Five players with most ISL appearances for Kerala Blasters

These stars gave engrained their names in Blasters' history with record number of matches for the club.

Kerala Blasters undoubtedly have one of the biggest fan bases in India. The three-time finalists have drawn interest from players in and around the world. But with a huge fan following comes huge fan pressure - they demand the best.

Kerala Blasters have always been the dream club for a lot of young footballers and foreigners alike. However, establishing themselves as long-timers in the club is no easy task. Only a few have been fortunate to meet the criteria to have a long stint with the club.

On that note, let's take a look at the top five players with most appearances for Kerala Blasters.

 5. Jessel Carneiro - 49

The Goan left-back and current captain of Kerala Blasters is one of the late bloomers in the Indian Super League (ISL). He recorded 49 appearances in the ISL and 52 appearances for Kerala Blasters across all competitions. Having spent the majority of his career playing for the local clubs in Goa, Jessel was a revelation by Kerala Blasters.

Jessel came in as a back-up in the left-back position during Eelco Shattorie's regime back in 2019. An injury crisis in the defensive third handed Jessel plenty of game-time in his debut season. Moreover, his impeccable defensive skills combined with crossing abilities tend to become a boon for the club as well. He finished the 2019-20 season as the fan favourite, registering five assists to his name.

He missed most of the matches in the 2021-22 season owing to a shoulder injury but his side managed to reach the finals of the tournament devoid of him. Currently, the 32-year-old club captain is playing his third season in the ISL and has appeared five times (all the games) for the club so far.

4. Jeakson Singh - 53

India's one and only FIFA World Cup goal-scorer is one of Kerala Blasters' irreplaceable player in the squad. The midfielder joined the Blasters in 2018 and has made 53 appearances in the ISL and a grand total of 56 outings for the club across all competitions so far.

The talented defensive midfielder also aided his team by playing as a makeshift centre-back on some occasions. Jeakson and Puitea built a strong pivot and helped the club in countless matches starting from the previous season.

3. Prasanth K - 61

The versatile Kerala winger started creating an impression during his youth days at Kerala Blasters. Prasanth joined the club in 2016. He succeeded CK Vineeth in the wing for the Blasters.

One of his notable performances was against La Liga side Girona FC in a pre-season friendly.

Prasanth donned the classic Yellow kit from 2016 to 2022 before making a switch to Chennaiyin FC this season. He was one of the heavily criticized players during his time at Kerala Blasters and tallied 61 appearances in the ISL for the club.

Speed and fitness were the traits Prasanth possessed. He handled multiple roles in the pitch which include right-wing, left-wing, right midfield, and right-back positions. He scored a total of two goals and assisted thrice in his whole KBFC career.

2. Sandesh Jhingan - 76

From being a young kid from Punjab to becoming one of Kerala Blasters' most successful defenders, Sandesh Jhingan has come a long way. Jhingan is known for his ball-clearing abilities and inch-perfect tackles. He was one of the top findings of KBFC. The defender won the "Emerging Player of the Year Award" in the inaugural season of the ISL.

He donned the yellow crest from 2014 to 2020 and made 76 appearances for the club. In 2020, to the surprise of many, Jhingan made a shocking exit from KBFC to join Kolkata giants ATK Mohun Bagan. The Arjuna awardee signed for Bengaluru FC ahead of this season and is playing an integral part in Simon Grayson's squad.

1. Sahal Abdul Samad - 77

Sahal is among the top revelations by Kerala Blasters in the ISL. He came up from the ranks of their reserves side. Upon joining KBFC's senior team in 2017, Sahal went onto illustrate a fairytale-like performance for the club. He is considered one of the best midfielders for both the club and the country.

Sahal made his debut in 2017, coming in as a substitute for legendary Dimitar Berbatov in the second half of a game. From there, his climb up the ladder was quick and progressive. He even bagged the "Emerging Player of the Year" accolade in the 2018-19 season.

This season, the match against NorthEast United marked his 77th appearance in the ISL for Kerala Blasters where he surpassed the record of Sandesh Jhingan to become the player with the highest outings for the Yellow Army. Furthermore, to add fire to the occasion, he scored a brace coming off from the bench and got back his club to winning ways.