Big names will grow Indian football FIFA

NEW DELHI (AP) — As far as football authorities are concerned, it's the names in the games that are certain to drive the growth of the game in India.

Jerome Valcke, secretary-general of the football's international governing body, says marquee players like Luis Garcia, Alessandro Del Piero and Robert Pires in the Indian Super League will help unlock the "huge potential" on the sub-continent.

"It's important because these stars are who kids everywhere are dreaming about," Valcke was quoted as saying by the ISL. But he also stressed that it was just as important for fans to see Indian players in action alongside the foreign stars if football is to flourish in the longer term.

"It shouldn't be, as we have seen at some European clubs, that none of the local players are playing in the XI," Valcke said. "We always have to maintain a balance between local players and international stars. That's how you create strong footballers in the country."

Eight city-based clubs, each with a quota of seven foreigners plus a marquee player, are competing in the inaugural edition of the ISL. The remaining 14 spots in in each squad are reserved for Indian players, including four from the local city.

"What is important is that whenever you do something at the top level, you don't forget about the grassroots programs and to develop football at the level of the kids," Valcke said. "The ISL is helping; the Indian league (I-League) is there as well. We must make sure that we're all together with one goal - to develop football in India and help India play in the World Cup sooner!"

Valcke said India hosting the under-17 World Cup in 2017 would also help in the long run, particularly with infrastructure.

He said he met with sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal to reinforce the importance of support to develop more infrastructure.

"We need more pitches, and give all Indians more ways to play the sport," he said.

The ISL has already drawn big crowds, with 60,000 attending the opening match at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium. There were 35,000 in New Delhi to watch the Delhi Dynamos take on Pune City on Tuesday, Valcke said, "and the way they supported their team and the game itself was amazing."

The ISL has been the most highly anticipated pro league in India since cricket's Indian Premier League was launched, surpassing interest for similar competitions in more traditionally popular games in India like field hockey and kabaddi.

Indian football fans have long followed European leagues with enthusiasm but so far it hasn't translated into a big following at home, and the national team is ranked in the 150s.

International Stars

Robert Pires

Robert Emmanuel Pirès (born 29 October 1973) is a French footballer who plays for FC Goa in the Indian Super League.

He is a former French international footballer and is best known for his time with Arsenal, where he won three FA Cups and twoPremier League titles including the club's unbeaten season of 2003–04. A former France international, Pirès earned 79 caps between 1996 and 2004 for his country, including winning both the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000. He has been included in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons, was the Player of the Tournament for the2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, FWA Player of the Year for the 2001-02 season, Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year for the 1995-96season, and was included in the FIFA 100 by Pelé. He was also voted by Arsenal fans as the club's 6th greatest player in the club's history.

Pirès has played the majority of his career as a left winger, but can also play all across the midfield or in a position to support the forward line.

Alessandro Del Piero

Alessandro Del Piero (Italian pronunciation: [alesˈsandro del ˈpjɛːro])(born 9 November 1974) is an Italian footballer who currently plays for Delhi Dynamos FC in Indian Super League. He is second place in the ranking of Italian all-time top scorers (345 goals, and behind only Silvio Piola, 390 goals). He played in Juventus F.C. for 19 years (11 years as captain), and holds the club records for goals (290) and appearances (705).

Del Piero scored in all competitions in which he participated. He was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers selected by Pelé as a part of FIFA's centenary celebrations. He was also voted in the list of best European players for the past 50 years in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll. In 2000, Del Piero was the world's best-paid football player from salary, bonuses, and advertising revenue. As of December 2012, he is in tenth place among the UEFA Champions League all-time goalscorers. Along with six awards in Italy for gentlemanly conduct, he has also won the Golden Foot award, which pertains to personality and playing ability.

He played three FIFA World Cup and four UEFA European Football Championship with the Italian national team. He is joint 4th (with Roberto Baggio) in the Italian national team top-scorer ranking, with 27 goals (behind Silvio Piola with 30 goals, Giuseppe Meazza with 33 goals, and Luigi Riva with 35 goals) in 91 appearances.

Nicolas Anelka

Nicolas Sébastien Anelka (born 14 March 1979) is a French footballer who plays for Mumbai City in the Indian Super League. Prior to his retirement from international football, Anelka was also a regular member of the French national team. Former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has described him as a quick player with good aerial ability, technique, shooting, and movement off the ball.

Luis Garcia

Luis Javier García Sanz (born 24 June 1978), known as Luis García, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Atlético de Kolkata of the Indian Super League mainly as a left winger.

Although naturally left-footed, he has ability to kick with both feet and has a good aerial game, despite a small frame. He played professionally for Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in his homeland, amongst others – being brought up in the former's youth ranks – appearing abroad for Liverpool, with which he won one UEFA Champions League amongst other major titles.

Over the course of eight seasons, García amassed La Liga totals of 150 games and 22 goals. A Spanish international for three years, he represented the nation at the 2006 World Cup.

Andre Santos
André Clarindo dos Santos (born 8 March 1983), more commonly known as André Santos, is a Brazilian footballer who has previously featured for the Brazil national football team and currently plays for FC Goa in Indian Super League. Santos is a left-back, who can also be deployed as a left winger. He is a youth product of Figueirense for whom he made his senior debut in a friendly game against Corinthians. On 15 June 2009, he made his first international appearance as a substitute in a match against Egypt. Santos participated and helped Brazil capture the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. He joined Arsenal from Fenerbahçe in August 2011



Freddie Ljungberg
Karl Fredrik "Freddie" Ljungberg (born 16 April 1977 in Vittsjö, Sweden) is a Swedish footballer playing for Mumbai City FC in Indian Super League, where he is the marquee player. His last club was Shimizu S-Pulse after his contract was terminated by mutual consent. Ljungberg was captain of the Swedish national team until he announced his international retirement after UEFA Euro 2008.

Ljungberg was a model for Calvin Klein underwear until 2007. He previously represented brands such as Nike, Procter & Gamble, L'Oreal and currently represents Puma, ESPN and Pepsi, as well as running his own blog since October 2009.


He has signed a deal with IMG-Reliance to take part in a proposed football league to be played in 2014 in India.
Joan Capdevila
Joan Capdevila i Méndez born 3 February 1978) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for North East United FC in India as a left back.Over the course of 15 La Liga seasons he amassed totals of 410 games and 36 goals, mainly for Deportivo and Villarreal where, from his defensive position, he often contributed in the scoring department.A Spanish international on 60 occasions, Capdevila represented the nation in one World Cup and two European Championships, winning one tournament in each competition.


David Trezeguet
David Sergio Trezeguet (born 15 October 1977) is a French footballer of Argentine descent, who plays for FC Pune City in the Indian Super League. Trezeguet began his career with Club Atlético Platense at the age of eight, progressing through their youth system to their first team, where he made his debut in the Primera División in 1994. He finished his career with the club having made five league appearances before transferring to French Ligue 1 side AS Monaco, where he would form a striking partnership with international teammate Thierry Henry. Trezeguet spent some time with Monaco B, the club's reserve-team, in order to gain match practice, having made just nine league appearances in total for the club's first team during his first two seasons. Monaco were crowned champions of the 1996–97 season and qualified for the 1997–98 UEFA Champions League, where Trezeguet scored four goals in nine appearances. Trezeguet scored 18 goals in 27 Ligue 1 appearances in the 1997–98 season, finishing as the league's second leading goal scorer. Trezeguet left the club in 2000, having scored 52 goals in 93 Ligue 1 appearances and having claimed two Ligue 1 championships and the 1997 Trophée des champions.