2023–24 Kerala Blasters FC season
2023–24 season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Owner | Magnum Sports Private Limited | |||
Chairman | ||||
Head coach | ![]() | |||
Stadium | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi, Kerala | |||
Indian Super League | TBD | |||
Indian Super Cup | TBD | |||
Durand Cup | TBD | |||
| ||||
All statistics correct as of 14 May 2023. |
The 2023–24 season will be the tenth season in Kerala Blasters FC's existence, as well as their tenth season in the Indian Super League.
During this season, Blasters ended their 6 year association with their most-capped player and their Indian midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad.[1]
Kits[edit]
Note: Official kits for the new season are yet to be announced.
Background[edit]
Kerala Blasters came into the 2023–24 season after a dramatic 2022–23 season.[2] The club came into the 2022–23 season after becoming the runner-ups of the 2021–22 IndIan Super League season, but failed to register any trophies to their name at the end of the season.[3] The season began with the Blasters sending their youth squad as their first team to the Durand Cup who was knocked out in the quarter-finals.[4][5] This particular season was remarked by the Blasters' walk-off from the league's knockout stage match against their arch-rivals Bengaluru FC following their disagreement on the free-kick goal scored by Sunil Chhetri during the extra-time.[6] The Blasters were eventually disqualified from the league's knockout stages,[7] and were penalized by the All India Football Federation as a result of their walk-off.[8] They ended their 2022–23 campaign with the group stage disqualification from the 2023 Indian Super Cup tournament, in which they failed to qualify for the knockout stages as a result of ending up third in the group stage.[9]
Pre-season overview[edit]
April[edit]
On 18 April 2023, the Blasters announced that they have mutually parted ways with their assistant coach Ishfaq Ahmed.[10][11]
On 24 April, the Blasters announced their squad for the Reliance Foundation Development League's national phase.[12]
May[edit]
On 4 May, the Blasters announced that they have extended the contract of the Greek striker Dimitrios Diamantakos till the end of the 2023–24 season.[13][14]
On 9 May, the Blasters announced the contract extension of youngsters Muhammad Saheef, Mohammed Azhar and Mohammed Aimen until 2026.[15][16]
On 12 May, the Blasters announced the contract extension of the Indian midfielder Nihal Sudeesh till 2026 on a three-year contract.[17][18]
On 16 May, the Blasters announced the signing of the Australian winger Jaushua Sotirio on a two-year deal after reaching an agreement with Newcastle Jets FC for an undisclosed transfer fee.[19][20]
On 18 May, the Blasters announced that they have been granted ICLS Premier 1 license by the All India Football Federation.[21][22]
On 19 May, the Blasters announced the contract extension of assistant coach Frank Dauwen till 2025.[23][24]
On 21 May, the Blasters announced the contract extension of the Indian defender Hormipam Ruivah till 2027 on a four-year long-term contract.[25][26]
On 30 May, the Blasters announced the departure of their club captain, Jessel Carneiro after four years with the club.[27]
On 31 May, the Blasters announced the departures of Víctor Mongil, Apostolos Giannou, Ivan Kalyuzhnyi, Harmanjot Khabra and Muheet Shabir from the club as their contracts ended on the same day.[28][29]
June[edit]
On 1 June, the Blasters announced the signing of the Indian right-back Prabir Das till 2026 on a three-year deal from their rivals Bengaluru FC.[30][31]
On 2 June, the All India Football Federation's Appeal Committee rejected the Blasters' and their coach Ivan Vukomanović's appeal against their Indian rupees four crore's fine for abandonment of the last season's league knockout stage match against Bengaluru,[32] and rejected Vukumanovic's appeal against the fine of Indian rupees five lakhs and 10-game ban imposed by the All India Football Federation's Disciplinary committee for calling the players off from the pitch amidst the game.[33]
