The 2020–21 season was the
seventh season in
Kerala Blasters FC's existence, as well as their seventh season in
Indian Super League. Due to
COVID-19 pandemic, all the matches in the seventh season of ISL were played behind closed doors in three venues at
Goa.
GMC Athletic Stadium was chosen as the home venue for the Blasters.
Season overview
Background
On 15 March 2020, Kerala Blasters appointed
Karolis Skinkys
Karolis Skinkys (born 16 November 1989) is a Lithuanian football executive, who currently works as the sporting director of the Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters FC.
Early life and education
Karolis was born on 16 November 1989 in the Li ...
as their new
Sporting director ahead of the new season. On 22 April, the club officially announced the signing of
Kibu Vicuña
José Antonio Vicuña Ochandorena (born 20 November 1971), commonly known as Kibu Vicuña, is a Spanish professional football manager. He is the current manager of the club Diamond Harbour.
Coaching career Early career
After playing for the Uni ...
as their new manager. The most surprising move was the departure of
Sandesh Jhingan: he departed the club on 21 May in a mutual consent thus ending his six years association with the club. The CEO, Viren D'Silva, also left the club on the same day.
July
On 1 July 2020, Kerala Blasters officially announced that they had extended the contract of
Jessel Carneiro until 2023
On 8 July, the club announced the signing of goalkeeper
Albino Gomes
Albino Giovanni Gomes (born 7 February 1994) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for I-League club Churchill Brothers.
Club career
Early life and youth career
Born in Goa, India, Albino began playing football at t ...
on a free transfer from
Odisha FC.
On 15 July, it was announced that the young midfielder
Ritwik Das
Ritwik Kumar Das ( bn, ঋত্বিক কুমার দাস; born 14 December 1996) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Indian Super League club Jamshedpur.
Club career Early years
Ritwik gave his first ...
has joined the club from
Real Kashmir.
The signing of
Nishu Kumar was finally confirmed by the club on 22 July. The four-year deal made Nishu the highest paid Indian defender.
On 29 July, the club announced the contract extension of
Abdul Hakku until 2023.
August
On 5 August, Kerala Blasters completed the signing of
left back
In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield position whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring.
Centre-backs are usually positioned in pairs, with one full-back on either s ...
Denechandra Meitei from
TRAU F.C.
On 12 August, it was announced that
Sahal has extended his contract for three more years with the Blasters which made him to stay at the club until 2025.
On 19 August, the club announced the signing of
Indian Under 19 midfielder
Givson Singh from
Indian Arrows.
On 22 August, Blasters announced the signing of
Sandeep Singh from
TRAU F.C.
On 26 August, the club completed the signing of
Rohit Kumar Rohit Kumar may refer to:
* Rohit Kumar (footballer)
* Rohit Kumar (kabaddi)
* Rohit Kumar (rower)
* Rohit Kumar Mehraulia
Rohit Kumar Mehraulia (born 13 November 1976) is an Indian musician and politician who has served in the Delhi Legisl ...
from
Hyderabad FC.
On 28 August, the departure of captain
Bartholomew Ogbeche was officially announced by the club.
September
On 2 September, Kerala Blasters announced the signing of
Facundo Pereyra
Facundo Abel Pereyra (born 3 September 1987) is an Argentine professional Association football, footballer who plays for argentine club . He is a versatile player, who is able to play as an Midfielder, attacking midfielder, Winger (sports), winge ...
as their first foreign signing of the season. He became the first Argentine to sign for the club.
On 9 September, the club announced the signing of
India National Under 20 goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill
Prabhsukhan Singh Gill (born 2 January 2001) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters and the India national team.
Club career Early and youth career
Born in Ludhiana, Punjab, ...
on a two-year deal.
On 12 September, Kerala Blasters announced the contract extension of local boy
Prasanth Karuthadathkuni until 2021.
On 16 September, the club announced the signing of young midfielder
Puitea from
NorthEast United FC on a three-year deal.
On 19 September, Blasters extended the contract of
Seityasen Singh
Irom Seityasen Singh (born 12 March 1992) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger.
Club career Royal Wahingdoh
On 19 September 2011 Seityasen made his professional debut in the Federation Cup against Churchill Brothers for ...
until 2022.
