How should Chennaiyin FC line up in ISL 2026-27 season?
Chennaiyin FC have signed Ramon Tanque on loan to lead their attack in the 2026-27 season
Two-time Indian Super League (ISL) champions Chennaiyin FC had a campaign to forget in the 2026 season as they finished 13th in the points table. Clifford Miranda’s side picked up just two wins and finished the campaign with 9 points, surviving a relegation scare.
Fast forward to September 2026, CFC have had significant changes to their squad. While Clifford Miranda retained his position as the head coach, the likes of Farukh Choudhary, Alberto Noguera, Daniel Chima Chukwu, and Pritam Kotal have all been let go.
Chennaiyin FC have gone on to sign Nuno Reis, Madih Talal, Brison Fernandes, and others with ISL experience alongside new foreign faces like Emmanuel Imanishimwe and Ramon Tanque.
Here is how Chennaiyin FC could line-up in the 2026-27 Indian Super League season.
Chennaiyin FC’s possible line-up
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Formation: 4-2-3-1
Goalkeeper: Mohammed Nawaz
Mohammad Nawaz was probably the only player who justified his selection in the Chennaiyin FC lineup last season. The 26-year-old made 39 saves and kept 3 clean sheets in 13 games. Nawaz acted as a sweeper-keeper at times as well, helping Clifford Miranda play his possession-based style that is built from the back.
Left-back: Muhammed Saheef
Chennaiyin FC completed the summer signing of the 23-year-old to bolster their left-back position. Saheef represented Kerala Blasters over the last two seasons and played a major part in the Blasters’ late surge up the points table under Ashley Westwood.
Vignesh Dakshinamurthy is another option for CFC in this position; however, the player has faced fitness issues in recent seasons. If Vignesh stays fit, he could be the experienced option the left-back position needs.
Centre back: Nuno Reis
Chennaiyin FC let go of Elsinho and Eduardo Kau and have gone on to sign Nuno Reis as their centre-back option. Nuno Reis made his ISL debut with Mumbai City last season, and the Portuguese was ever-present in the Islanders’ backline, making 110 defensive contributions in 13 games.
Aside from the defensive aspect, Nuno Reis will also be the captain and the experienced leader of the team, something CFC desperately needs in this transition period. We all know what happened the last time Chennaiyin FC had a Portuguese centre-back and captain in Henrique Sereno, don’t we?
Rwanda international Emmanuel Imanishimwe would be the other foreign centre-back option for Marina Machans.
Also Read: FC Goa vs Chennaiyin FC: Key Player Battles to watch out for in ISL 2026-27 opener
Centreback: Dippendu Biswas
The other centre-back position would be a toss-up between PC Laldinpuia and Dippendu Biswas. The former has been with Chennaiyin FC for the last two seasons, whereas Biswas was recruited over the summer to replace the outgoing Pritam Kotal.
Dippendu Biswas was part of the Mohun Bagan SG setup for the last three seasons. He played 14 games in the Mariners’ ISL winning campaign in 2024-2025; however, he was not utilised in the 2025-26 ISL season. The 23-year-old will be hungry for game time and will be eager to prove his worth in the league this time around.
Rightback: Namgyal Bhutia
Chennaiyin FC signed Namgyal Bhutia from their Southern rivals, Bengaluru FC, over the summer. The 27-year-old was part of the BFC setup since 2021, and he made 60 appearances for the Blues’ senior team in all competitions.
The right-back position is one where Chennaiyin FC seem to be lacking depth; hence, Bhutia’s form and fitness could play a major part in the Marina Machans’ hopes of fighting for silverware this season.
Defensive midfielder: Ayush Chhetri
Ayush Chhetri was one of the most important players in FC Goa’s midfield over the last four seasons. The 23-year-old has become a calm and experienced player and has also represented the Indian football team. Hence, it instantly boosted the morale of the fans when Ayush was announced as a Chennaiyin player in July.
Ayush made 88 appearances for FC Goa, also representing the club in the AFC Champions League Two last season. Jiteshwor Singh and Glan Martins would be the other options for CFC in this position.
Central midfielder: Nikola Stojanovic
The 31-year-old central midfielder made the move from Jamshedpur FC to Chennaiyin FC over the summer. Nikola Stojanovic brings with him a wealth of experience in Indian football, as he has also represented Mohammedan SC, Gokulam Kerala, and Inter Kashi in the I-League.
Aside from creating chances, Stojanovic does not shy away from taking shots and this will further help CFC diversify their attacking threats.
Attacking midfielder: Madih Talal
Madih Talal is another ex-Jamshedpur FC player who made the move to the two-time ISL champions in July. The Frenchman burst onto the scene with a prolific 2023-24 season with Punjab FC. However, his career has since been injury-riddled with East Bengal and Jamshedpur FC.
If Talal manages to keep himself fit for the majority of the season, he could very well be challenging for the ISL Golden Ball given his prowess.
Left wing: Brison Fernandes
Brison Fernandes grew into one of the best Indian wingers under Manolo Marquez at FC Goa. Over the last two seasons, the 25-year-old scored 8 goals and assisted four times in the ISL. Brison was also awarded his Indian debut courtesy of his form in front of goal.
Having now moved to Chennaiyin FC, Brison should be starting on the left wing. One thing CFC has lacked over the years is not having goalscoring wingers, and the Goan player could be the missing piece in the jigsaw.
Right wing: Irfan Yadwad
Moving from one Goan player to another, Irfan Yadwad has become a fan favourite among Chennaiyin supporters courtesy of his work rate on the pitch. Irfan has shown glimpses of brilliance, but consistency is something that is still alluding to him.
Given his versatility, Irfan can start anywhere in Chennai’s attack. If the Indian international has the physicality and the pace to become the next big thing in Indian football, one good season in front of goal could boost his confidence and take him to the next level.
Centre-forward: Ramon Tanque
Ramon Tanque has joined Chennaiyin FC on a one-season loan from Indonesian club Perib Bandung. The striker helped his side win the Indonesian Super League with 8 goals in 28 games. In the 2024-25 season, the Brazilian played for Cambodian club Visakha, where he scored 21 goals in 28 games.
Given that CFC managed to score just 9 goals in 13 ISL games last season, Ramon’s involvement and goalscoring ability will be vital for the club to have a decent finish in the 2025-26 ISL season.
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