ISL 2020-21: A record-breaking season to remember

It was a simply outstanding campaign in the competition with history created on multiple occasions.

The 2020-21 edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) concluded on Saturday with Mumbai City FC beating ATK Mohun Bagan FC 2-1 in a high-octane final encounter at the Fatorda Stadium. Mumbai, ATKMB, FC Goa and NorthEast United made it to the playoffs this time and the latter two surrendered to the Islanders and Mariners respectively, across two legs.

ISL 2020-21 was different in many aspects when compared to the previous editions of the league. For starters, this was the first time that the league was conducted in a single state across just three venues. The ISL organizers were forced to make that decision keeping in mind the COVID-19-enforced restrictions and the safety of the players, staff and everyone associated with the teams.

The entire league was hence restricted to three bio-bubbles in Bambolim, Fatorda and Vasco – three different cities in the state of Goa. The ISL was also played entirely behind closed doors, which is another first for the league.

A lot of records were broken, while some new ones were made. For instance, the inclusion of SC East Bengal as the 11th team resulted in the league stage expanding to 110 matches, which set the record of the biggest league stage till now in the history of ISL. Today, Khel Now takes a look into all the records made this season in the league. Read on!

League Records

Most points in a season (Joint-record): Bengaluru FC had become the first team to notch 40 points in a single ISL season back in 2017-18. This time, the record was matched by both Mumbai City and ATK Mohun Bagan, who finished first and second respectively with 40 points in the league stage.

Most wins in total (FC Goa - 58): This season the Gaurs extended their own record of most wins across the ISL. Their wins' tally currently stands at a 58, which is a tad mind-boggling given how they are yet to win the league.

Fewest wins in a season (Joint-record): Five teams have managed to record just two victories across a whole season. After Chennaiyin and Kerala Blasters in 2018-19 and Hyderabad and NorthEast last season, Odisha FC joined the unfortunate clan in the recently concluded 2020-21 season.

Most defeats in total (Odisha FC - 49): The Dynamos' franchise which once operated from Delhi, were rebranded as Odisha FC and shifted to the coastal state last season. Today, the franchise holds the record of suffering the most defeats in the history of the Indian Super League.

Most draws in total (Kerala Blasters - 44): After yet another dismal campaign that consisted of eight draws in 20 games, Kerala Blasters have extended their record of most draws in the league.

Most draws in a season (Joint-record): Both Chennaiyin FC and Hyderabad FC forced a draw on 11 different occasions each this season, which hence gave them the joint-record of most stalemates in a single ISL campaign.

Longest unbeaten run in a season (FC Goa - 15): Goa conceded what was their last defeat of this season, in their seventh league stage game against Chennaiyin on December 19. Under Ferrando, they completed the rest of the league stage without losing a single game and later followed it up with two draws against Mumbai City in the playoffs.

Most goals conceded in a season (Odisha FC - 44): At the end of a tight race between Odisha and Kerala Blasters to concede more goals, it was the former who took an unassailable lead in the end following a 6-1 loss to Mumbai and a 6-5 win against East Bengal. The Juggernauts conceded 11 times across just these two games, taking their overall tally to 44 – an all-time ISL record.

Worst goal difference in a season (Odisha FC): Most defeats, fewest wins, most goals conceded – Odisha FC's performance this season has been downright disappointing, to say the least. This time, they also set the record of the worst goal difference in a season at -19.

Most goals scored in total (FC Goa - 236): A total of 236 goals have been scored by the Gaurs across seven editions of the ISL till date. 33 of them came in this season.

Most goals conceded in total (Odisha FC - 195): Odisha FC (formerly Delhi Dynamos) have conceded the most goals in the league's history. As mentioned already, they added significantly to this tally this season by conceding 44 times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fTTxv_rUVM

Highest scoring game in ISL history (6-5, Odisha vs East Bengal): Odisha FC and SC East Bengal scored 11 goals between them in a league stage game on February 27. The Juggernauts won by a narrow margin of one goal, as East Bengal scored five times in reply to their six.

