Representing the passion of eight states, NorthEast United enjoy the backing of some of the most passionate and loyal fans in the country.
Although their form on the pitch has been less than satisfactory — with only two playoff appearances in seven seasons — the Highlanders will be looking to change that as they head into the 2021-22 ISL season.
Here’s a look at NorthEast United’s squad this season.
GOALKEEPERS
Subhasish Roy Chowdhury
Captain of the Highlanders and one of the finest shot-stoppers in the country, Chowdhury has played for some of the biggest clubs in the country.
A graduate of Tata Football Academy, Chowdhury made his professional debut in 2004 with East Bengal. The following season, he joined Mahindra United, with whom he spent five seasons and even won the Durand Cup. He left Mahindra United in 2010, joining Dempo, and spent four seasons with the Goan team, even winning the I-League in 2011.
Chowdhury joined Atlético de Kolkata for the inaugural season of the ISL and went on to win the title with the club that season. He returned to the I-League the next season, signing for East Bengal, before moving back to the ISL with Delhi Dynamos. He moved to FC Goa for a season in 2016 before joining Kerala Blasters in 2017. The India international joined Jamshedpur FC in 2018 before signing for NorthEast United in 2019.
Mirshad Michu
Kasargod-born Mirshad started his football journey with FC Bardez Goa in 2016, and impressive performances while on loan to Gokulam Kerala saw him get a call-up from East Bengal.
After four seasons with East Bengal, Mirshad joined NorthEast United ahead of the 2021-22 season.
Sanjiban Ghosh
A graduate of the Southern Samity youth academy in Kolkata, Ghosh made his professional debut with Mumbai FC in 2011.
Ghosh spent five years with the Mumbai club before moving to Jamshedpur FC in 2017. After a season in Jamshedpur, Ghosh joined Chennaiyin FC in 2018. Ghosh spent two seasons with the Chennai franchise before joining NorthEast United in 2020.
Nikhil Dekha
Hailing from Assam, 19 year old Dekha is a graduate of the NorthEast United academy.
After spending a year with the U18 team, Dekha signed for the senior team in 2021 on a yearlong deal.
DEFENDERS
Joe Zoherliana
After spending his junior career with Shillong Lajong FC and Pune City’s U18 teams, Zoherliana made his senior team debut in 2017 with Chanmari FC.
The following season, Zoherliana was signed by Aizawl FC. After two seasons with the Mizoram-based team, he signed for Bengaluru FC in 2020.
Ahead of the 2021-22 season, the right-back from Lengpui signed for NorthEast United.
Tondonba Singh
A graduate of the NEROCA youth academy, Singh made his senior debut in 2017 with NEROCA in the I-League.
Singh moved to the ISL in 2018 with Chennaiyin and after a couple of seasons with them, he signed for Mumbai City FC in 2020. Singh signed for NorthEast United in 2021.
Provat Lakra
Hailing from Kalimpong, Lakra started his career with Pathachakra in 2016.
Lakra was loaned out to Gokulam Kerala in 2017, and impressive performances with the Kerala team saw NorthEast United sign him in 2018 on a three-year deal.
Jestin George
Born in Kottayam, Kerala, George started his career in the youth system of Bengaluru FC in 2016.
George made his professional debut in 2018 after signing with Gokulam Kerala. During his time with Gokulam, George had success with the Kerala state team too, winning the Santosh Trophy in 2018.
Ahead of the 2021-22 season, George joined NorthEast United on a three-year deal.
Patrick Flottmann
The Australian defender started his football career with Blacktown City and Sydney FC before making his senior team debut in 2016 with Sydney FC. Lack of opportunities saw Flottmann leave for Air Force United in Thailand.
Flottmann returned to Sydney FC in 2019 and after two seasons with them, of which he spent one on loan at Brisbane Roar, the Australian signed for NorthEast United in 2021.
Nabin Rabha
After graduating from the SAI Guwahati Centre and Kamrupa Football Coaching Centre, Rabha made his professional debut in the I-League 2nd Division with Fateh Hyderabad FC in 2017.
The following season, Rabha joined Shillong Lajong, with whom he went on to win the Shillong Lajong Premier League and the Meghalaya State League.
Rabha signed for NorthEast United in 2020
Mashoor Shereef
India international Shereef made his professional debut with Chennai City in 2017 in the I-League.
