ISL 2023-24 season review: Jamshedpur FC

Jamshedpur FC finished 11th in the league table

Jamshedpur FC became the third side to lift the coveted Hero ISL League Shield in the 2021-22 season under Owen Coyle. But the team has looked a shadow of its former self since then. It feels unfortunate to see the club with arguably the best game facilities in the country and a profound academy Tata Football Academy stand among the bottom clubs for consecutive seasons. 

This season’s performance is the worst in the club’s short history in terms of position on the table. The season slipped out of their hands before the season break when the team did everything right on the square pitch except putting that round thing in that rectangular box.

They made a valiant attempt to turn things around in the second half, but the lack of depth in the squad and suspension of key players haunted the side back. That being said, here is the season review for Jamshedpur FC in the Hero ISL 2023-24 season.

Fact Sheet

Games Played: 22

Won: 5

Lost: 11

Draw: 6

Goals For: 27

Goals Against: 32

Season Finished: 11th

Win %: 22.7%

Top Performers

Jeremy Manzorro

The Frenchman was unarguably the best player on the pitch whenever Jamshedpur FC walked out to play. Manzorro took his time to settle at the Furnace, and once he did his every touch and pass brought that smile and passion back on the face of the fans. He scored five goals and provided an assist.

Without him, the team looked pretty much clueless, and off the mark. He dictated the play from the middle of the park. 

Elsinho

Elsinho was the mainstay in the defence for Jamshedpur FC under Scott Cooper, if there was not him the numbers could have been worse. His versatility came in handy when he provided that freedom to Manzorro to play up the pitch by filling in as the single pivot under Khalid Jamil. 

The Brazilian’s defensive contributions cannot be measured in numbers, as we also need to take the individual errors from his co-commander and keeper into consideration. 

Imran Khan

In a tough season for the Men of Steel, the emergence of Imran Khan against big teams was inspiring for the fans. The hard-working lad scored two goals and provided as many assists in the game. He gained the trust of Scott Cooper early and was a regular starter in the team.

Under Khalid too, he was a crucial member of the eleven. Imran was livewire on the flanks and didn’t compromise with the defensive duties that come with playing out wide. He had a good season and it was acknowledged by National team coach Igor Stimac as well who called him for the National team camp in Odisha.

The underperformer of the season

Alen Stevanovic

Alen Stevanovic was disappointing on an individual level in an already below-par season for Jamshedpur FC. His performances lacked precision and impact. He was signed to be the main creative outlet in the attack with his defence-penetrating passing ability and smooth dribbles. But the Serbian could not produce any goal contribution to justify his place in the line-up and was eventually used as a substitute in the second half of the league. 

Jamshedpur FC expected him to be a figure like Greg Stewart but Stevanovic’s poor decision-making and inability to shoot from scoring positions made him look awful the whole season. He has a year left in his contract but it seems less likely for him to continue at the Furnace.

Stats

Appearances – 16

Goals – 0

Assists – 0

Key passes – 10

Shots – 15

Successful Dribble% – 43%

Special Mentions

Everyone looked to give up on the Men of Steel mid-season, and parting ways with head coach Scott Cooper made the aspired comeback unthinkable for the fans as well as the pundits. But the tables turned in no time when Khalid Jamil took over, and a lot of credit for it goes to the players. The youngsters Sanan Mohammed and Nikhil Barla thrived under him. PC Laldinpuia and Prateek Chowdhury led the defensive line confidently. The club’s all-time highest goal-scorer Daniel Chima deserves some praise for scoring out of nowhere in important games.

Top Performances

Hyderabad FC 0-5 Jamshedpur FC

Mumbai City FC 2-3 Jamshedpur FC

Punjab FC 0-4 Jamshedpur FC

Manager’s Report Card

Scott Cooper

Englishman Scott Cooper was brought in charge of the Jharkhand-based club on a two-year contract. The tactician got every piece at the right place with the options he had in the squad. But the lack of results put him in a situation where he didn’t deserve to be. But rightly said, football is not fair every day, and Scott Cooper eventually parted ways with the club over disagreements on player retention and transfer targets.

The Men of Steel won only two games under Scott, but along with the manager the club management can also be questioned for this poor tenure for various reasons, one of them being the non-retention of key domestic players. However, nothing can be taken away from the Coach’s poor team selection in important games.

Khalid Jamil

Jamshedpur FC’s campaign under Khalid Jamil was nothing short of a miraculous spell. Only if a few things fell into place for the Indian manager, the team could have made it to the play-offs. He instilled belief in the Red Miners’ camp, with powerful wins against highflying Mumbai City FC and Punjab FC with the same underperforming squad. Last minute win against East Bengal showed what this team was capable of if the players were used more efficiently. 

Khalid came in and resurrected a team that was low on esteem and had no assured hope. The club management wants to continue with the manager for the upcoming season as well and it will be interesting to see how the story unfolds.

Lessons to be learned

From being one of the most ruthless attacking sides in the league to looking clueless in the final third, the fall of Jamshedpur FC can’t be defied by terming it “another unlucky season”. Even if luck was on their side, a lot needs to be corrected to be among the sides competing for the title.

Firstly, Jamshedpur FC must have better recruitment plans for domestic players. The scouting team always ends up with quality overseas players, but when it comes to attracting good players from the domestic circuit they get their hands on the left-outs from other teams. 

While it may be tough for the fans this doesn’t look to happen as again the core of Indian players are rumoured to leave for other clubs. The club from the Chotanagpur region needs a revamp and with trust in Khalid at the helm the fortunes could turn in favour of the Men of Steel.

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