On 6 June, the Blasters announced that they have temporarily shut down their women's team after the men's side were fined by AIFF for their walk-off from the playoff match last season.[34][35]
On 13 June, the Blasters announced the departure of their Indian left-back Denechandra Meitei after spending three years at the club.[36]
On 14 June, the Blasters announced the loan departure of their Indian wing-back Nishu Kumar to East Bengal Club for the upcoming season.[37][38]
On 16 June, the Blasters announced the one-year contract extension of their Indian goalkeeper Karanjit Singh till 2024.[39][40]
On 22 June, the Blasters was ranked 70th in the CIES Football Observatory's weekly post of top 100 clubs in world with most social media followers, with the Blasters being the only club from India being featured in the list with 6.7 million followers across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by the time of the release of the rankings.[41][42]
On 24 June, it was announced that the Blasters have took the appeal of the AIFF's sanctions on them as a result of their walk-off in the last season's knockout stage match against Bengaluru to the Court of Arbitration for Sport based in Switzerland.[43][44]
On 26 June, the Blasters announced the signing of the Indian winger Bikash Singh Sagolsem till 2025 on a two year contract with an option to extend, and was subsequently sent on loan to Mohammedan SC for the upcoming season.[45]
July[edit]
On 1 July, the Blasters announced that their Indian midfielder Vibin Mohanan would travel to Greece for a one-month training stint with the Super League Greece club OFI Crete FC ahead of the season.[46][47]
On 10 July, the Blasters appointed T. G. Purushothaman as their new first-team assistant head coach ahead of new season on a three-year contract till 2026.[48][49]
On 11 July, the Blasters announced that the player arrivals for the pre-season camp of new season had begun in Kochi from 10 July 2023.[50][51]
On 12 July, the Blasters announced the departure of their first-choice goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill to East Bengal Club for an undisclosed transfer fee.[52][53]
On 13 July, the Blasters announced the loan signing of the Indian left-back Naocha Singh from Mumbai City FC until the end of the season.[54][55]
On 14 July, the Blasters announced the departure of their most-capped player and their Indian midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad to Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who bought the latter for an undisclosed transfer fee in a swap deal with the Blasters acquiring the services of the Indian right-back Pritam Kotal from Mohun Bagan Super Giant on a three-year deal.[56][57]
On 14 July, the Blasters announced that the Nigerian forward Justine Ojoka Emmanuel has joined their pre-season camp on a trial.[58][59]
On 16 July, the Blasters announced that their Uruguayan midfielder Adrián Luna as their new number 10 ahead of the upcoming season.[60][61]
On 17 July, the Blasters announced the contract extension of their Indian goalkeeper Sachin Suresh till 2026 on a three-year contract.[62][63]
On 19 July, the Blasters provided a statement on the ankle injury sustained by their Australian winger Jaushua Sotirio during the training session in their pre-season camp and ruled him out of action till 2024 depending upon on the degree of the injury.[64][65]
On 20 July, the Blasters announced the departure of their Indian central midfielder Ayush Adhikari after reaching an agreement with an unknown club for an undisclosed transfer fee.[66]
Players[edit]
- As of 14 July 2023[67]
No. | Name | Nat. | Pos. | Date of Birth (Age) | Last Club | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeepers | ||||||
1 | Karanjit Singh | GK | 8 January 1986 | 2021 | ||
