ISL: Chennaiyin FC's top five best all-time foreign players

The two-time ISL champions have had quite a few big names play for them over the years.

Founded in 2014, Chennaiyin FC are one of the most supported clubs in the Indian Super League. The Marina Machans have conquered the league twice in ten seasons and have given their supporters countless memories over the years. 

Quite a few talented players have donned the Chennaiyin jersey and have gone on to become fan favorites. A few names arrived with a lot of hype and lived up to the expectations while the others were unknown entities who went on to become household names. 

While it is not easy to make a list, here are the five best all-time foreign players for Chennaiyin FC:

5. Rafael Crivellaro 

The attacking midfielder started his journey with Chennaiyin FC in 2019-20 and was part of the squad one way or the other until 2024. Crivellaro scored 14 goals and provided 16 assists in 56 appearances for the Marina Machans in all competitions. 

The Brazilian peaked under Owen Coyle in the 2019-20 season as Chennaiyin FC reached the final, eventually losing to ATK. If not for constant injuries, Crivellaro would certainly have had an even bigger impact on the club.

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4. Mailson Alves

The centre-back first signed for Chennaiyin FC in 2015 under Marco Materrazzi. Under the Italian tactician, Mailson played every game and helped his side win their first ISL title. 

After spending a year at Northeast United, Mailson returned to the Marina Machans in ISL 2017-18, this time, winning the ISL title with John Gregory. His two goals at the Kanteerava Stadium were worth their weight in gold as Chennaiyin FC won the trophy on their rival’s turf. 

Overall, Mailson Alves featured 65 times for Chennaiyin FC, winning two ISL titles, and scoring eight goals for the club.

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3. Raphael Augusto 

Best known for his dribbling, Raphael Augusto was one of the brightest stars in the ISL during his prime. Having joined Chennaiyin FC in 2015, the Brazilian soon became a fan favourite at the club, going on to play 69 games for the Marina Machans and winning two ISL titles. 

In his four seasons with Chennaiyin, Augusto notched six assists and seven goals, including the winner in the ISL 2017-18 final. His move to arch-rivals Bengaluru FC in 2020 upset the clubs’ faithful, leaving a sour taste in their mouths. However, without a doubt, he is still one of the most popular players to have plied their trade for Chennaiyin FC. 

2. Elano Blumer

The fourth Brazilian on the list, Elano Blumer is arguably the greatest “marquee player” in the history of the ISL. The Samba superstar played two seasons with Chennaiyin FC, winning the ISL Golden Boot in 2014 and leading the club to their first ISL title in 2015.  

Elano played a total of 26 games for Chennaiyin FC, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists to his teammates. Though his output reduced, the Brazilian’s role as a captain in the 2015 ISL season was quite important in guiding the club to silverware.

1. Stiven Mendoza

Stiven Mendoza joined Chennaiyin FC in their inaugural season and scored four goals. However, an injury cut short his season. The Colombian, however, bounced back in 2015 and became probably the biggest success story of the Indian Super League.

In the 2015 ISL season, Mendoza was on another level, scoring 13 goals and helping Chennaiyin FC win their first ISL title. On a personal note, the iconic number 14 won both the ISL Golden Ball and the ISL Golden Boot that season, becoming the only player to achieve the feat to this date. 

Before the start of every ISL season, there is always one question in every Chennaiyin supporter’s mind. Will Mendoza ever return to their club? At 32, there is surely no dearth of time for the striker to come home before he finishes his career.

Will we ever see Mendoza back in Chennaiyin FC colors? Let us know your thoughts.

Honorable Mentions: Henrique Sereno and Bernard Mendy are also etched into the hearts of Chennaiyin fans and are two of the greatest players to lace their boots for the club.

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