Coaching Records

Most League Winners' Shields as head coach (Sergio Lobera - 2): Lobera won his second ISL League Winners' Shield this season with Mumbai City. The Shield is awarded to the team that finishes at the top of the points table on the league stage. Lobera has previously been awarded the same accolade with FC Goa, which makes him the first and only head coach to win it twice.

Most matches managed (Sergio Lobera - 75): The ISL 2020-21 final was Sergio Lobera's 75th game in charge as the head coach of any club in the league. He is the only person who has crossed that mark yet, having plied his trade at Goa before joining Mumbai City this season.

Youngest head coach in ISL (Gerard Nus - 35 years old): In the summer ahead of the start of the ISL 2020-21 season, NorthEast United FC hired Gerard Nus as their new head coach. At 35 years of age, he set the record of being the youngest-ever head coach in the history of the league. To put things in perspective, the likes of Igor Angulo (37) and Bartholomew Ogbeche (36) who play for Goa and Mumbai respectively are older than the Spaniard!

Oldest head coach in ISL (Stuart Baxter - 67 years old): Baxter joined Odisha FC as their head coach in the summer and in doing so became the oldest head coach in the league's history at 67 years of age. The Englishman had a forgetful campaign this season, having failed to impress with the Juggernauts before losing his job over an obscene comment on live television.

Most wins as head coach (Sergio Lobera - 43): Lobera had his fair share of victories at FC Goa till last season, but he took his win % to another level with the Islanders. With 43 wins, he now holds the record for most victories as a head coach in the history of the league.

Longest unbeaten run as head coach (Juan Ferrando - 15): When Lobera left the Gaurs, it was initially thought they would struggle under any new coach. But Juan Ferrando proved his mettle and his team is currently on a 15-game unbeaten run, which is the longest in the league's history. Although FC Goa got eliminated by Mumbai in the semi-finals, it was via a penalty shootout after the scoreline stayed 0-0 till full-time. Needless to say, the Spanish coach can improve this record in the upcoming season.

First Indian head coach to reach playoffs (Khalid Jamil - NorthEast United): Jamil managed the unthinkable in the latter half of NEUFC's ISL 2020-21 campaign. He turned heads with an attractive playing style that also rewarded the team with a place in the top four. With that, he also became the first Indian head coach to reach the playoffs, after replacing Nus at the helm in January.

Player Records

Most appearances in total (Mandar Rao Dessai - 114): Mumbai City's Mandar had a difficult campaign this season, following the loss of his father. Yet, he managed to rise to the occasion whenever needed and played a crucial role in his team's double-success of the League Winners' Shield and the ISL trophy.

Most clubs appeared for (Subhasish Roy Chowdhury - 6): The veteran goalkeeper has played for ATK FC, Delhi Dynamos (now Odisha FC), FC Goa, Kerala Blasters, Jamshedpur FC and NorthEast United. He represented the Highlanders in 2020-21, his sixth ISL club.

Most goals by an Indian in ISL (Sunil Chhetri - 47): The Bengaluru FC and Indian football team netted eight times this season, thereby extending his tally to 47. This is an all-time record among the league's Indian goalscorers. The 36-year-old is also just two goals away from breaking Ferran Corominas' record of being the all-time top goalscorer in the ISL.

Most assists in total (Hugo Boumous - 24): The Mumbai City stalwart recorded seven assists in the 2020-21 season, thereby extending his own record of most assists in ISL's history. He had 17 assists at the end of last season and his tally currently stands at 24.

Most assists in total by an Indian (Brandon Fernandes - 18): Before his injury, Brandon notched three assists for FC Goa this season, helping him improve on his own record of being the Indian with the most ISL assists.

Most assists among goalkeepers (Joint-record): Kerala Blasters' Albino Gomes assisted Jordan Murray as the latter scored against East Bengal in a 1-1 draw on January 15. He hence became the first Indian goalkeeper and only the second ISL goalkeeper after ex-Dynamos star Toni Doblas to register an assist in the league.

Most clean sheets in total (Joint-record): Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC), Arindam Bhattacharya (ATK Mohun Bagan) and Amrinder Singh (Mumbai City FC) have 29 clean sheets each, which is the most among ISL goalkeepers till date. However, Sandhu got there playing the least number of matches – 77, as opposed to Bhattacharya's 79 and Amrinder's 95.