Who is Vibin Mohanan? Indian football team's new call-up

The 21-year-old is set to make his international debut under Manolo Marquez.

From grassroots to glory, Vibin Mohanan is living every football fan’s dream in his quest to conquer all the milestones of the beautiful game.

The young midfielder has so far laid down a steep trajectory for every aspiring footballer to look up to and learn from, a graph built on sweat drained in the pursuit of consistency and perseverance.

The journey has now reached a new milestone, as he has been called up for national duty by Indian National Football Team head coach Manolo Marquez for the upcoming international friendly against Malaysia.

Kerala Blasters have always been known for encouraging and nurturing domestic talent, making the most of the vast pool of potential in the region.

Rising through the ranks of the Kerala Blasters academy to reach professional football, Vibin Mohanan has justified his call-up to represent the Blue Tigers with his consistent performances in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season for the Blasters so far.

In their opening fixture of the season, the Blasters’ head coach Mikael Stahre placed his trust in the youngster, who was returning from an injury, to come on from the bench.

Since then, Vibin Mohanan has become an integral part of his tactical setup. The following is a scouting report on the talented midfielder, who Stahre has aptly described as ‘gifted’.

Career and Performances

Vibin Mohanan began his footballing journey at the Kerala Police Football Academy in 2012, at the age of nine, where he was mentored by the legendary I.M. Vijayan.

In 2017, he earned a spot in the Kerala Blasters U-15 team, marking his first association with the club, and represented them in the Hero Junior League.

Progressing through the academy, he was then loaned to Indian Arrows in 2020. Vibin made his first professional appearance in an I-League fixture against Churchill Brothers. He scored his debut goal in professional football against Real Kashmir and even captained the side during his loan stint.

After spending two seasons on loan, Vibin returned to Kerala Blasters in the 2022-23 season and made his debut for the side in the Durand Cup fixture against Sudeva Delhi FC.

His consistent performances in the Durand Cup, including an assist, helped him break into the first team. The then-head coach of the Blasters, Ivan Vukomanovic, was impressed with his game and handed him his Indian Super League debut in the same season.

On the international stage, he has represented the country at every level, from the U16s to the U23s. He was called up for India in May this year, but he had to withdraw due to personal reasons.

Playing Style

Vibin offers versatility in the middle of the park, though he is primarily a box-to-box midfielder. He has often been the heart of the Blasters’ midfield, particularly during Luna’s absence at the start of the season.

The lad has a lot of experience under his belt as a defensive midfielder playing in a deeper role, as well as a box-to-box midfielder who runs across the field. He can even switch into an attacking midfielder role, solely focusing on creativity up front. He is a complete midfielder, capable of operating in both single-pivot and double-pivot systems, with his malleability to any setup being key to his persona.

The youngster brings stability, creativity, and technique to the midfield. His precision passes, splitting the defence to find his teammates in behind, help to open up scoring opportunities from deep positions.

He is a past master in the making and possesses a collection of exquisite passes in his repertoire, especially his accurate long balls. His long balls precisely find the open men during counters and often help to switch the play across the wings.

During the attacks, Vibin occupies the open spaces, and his ability to win duels for the second ball often sets him up with scoring opportunities at the edge of the box.

His press-resistant dribbling is beneficial for any team in terms of both ball progression and controlling possession around the opposition’s box. His fluidity in attack, helps him to quickly adapt to any tactical setups.

Vibin’s ability to dictate the pace of the game is one of the defining features of his play. He reads the game so well and sets the rhythm while playing in deeper positions. Moreover, he is also committed to tracking back without leaving his defensive responsibilities behind, while deployed as a box-to-box midfielder.

Future Potential

There are no questions about the fact that Vibin Mohanan has immense potential. The Thrissur-born midfielder’s progress so far has been exponential and his performances in the last two seasons for the Blasters justify how consistent he has been in terms of growth and quality.

At just 21 years old, he has already made 40 official appearances for the Blasters, which is an impressive milestone.

Given the time and the right guidance, it is certain that Vibin Mohanan has everything needed to inscribe his name into Indian football history. However, it is still early days in his career, and a lot of hard work and continuous commitment are required for him to reach his full potential.

This call-up is certainly not the pinnacle of success he should aspire to on the international stage. The composure he showcases on the pitch should serve as the cornerstone, the very brick upon which he builds the foundation of his career.

Through tireless effort and careful refinement, the ‘gifted’ Vibin Mohanan will shine brightly for both the Tuskers and the Blue Tigers.

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