The 2016 Chennaiyin FC season was the club's third season since its establishment in 2014 and their third season in the Indian Super League.

Background

Going into the 2015 ISL season, Chennaiyin retained their head coach,

Marco Materazzi Marco Materazzi (; born 19 August 1973) is an Italian former professional footballer and manager. Early in his career, Materazzi played with various Italian teams in Serie B and Serie C, and with Everton in the Premier League. He spent two per ...

, as well as the core of their playing squad with players such as

Jeje Lalpekhlua Jeje Lalpekhlua Fanai (born 7 January 1991) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a striker, and last appeared with Indian Super League club East Bengal. Between 2011 and 2019, he scored 23 goals in 56 international matches represe ...

, Balwant Singh,

Jayesh Rane Jayesh Dilip Rane (born 20 February 1993) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bengaluru in the Indian Super League. Career Mumbai Born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Rane joined the Mumbai youth team in 2008. During the ...

Bernard Mendy Bernard Mendy (born 20 August 1981) is a French former professional footballer who played as a right-back. He was known for his blistering pace and constant overlapping runs. He most recently served as the assistant manager of Paris Saint-Germain ...

, and marquee Elano returning for a second season. They began their season on 3 October 2015, hosting their first match of the ISL season against defending champions Atlético de Kolkata. Despite goals from Lalpekhlua and Elano, Chennaiyin lost the match 3–2. Despite a slow start to the season, Chennaiyin soon entered the finals, finishing the season in third place. In the semi-finals, Chennaiyin FC took on Atlético de Kolkata. In the first leg of the round, Chennaiyin came out as 3–0 winners after goals from

Bruno Pelissari Bruno Augusto Pelissari de Lima (born 3 January 1993), popularly known as Bruno Pelissari, is a Brazilian professional footballer. He has previously played for Atlético Paranaense, in the Indian Super League with Chennaiyin and Delhi Dynamos, a ...

, Jeje Lalpekhlua, and Stiven Mendoza. Despite losing the second leg 2–1, Chennaiyin went through to the finals 4–2 on aggregate. During the final, Chennaiyin took on Goa at the

Fatorda Stadium Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, locally known as Fatorda Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium situated in Margao, Goa, India. The venue has been used to host both international football as well as International cricket matches.However after th ...

. They took a 1–0 lead in the beginning of the second half from Bruno Pelissari before Goa came back to lead 2–1 going into stoppage time. However, an own goal from Goa goalkeeper,

Laxmikant Kattimani Laxmikant Kattimani (born 3 May 1989) is an Indian association footballer who plays for Hyderabad as a goalkeeper. Club career Born in Goa, Kattimani started his senior professional career with local club Vasco in 2008. In the following year ...

, and a goal from Mendoza from a defensive mistake lead to Chennaiyin winning to Indian Super League.

Player movement

Squad

Technical staff

Transfers

In: Out:

Indian Super League

Results summary

Matches

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

, -

Goal scorers

Disciplinary record

References

{{2016–17 in Indian football Chennaiyin FC seasons

Chennaiyin Chennaiyin Football Club is an Indian professional Association football, football club based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The club competes in the Indian Super League, the top flight of Football in India, Indian football. The club was founded in Au ...