It is official: the former Manchester United Player, Bojan Djordjic, will be playing in the inaugural season of Hero Indian Super League. This professional Indian football league is the result of a 700-crore deal between Reliance Industries and US-based International Management Group (IMG). The season will run between October and December this year and will consist of a final series that will determine the champion.
Introducing some Swedish Flavor
32-year-old Djordjic joined Manchester United at the age of 17 in the year 1999. Within a year, Djordjic was named Manchester United’s Young Player of the Year. The left-footed Swede joined Manchester United from Brommapojkarna, a second division club near his home in Stockholm. After being spotted in an Under-17 European Championships match between England and Sweden, there has been no looking back. By 2001, he was regularlyincluded amongst the first team squad for Manchester United.
Over his 15-year old football career, Djordjic has acquired significant international experience by playing competitive football in Serbia, Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, Hungary and England. He is known for his creativity as a midfielder and as a set-piece specialist. Another feather in his hat is his role in winning titles in four countries for his respective teams. He has also played a significant role in making the Plymouth Argyle FC a strong championship side during his stint in England.
The winger-cum-attacking midfielder will be among the 49 other players in the central international player draft that is scheduled on 21st August, 2014 in Mumbai. “Playing in the Indian Super League will be a great adventure, a chance to meet new people and help them to become stronger in a sport that has been my passion for my whole life,” says Djordjic.
The Other Players
Among other leading players named for the inaugural season are Colombian defenders, Jairo Suarez and Andres Gonzales. Sources suggest that IMG-Reliance is very close to completing its quota of foreign players that come from leading football countries and the best leagues around the world. In addition to the 14 domestic players, every franchise within the Hero Indian Super League must also sign 7 international players minimum and a single-marquee foreign player for its squad.
Speculators believe that the next few names on the list may consist of young Brazilian players. The organizers have also released a list of 13 international players among which the most impressive names come from France. Football giants, Olympique Lyon and Cedric Hengbart, along with French defender, Sylvain Mosoreau, are on the list. Each one of these players comes with significant experience either with the French club, Auxerre, or the UEFA Champions League.
The first list of players also includes Omar Rodriguez (Columbia), Erwin Spitzner (Brazil), Gustavo Marmentini (Brazil), Guilherme Felipe de Castro (Brazil), Bruno Augusto Pelissari de Lima (Brazil), Pedro Gusmao (Brazil), Luis Yanes (Colombia) and Youness Bengelloun (France).
The 8 franchisees will battle for the 49 international players in the pool on August 21st.