Prominent stars from ISL 2017-18: Where are they now?

The fourth edition of the competition had some of the best individual players.

The Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 season was memorable for many reasons. The league expanded from eight to 10 teams with the inclusion of Jamshedpur FC and Bengaluru FC. The competition got fierce thanks to the Blues, who were already heavyweights in the Indian football sphere. Like every other, this season also saw many prominent ISL stars.

The quality of foreign players was also incredible. Figures like Dimitar Berbatov, Wes Brown, Miku, Marcelinho and more plied their trade in the league that season. These players showed some of the best football the ISL has seen yet.

However, it is interesting to observe the journey of some of the best performing players from that season. Some of them managed to stay in the league, while others left to explore other opportunities. Here is a look at some of the most prominent stars from ISL 2017-18 and where they are now:

Robbie Keane (ATK)

Robbie Keane was a player-manager at ATK for the 2017-18 season. He was handed the managerial role after Teddy Sheringham and Ashley Westwood could not make their mark with the club. The former Tottenham Hotspur player joined the Kolkata-based club after having played for MLS club LA Galaxy. 

The forward went on to score six goals in nine matches. He decided to not continue with the club and left by the end of the season. Subsequently, he had two short stints with the Ireland national team and Middlesbrough as an assistant manager. He does not have any assignments right now.

Wes Brown (Kerala Blasters)

Wes Brown joined Kerala Blasters ahead of the 2017-18 campaign. The decorated former Manchester United defender played 14 games in the ISL and also scored one goal for the Yellow Army.

However, it was not enough to guide the team to the playoffs. Wes Brown decided to hang up his boots once his contract with the Indian outfit ran out.

Dimitar Berbatov (Kerala Blasters)

Dimitar Berbatov joined his former teammate Wes Brown at Kerala Blasters during the 2017-18 season. The technical superiority of his game was on full display in the ISL, which mesmerized KBFC fans and neutrals alike. However, he could not turn his performances into goals, scoring only once in nine matches. 

He was very vocal about having to play under the peculiar tactics of David James. The Bulgarian retired from professional football post that season. The striker was recently hired as the forward coach at Bulgarian club FK Etar.

Tom Thorpe (ATK)

Tom Thorpe was a defender from England, signed by Teddy Sheringham at ATK ahead of the ISL 2017-18 season. A product of the youth academy of Manchester United, the centre-back played 11 matches for the side and also scored a goal in the process. Despite having a decent debut season in the ISL, Thorpe would not continue with the outfit.

After the end of the campaign, Thorpe made the decision to retire as a professional. He has not been involved with any club in any capacity since. 

Miku (Bengaluru FC)

Nicolás Ladislao Fedor Flores, aka Miku, joined Bengaluru FC ahead of their debut ISL campaign from Rayo Vallecano. The forward had an incredible impact at the club, scoring 15 goals in his first season. The Venezuelan international spent another season at Bengaluru during the 2018-19 term and helped the side lift the ISL title. He scored five goals and provided four assists in the league that season. 

Miku joined Omonia Nicosia in August 2019, a team that plays in Cyprus. The 35-year-old is currently playing for Spanish club Deportivo La Coruna.

Raphael Augusto (Chennaiyin FC)

Raphael Augusto was a sensational signing for Chennaiyin FC. He helped the team win the league in 2015. After returning from a loan period at Brazilian club Bangu AC, he helped them win the league title again in the 2017-18 season. The midfielder played 18 matches, scoring three goals and making one assist. He is one of the few foreign players who have won the ISL twice. 

Augusto joined Bengaluru FC ahead of the 2019/20 season, but injuries prevented him from performing well for the Blues. Abahani Dhaka, a club from Bangladesh signed Raphael Augusto in November 2020. 

Marcelinho (FC Pune City)

Marcelinho joined FC Pune City ahead of ISL 2017-18, after playing his debut season with the Delhi Dynamos. The Brazilian carried his sensational form from the previous year, where he won the Golden Boot award. Marcelinho scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 17 matches for the outfit. 

The forward then joined Hyderabad FC in September 2019 and later Odisha FC ahead of the 2020/21 season. ATK Mohun Bagan snapped up the attacker in January 2021 on a loan swap with Brad Inman.

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