ISL 2023-24: From Krishna to Noguera, which players will be playing against former teams in semifinal?

While both semifinal second legs promise to be mouth-watering matches, it is interesting to note the number of players locking horns against their former sides in the match.

Odisha FC striker Roy Krishna is one of the most important players in the list, having played for ATK Mohun Bagan (now called MBSG) for two years. When the Fijian scored against his former side in the first leg, he had a muted celebration, expressing his respect for the Mariners. | Photo Credit: ISL Media

The second leg of the semifinals in the 10th season Indian Super League (ISL) will be played in Mumbai and Kolkata, with four teams eyeing the summit clash on May 4.

Odisha stunned ISL Shield winner Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) in the first leg – on April 23 – while Mumbai City FC scored three goals in seven minutes to gobsmack FC Goa at the Fatorda Stadium on April 24.

While both contests promise to be mouth-watering matches, it is interesting to note the number of players locking horns against their former sides in the match.

Roy Krishna will be the obvious name to headline that aspect, having played for ATK Mohun Bagan (now called MBSG) for two years. When the Fijian scored against his former side in the first leg, he had a muted celebration, expressing his respect for the Mariners.

Check out Roy Krishna's incredible stats as he looks to mark his 50th ISL game in style 😏💚♥️#ATKMohunBagan#JoyMohunBagan#AmraSobujMaroon#HeroISLpic.twitter.com/VjXCDP78nA

— Mohun Bagan Super Giant (@mohunbagansg) December 15, 2021

But he was not the only one in the OFC camp to have been in the opposition camp previously. Lenny Rodrigues and Amrinder Singh have been with the Mariners at some point in their careers while the list gets longer when all four semifinalists are considered.

Player	Current Club	Former club which is currently in the semifinal
Anwar Ali	Mohun Bagan Super Giant	FC Goa, Mumbai City FC
Manvir Singh	Mohun Bagan Super Giant	FC Goa
Liston Colaco	Mohun Bagan Super Giant	FC Goa
Glan Martins	Mohun Bagan Super Giant	FC Goa
Subhasish Bose	Mohun Bagan Super Giant	Mumbai City FC
Roy Krishna	Odisha FC	Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Diego Mauricio	Odisha FC	Mumbai City FC
Ahmed Jahouh	Odisha FC	Mumbai City FC, FC Goa
Mourtada Fall	Odisha FC	Mumbai City FC, FC Goa
Amey Ranawade	Odisha FC	Mumbai City FC, FC Goa
Lenny Rodriogues	Odisha FC	FC Goa, Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Vignesh Dakshinamurthy	Odisha FC	Mumbai City FC
Princeton Rebello	Odisha FC	FC Goa
Pranjal Bhumij	Odisha FC	Mumbai City FC
CY Goddard	Odisha FC	Mumbai City FC
Amrinder Singh	Odisha FC	Mohun Bagan Super Giant

In the other semifinal, two players, Alberto Noguera and Mohhamad Nawaz from the Mumbai City camp have been in the Gaurs camp while four of Goa’s players have been part of MCFC previously.

Alberto Noguera in action for FC Goa in the Indian Super League at the GMC Bambolim stadium in Goa. | Photo Credit: Focus Sports/ ISL

Among the six, the most prominent name remains Noguera, who was Goa’s wizard in the midfield, helping it win the Durand Cup three years ago. He joined the Islanders in 2022 and won the Shield with them that season.

Player	Current Club	Former club which is currently in the semifinal
Tiri	Mumbai City FC	Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Alberto Noguera	Mumbai City FC	FC Goa
Mohammad Nawaz	Mumbai City FC	FC Goa
Vinit Rai	Mumbai City FC	Odisha FC
Jayesh Rane	Mumbai City FC	Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Rowllin Borges	FC Goa	Mumbai City FC
Boris Singh Thangjam	FC Goa	Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Udanta Singh	FC Goa	Udanta Singh
Arshdeep Singh	FC Goa	Odisha FC
Brandon Fernandes	FC Goa	Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC
Raynier Fernandes	FC Goa	Mumbai City FC, Odisha FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Dheeraj Singh	FC Goa	Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Carl McHugh	FC Goa	Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Narayan Das	FC Goa	Odisha FC

It is also interesting to note that Sergio Lobera, the head coach of Odisha FC, had won silverware with FC Goa and Mumbai City FC in his previous stints in India.