31 | Sachin Suresh | GK | 18 January 2001 | Youth System | 2021 | |
Defenders | ||||||
2 | Muhammad Saheef | CB | 7 February 2003 | Youth System | 2023 | |
3 | Sandeep Singh | CB/LB/RB | 1 March 1995 | 2020 | ||
4 | Hormipam Ruivah | CB | 25 January 2001 | 2021 | ||
21 | Bijoy Varghese | CB | 14 March 2000 | Youth System | 2021 | |
55 | Marko Lešković | ![]() |
CB | 27 April 1991 | ![]() |
2021 |
– | Prabir Das | RB | 20 December 1993 | 2023 | ||
– | Naocha Singh | LB | 24 August 1999 | 2023 | ||
– | Pritam Kotal | CB/RB | 9 September 1993 | 2023 | ||
Midfielders | ||||||
6 | Danish Farooq Bhat | LM | 9 May 1996 | 2023 | ||
11 | Givson Singh | CM | 5 June 2002 | 2020 | ||
10 | Adrián Luna (Captain) | ![]() |
AM/LW/CM/CF | 12 March 1992 | ![]() |
2021 |
25 | Jeakson Singh | CDM/CB | 21 June 2001 | Youth System | 2019 | |
27 | Saurav Mandal | RM/RW | 6 November 2000 | 2022 | ||
28 | Nihal Sudeesh | RW | 18 June 2001 | Youth System | 2022 | |
32 | Mohammed Azhar | CM | 20 January 2003 | Youth System | 2023 | |
33 | Vibin Mohanan | CM | 6 February 2003 | Youth System | 2022 | |
81 | Bryce Miranda | LW | 23 September 1999 | 2022 | ||
Forwards | ||||||
9 | Dimitrios Diamantakos | ![]() |
ST | 5 March 1993 | ![]() |
2022 |
7 | Rahul K. P. | RW/CF | 16 March 2000 | 2019 | ||
19 | Mohammed Aimen | CF/LW | 20 January 2003 | Youth System | 2023 | |
30 | Bidyashagar Singh | CF | 11 March 1998 | 2022 | ||
45 | Sreekuttan M. S. | CF | 30 November 2004 | Youth System | 2022 | |
– | Jaushua Sotirio | ![]() |
RW/LW/CF | 11 October 1995 | ![]() |
2023 |
Transfers[edit]
Transfers In[edit]
Date of signing | Player | No. | Position | Last Club | Fee | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 May 2023 | ![]() |
– | RW/LW/CF | ![]() |
Undisclosed fee | [68] |
1 June 2023 | – | RB | Free transfer | [69] | ||
26 June 2023 | – | LW | Free transfer | [45] | ||
13 July 2023 | – | LB | Loan transfer | [70] | ||
14 July 2023 | – | CB/RB | Swap deal with Sahal Abdul Samad | [71] |
Loan Returns[edit]
Player | No. | Position | From |
---|---|---|---|
19 | LB | ||
11 | CM |
Promoted from Kerala Blasters FC Reserves[edit]
No. | Name | Nationality | Position(s) | Date of Birth (Age) | Reference |
---|
Note: The club is yet to announce their squad for the season.
Contract Extensions[edit]
No. | Position | Player | Contract Till | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
9 | ST | ![]() |
2024 | [72] |
2 | CB | 2026 | [16] | |
32 | CM | 2026 | ||
19 | CF/LW | 2026 | ||
28 | RW | 2026 | [73] | |
4 | CB | 2027 | [26] | |
1 | GK | 2024 | [74] | |
31 | GK | 2026 | [75] |
Loan Outs[edit]
No. | Position | Player | To | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
22 | RB/LB | [76] | ||
– | LW | [45] |
Transfers Out[edit]
Exit Date | Player | No. | Position | To | Fee | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 May 2023 | 14 | LB | TBC | Contract expired | [27] | |
31 May 2023 | ![]() |
23 | CB/CDM | TBC | Contract expired | [28] |
31 May 2023 | ![]() |
99 | ST | TBC | Contract expired | |
31 May 2023 | ![]() |
77 | CM | ![]() |
End of loan term | |
31 May 2023 | 10 | RB/CM | Free transfer | |||
31 May 2023 | 78 | GK | TBC | Contract expired | ||
13 June 2023 | 19 | LB | TBC | Contract Termination | [36] | |
12 July 2023 | 13 | GK | Undisclosed fee | [77] | ||
14 July 2023 | 18 | CM/AM | Undisclosed fee + Pritam Kotal | [78] | ||
20 July 2023 | 8 | CM | TBC | Undisclosed fee | [79] |
Management[edit]
- As of 11 July 2023
Role | Name | Reference |
---|---|---|
Head Coach/Manager | ![]() |
[80] |
Assistant Coach | ![]() |
[81] |
[82] | ||
Strength and Conditioning Coach | ![]() |
[83] |
Goalkeeping Coach | ![]() |
[84] |
Academy & Women's Team Director | [85] |
Pre-season and friendlies[edit]
Note: Kerala Blasters are yet to announce their pre-season plans and friendlies for the season.
Competitions[edit]
Overview[edit]
Win Draw Loss Script error: No such module "Fb overview".
