for a couple of months and it’s been a great start. We will provide Nicolas all the support required to try and win the league this year.”

Brazil great Zico coaches the Goa franchise of the ISL, while compatriot and former Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos is expected to take charge of the Delhi team for the second season which starts on Oct. 3.