On 23 September, Blasters announced the signing of Spanish Midfielder
Vicente Gómez Umpiérrez
Vicente is an Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese name. Like its French variant, Vincent, it is derived from the Latin name ''Vincentius'' meaning "conquering" (from Latin ''vincere'', "to conquer").
Vicente may refer to:
Location
*São Vicente, Cap ...
on a three-year deal.
On 30 September, Blasters announced the contract extension of
Rahul KP
Rahul Kannoly Praveen (born 16 March 2000) commonly known as Rahul K P, is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters and the India national team.
Club career Youth and ear ...
until 2025.
October
On 5 October, the Blasters announced the signing of
Gary Hooper on a one-year deal.
On 8 October, the Blasters started their pre-season training camp under the assistant coach
Ishfaq Ahmed.
On 9 October, the Blasters announced the signing of
Costa Nhamoinesu
Costa Nhamoinesu (born 6 January 1986) is a Zimbabwean professional association football, footballer who plays as a centre-back.
He started his senior career with Masvingo United F.C., Masvingo United. In 2008, he moved to Poland joining lowe ...
. After this deal, Nhamoinesu became the first
Zimbabwean to play for the club.
On 21 October, the Blasters announced the signing of
Burkina Faso international defender
Bakary Koné
Bakary Koné (, born 27 April 1988) is a Burkinabé former professional footballer who played as a centre back.
Club career
Early career
Koné played on youth side for CFTPK Abidjan and joined in 2004 to Etoile Filante where he began his pro ...
as their sixth foreign signing of the season.
On 24 October, the Blasters announced the signing of
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
n forward
Jordan Murray as their
AFC
AFC may stand for:
Organizations
* Action for Children, a UK children's charity
* AFC Enterprises, the franchisor of Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits
* Africa Finance Corporation, a pan-African multilateral development finance institution
* A ...
affiliated player and final foreign signing of the season.
November
On 7 November, the Blasters announced its association with
BYJU'S, the world's largest Ed-Tech company, as their new title sponsor with an option to extend the sponsorship.
On 18 November, the Blasters announced
Costa Nhamoinesu
Costa Nhamoinesu (born 6 January 1986) is a Zimbabwean professional association football, footballer who plays as a centre-back.
He started his senior career with Masvingo United F.C., Masvingo United. In 2008, he moved to Poland joining lowe ...
,
Sergio Cidoncha
Sergio Cidoncha Fernández (born 27 August 1990) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder.
Club career Spain
Born in El Escorial, Madrid, Cidoncha was a product of local Atlético Madrid's youth ranks. He made ...
, and
Jessel Carneiro as the captains ahead of the new season with Nhamoinesu being the first choice captain.
On 20 November, the Blasters lost 1–0 to
ATK Mohun Bagan
ATK Mohun Bagan FC () is an Indian professional football club based in Kolkata, West Bengal. The club competes in Indian Super League, the top flight of Indian football. The club, which was formed as a merger between the football section of m ...
in the
2020-21 ISL season opener.
On 26 November, the Blasters drew 2–2 against
NorthEast United FC.
On 29 November, the Blasters had a goalless draw against
Chennaiyin FC in the
South Indian Derby.
December
On 6 December, the Blasters lost 3–1 against
FC Goa.
On 8 December, the Blasters confirmed that the club captain
Sergio Cidoncha
Sergio Cidoncha Fernández (born 27 August 1990) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder.
Club career Spain
Born in El Escorial, Madrid, Cidoncha was a product of local Atlético Madrid's youth ranks. He made ...
, who tore his right ankle ligament during the match against Chennaiyin has left for Spain to recover from the injury and will miss the remainder of the season.
On 12 December, the Blasters extended the contract of
Jeakson Singh until 2023.
On 13 December, the Blasters lost 4–2 against
Bengaluru
Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...
in the
South Indian Derby.
On 20 December, the Blasters drew 1–1 against
SC East Bengal.
On 27 December, the Blasters won 2–0 against
Hyderabad FC, registering their first victory of the season.
On 28 December, the Blasters announced the signing of
Juande
Juan de Dios Prados López (born 12 August 1986), known as Juande, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Australian club Adelaide United FC.
Formed at Betis, he totalled 80 games and three goals for the ...
as an injury replacement of Cido for the remainder of the season.