Durand Cup[edit]
Kerala Blasters were drawn in the Group C for the 132nd edition of the Durand Cup alongside their arch-rivals Bengaluru FC.[86]
Group stage[edit]
<section begin=bracket />
Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
24 August – IGAS | ||||||||||
Indian Army | 0 | |||||||||
29 August – VYBK | ||||||||||
NorthEast United | 1 | |||||||||
NorthEast United | 2(3) | |||||||||
25 August – VYBK | ||||||||||
East Bengal | 2(5) | |||||||||
East Bengal | 2 | |||||||||
3 September – VYBK | ||||||||||
Gokulam Kerala | 1 | |||||||||
East Bengal | 0 | |||||||||
26 August – IGAS | ||||||||||
Mohun Bagan SG | 1 | |||||||||
Goa | 4 | |||||||||
31 August – VYBK | ||||||||||
Chennaiyin | 1 | |||||||||
Goa | 1 | |||||||||
27 August – VYBK | ||||||||||
Mohun Bagan SG | 2 | |||||||||
Mumbai City | 1 | |||||||||
Mohun Bagan SG | 3 | |||||||||
Matches[edit]
Note: Fixtures are yet to be announced.
Indian Super League[edit]
League table[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kerala Blasters | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | Premiers Qualification for playoff semi-finals, and qualification for the 2024–25 AFC Champions League 2 |
2 | Chennaiyin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification for playoff semi-finals |
3 | East Bengal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification for playoff knockouts |
4 | Goa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
5 | Hyderabad | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored; 7) fair play ranking; 8) drawing of lots
Results summary[edit]
Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Template:Fb gd | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Template:Fb gd | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Template:Fb gd |
Last updated: 4 May 2023.
Source: Indian Super League
League results by round[edit]
Script error: No such module "sports rbr table".
Matches[edit]
Note: Fixtures are yet to be announced.
Indian Super Cup[edit]
Group stage[edit]
Note: To be determined.
Matches[edit]
Note: Fixtures are yet to be announced.
Statistics[edit]
All stats are correct as of 20 July 2023
Squad appearances and goals[edit]
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Super League | Super Cup | Durand Cup | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||||
Goalkeepers | |||||||||||||||
1 | GK | Karanjit Singh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
31 | GK | Sachin Suresh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Defenders | |||||||||||||||
3 | DF | Sandeep Singh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
4 | DF | Ruivah Hormipam | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
5 | DF | Tejas Krishna S | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
21 | DF | Bijoy Varghese | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
55 | DF | ![]() |
Marko Lešković | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
2 | DF | Muhammed Saheef | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
— | DF | Prabir Das | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
— | DF | Naocha Singh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
— | DF | Pritam Kotal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Midfielders | |||||||||||||||
6 | MF | Danish Farooq | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
10 | MF | ![]() |
Adrián Luna | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
11 | MF | Givson Singh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
25 | MF | Jeakson Singh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
27 | MF | Saurav Mandal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
28 | MF | Nihal Sudeesh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
33 | MF | Vibin Mohanan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
81 | MF | Bryce Miranda | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
— | MF | Muhammed Azhar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Forwards | |||||||||||||||
9 | FW | ![]() |
Dimitrios Diamantakos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
17 | MF | Rahul K. P. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
30 | FW | Bidyashagar Singh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
45 | FW | Sreekuttan M S | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
— | FW | Muhammed Aimen | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
— | FW | ![]() |
Jaushua Sotirio | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Squad statistics[edit]
Factors | Template:Colored link | Template:Colored link | Template:Colored link | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Games Played | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Games Won | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Games Drawn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Games Lost | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goals Scored | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goals Conceded | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goal Difference | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Clean Sheets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goals by Substitutes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Yellow Cards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Red Cards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goalscorers[edit]
Rank | Nation | Name | No. | Pos. | League | Super Cup | Durand Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TBD |
Assist[edit]
Rank | Nation | Name | No. | Pos. | League | Super Cup | Durand Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TBD |
Clean-sheets[edit]
Rank | Nation | Name | No. | League | Super Cup | Durand Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TBD |
Disciplinary record[edit]
No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Template:Colored link | Template:Colored link | Template:Colored link | Total | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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TBD |
Injury record[edit]
No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Type | Status | Source | Match | Inj. Date | Ret. Date
Template:Fb inj player 1 Template:Fb inj footer 1 See also[edit]
Notes[edit]References[edit]
External links[edit]
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