Top 5 Overseas Players of the ISL 2021-22 season
The 2021-22 edition of the Indian Super League unearthed many Indian superstars who are expected to serve the nation well in the years to come. However, its glamour would not have been the same, had it not been for the enormously talented foreign players each team had in their ranks.
The likes of Bartholomew Ogbeche, Adrian Luna and Greg Stewart added to the glitz of the competition with their scintillating performances. Let’s check out the top five foreign players of the season:
#5 Peter Hartley
After a decent first season, Peter Hartley led Jamshedpur to their maiden silverware in ISL 2021-22 as he guided the Red Miners to the glorious ISL League Winners’ Shield. He made 39 tackles and 23 interceptions in his 20 appearances.
However, what was far more important is the Englishman’s defensive work, as Jamshedpur kept six clean sheets with Hartley in the starting XI – against Odisha, Bengaluru, East Bengal, Goa, Kerala Blasters, Hyderabad, and ATK Mohun Bagan. The 33-year-old central defender also scored three goals – against East Bengal, Odisha and Hyderabad.
#4 Marko Leskovic
Marko Leskovic was solid as a rock at the back for Kerala Blasters
While Hartley hit the ground running in his second season, Marko Leskovic established himself as a rock in the back in what was his first-ever campaign in Indian football. The Croatian central defender made the second-highest number of interceptions by a Kerala Blasters player – 36 in 21 matches.
He also helped the Tuskers keep seven clean sheets – four of which came against Chennaiyin and Jamshedpur itself, while the 30-year-old was also seen at his best against NorthEast United, Mumbai City, and Hyderabad.
#3 Adrian Luna
While Leskovic kept attackers at bay for Kerala Blasters, Adrian Luna ensured endless attacks on the opposition’s backline with silky footwork and tireless work ethic. Despite being a winger, the Uruguayan superstar had the most touches (1326) and also played the most passes (945) for Ivan Vukomanovic’s team.
Luna also had thirteen goal contributions, coming in the form of six goals and seven assists. He scored twice and assisted once against ATK Mohun Bagan and Chennaiyin, whilst he also got a goal and an assist against Goa. Luna’s other goals came against Jamshedpur, whereas the 29-year-old got four assists across two meetings against Odisha.
#2 Bartholomew Ogbeche
Bartholomew Ogbeche won the Golden Boot with 18 goals
Bartholomew Ogbeche could be nicknamed ‘Midas’, for whatever the Nigerian forward is doing is turning out to be worth in gold. He earned the Golden Boot with 18 goals, helped Hyderabad lift the title and also became the highest-ever goal-scorer in Indian football.
Ogbeche scored four goals each against East Bengal and NorthEast United, whilst he found the back of the net twice against three teams – ATK Mohun Bagan., Goa and Odisha. The 37-year-old scored one goal each against Mumbai City, Jamshedpur, Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru, while his solitary assist came against the Gaurs.
#1 Greg Stewart
Jamshedpur signed former Rangers player Greg Stewart with a lot of expectations, and the Scotsman did brilliantly to prove why he was a part of Steven Gerrard’s title-winning side. He scored ten goals and assisted as many for Owen Coyle’s team.
He scored thrice each against Odisha and Kerala Blasters, twice against Mumbai City, and once against Hyderabad and NorthEast United. As for his assists, Stewart got three against the Kalinga Warriors, two against Goa, and the Highlanders, and one each against Mumbai City, East Bengal, and Chennaiyin.