On 29 December, the Blasters announced that they have signed
Subha Ghosh
Subha Ghosh (born 22 December 2000) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward for I-League 2 club Mumbai Kenkre.
Club career Early career
A product of Mohun Bagan's academy, Ghosh made his competitive debut for the first-tea ...
from ATK Mohun Bagan on a three-year contract; a swap deal with
Nongdamba Naorem
Naorem Nongdamba Singh (born 2 January 2000) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Indian Super League club Jamshedpur FC. He also represented India in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017.
Club career Youth and early car ...
for whom the Blasters received an undisclosed transfer fee.
January
On 2 January 2021, the Blasters lost 2–0 against
Mumbai City FC
Mumbai City Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Mumbai, Maharashtra that competes in the Indian Super League, the top flight of Indian football. The club was founded in August 2014, during the inaugural season of ...
.
On 7 January, the Blasters lost 4–2 against
Odisha FC.
On 9 January, the Blasters extended the contract of Prasanth K until 2023.
On 10 January, the Blasters won 3–2 against
Jamshedpur FC. After this game, Sahal Abdul Samad became the player with second most appearances for the Blasters.
On 15 January, the Blasters drew 1–1 against SC East Bengal. The game saw
Albino Gomes
Albino Giovanni Gomes (born 7 February 1994) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for I-League club Churchill Brothers.
Club career
Early life and youth career
Born in Goa, India, Albino began playing football at t ...
becoming the first Indian goalkeeper and only second goalkeeper overall to provide an assist in Indian Super League.
On 20 January, the Blasters defeated Bengaluru FC 2–1 in the Southern Derby.
On 23 January, the Blasters drew 1–1 against FC Goa.
On 27 January, the Blasters had a goalless draw against Jamshedpur FC.
On 29 January, the Blasters confirmed that Facundo Pereyra has suffered a broken nose before the match against Jamshedpur FC.
On 31 January, the Blasters lost 3–2 against ATK Mohun Bagan FC.
February
On 4 February, the Blasters lost 1–2 against Mumbai City FC.
On 11 February, the Blasters drew 2–2 against Odisha FC.
On 16 February, the Blasters lost 4–0 to Hyderabad FC.
On 17 February, the club parted ways with their head coach Kibu Vicuna on mutual consent. Ishfaq Ahmed was appointed as the interim head coach for the remainder of season.
On 20 February, the club extended the contract of defender Sandeep Singh until 2022.
On 21 February, the Blasters drew 1–1 against Chennaiyin FC in the Southern Derby.
On 26 February, the Blasters lost 2–0 against NorthEast United FC in their final match of the league.
Players
''Note: The list contains all the players who were registered by the club for the 2020-21 season''
Other players under contract
Note: Player was deregistered from Indian Super League squad due to an injury.
Contract Extensions
Transfers
Transfers In
Promotion from reserves and youth
Loan Returns
Loan Outs
Transfers Out
Management
Pre-season and friendlies
Owing the
COVID-19 pandemic, all the clubs including Kerala Blasters FC couldn't have a proper preseason. The preseason time was cut short this season. The Blasters began their preseason against one of their fellow
Indian Super League opponent,
Hyderabad FC on 25 October 2020. Both squads had fielded Indian players only as the foreign players were on quarantine. In the end, the Blasters beat
Hyderabad 2–0 with
Rahul K.P. netting both the goals.
Competitions
Indian Super League
League table
League Results by round
Matches
Statistics
:''All stats are as of 26 February 2021''
Squad appearances and goals
, -
! colspan=10 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center, Goalkeepers
, -
! colspan=10 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center, Defenders
, -
! colspan=11 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center, Midfielders
, -
! colspan=10 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center, Forwards
Squad statistics
Players Used: 26
Goalscorers
Assists
Clean sheets
Disciplinary record
Footnotes
See also
*
2020-21 Indian Super League season
The hyphen-minus is the most commonly used type of hyphen, widely used in digital documents. It is the only character that looks like a minus sign or a dash in many character sets such as ASCII or on most keyboards, so it is also used as such. ...
*
Indian Super League
*
Kerala Blasters FC
*
List of Kerala Blasters FC seasons
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2020-21 Kerala Blasters FC season
Kerala Blasters FC seasons
Kerala Blasters FC