Why Aakash Sangwan deserved his Indian Football Team call-up?

Aakash Sangwan’s crossing ability might make him a good fit for the Blue Tigers.

The Indian national team will likely see a new name in their midst when they line up against Vietnam on 12th October as Aakash Sangwan has been named among the 26 probables for the Blue Tigers. 

The 28-year-old currently plies his trade with FC Goa. Primarily a left-back, Sangwan has had a meteoric rise in the last three seasons in the Indian Super League. But does the former Chennaiyin FC player deserve a spot in the Indian national team?

Aakash Sangwan’s early days

Born in Haryana, Sangwan started his football career in the Minerva Punjab academy before making his I-League debut for the club in the 2016-17 season and then winning the competition in the 2017-18 season. Since then, the player also represented Churchill Brothers and Roundglass Punjab FC, making a total of 59 appearances in the I-League. 

Aakash Sangwan’s ISL journey

Owing to his good form, two-time ISL champions Chennaiyin FC signed Aakash Sangwan before the 2022-23 season. With the Marina Machans, the left-back became a fixture in the starting eleven under both Thomas Bradaric and Owen Coyle. 

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Aakash Sangwan played a total of 48 games in two seasons for Chennaiyin FC, scoring 2 goals and providing 10 assists to his teammates. One of the highlights in Sangwan’s Chennaiyin career came in the 2023-24 season as he scored an Olympic goal in the 2-1 win over Northeast United. 

The 28-year-old’s form didn’t go unnoticed as FC Goa snapped up the player before the 2024/25 season. With the Gaurs, Sangwan has played three ISL games so far and it seems that he has already overtaken the talented Jay Gupta as Manolo Marquez’s preferred left-back option at FC Goa. 

Is Aakash Sangwan the right pick for the Indian football team?

With Manolo Marquez managing both FC Goa and the Indian national team at the moment, this seems the right time to give Aakash Sangwan a chance. Subhasish Bose and Roshan Singh Naorem are the other left-back options named among the probables but Sangwan might have a slight edge.

The Spanish head coach is impressed with Sangwan and among the options, the 28-year-old will probably be the best suited to help the Indian football in an attacking sense as the FC Goa star is no stranger to providing pinpoint crosses and taking set pieces.

Sangwan has already amassed six assists in his Indian Super League career so far. With the Indian football team currently struggling to score goals and create opportunities, the former Chennaiyin FC player might be the right player to take the left-back position against Vietnam.

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