Following three seasons with the Chennai club, the Kerala-born centre-back joined NorthEast United in 2020.
Mohammed Irshad
After spending his junior career with Viva Kerala, Tirur Sports Academy and DSK Shivajians, Irshad made his professional debut in 2016 for the Shivajians in the I-League.
Irshad signed for his home club Gokulam Kerala in 2017 before moving to Minerva Punjab in 2018. Limited opportunities in Punjab meant Irshad returned to Gokulam in 2019. Irshad won the 2019 Durand Cup with Gokulam before signing for East Bengal in 2020. He had a short stint with RoundGlass Punjab FC in 2021 before signing for NorthEast United the same year.
Gurjinder Kumar
A graduate of the Chandigarh Football Academy and Tata Football Academy, Kumar made his senior debut in 2010 with Pune FC.
After four successful seasons with Pune, Kumar was roped in by Salgaocar in 2014. He spent two seasons with the Goan club, during which he had a loan spell in the ISL with Pune City FC. Kumar signed for Minerva Punjab in 2016 before moving to Mohun Bagan in 2017. At Bagan, Kumar won the Calcutta Football League with the Mariners and spent three seasons with them before moving to NorthEast United in 2020.
MIDFIELDERS
Khassa Camara
The Mauritania international started his professional career with French club Troyes B in 2010 before moving to their senior team in 2012 and playing in Ligue 1.
Camara moved to Greece in 2015, signing for Ergotelis, before switching to Xanthi in 2016. After four seasons with Xanthi, Camara left Greece and joined NorthEast United in 2020 on a one-year deal.
In August 2021, Camara signed a new deal with NorthEast United for another year with an option to extend for one more year.
Rochharzela
Starting his career in the youth academy of Aizawl FC, Rochharzela made his senior debut in 2017 with their senior team.
After three seasons with the I-League team, Rochharzela signed for NorthEast United in 2020.
Pragyan Gogoi
Born in Sivasagar, Assam, Gogoi spent his youth career with Shillong Lajong FC and Kerala Blasters FC before being promoted to the Kerala Blasters B team in 2018.
Gogoi represented the Blasters’ B team in the I-League 2nd Division and even led the side in the Kerala Premier League. In October 2020, Gogoi signed a three-year deal with NorthEast United.
Imran Khan
Starting his career with Kolkata club Mohammedan SC in 2013, Khan spent three seasons with the Kolkata team before moving to I-League 2nd Division side Fateh Hyderabad.
Khan’s impressive show with the Hyderabad-based team saw him get signed by FC Goa. He failed to get game time at FC Goa, however, and after spending a season on loan with Gokulam Kerala, Khan joined NEROCA in 2020. That same season, he inked a deal with NorthEast United.
Sehnaj Singh
After spending his youth career with Gurdaspur and Chandigarh Football Academy, Singh made his senior team debut in 2011 with Pailan Arrows (now Indian Arrows).
The Chandigarh boy moved to Mumbai Tigers in 2013, and after a short stint with the Tigers, he moved to Mumbai FC in 2014.
The next season, Singh joined Mohun Bagan and was part of the I-League-winning team. Singh spent a season with Delhi Dynamos in 2015 before joining East Bengal in 2016.
Singh switched back to the ISL in 2016, spending three seasons with Mumbai City. He had short spells with ATK and East Bengal in the ISL from 2019 and 2021 before signing for NorthEast United in 2021.
Federico Gallego
Uruguayan midfielder Gallego started his career with Sud América in 2010 after graduating from their youth system.
Gallego spent six seasons with Sud América before signing for Comunicaciones in 2016. The following season, he moved to Boston River in MLS after a short stint with Liverpool Montevideo. Gallego was loaned out to NorthEast United in 2018, a move he made permanent the season after.
Hernán Santana
A member of the San Juan Tres Palmas and Las Palmas youth systems, Santana made his senior debut with the Las Palmas B team in 2010. The Spaniard was promoted to Las Palmas’ senior team in 2011, and after seven seasons with the club where he helped them reach the LaLiga, Santana moved to Sporting Gijón in 2018.
Santana spent a season on loan with Mumbai City in 2020 before signing for NorthEast United in 2021.
Emanuel Lalchhanchhuaha
19-year-old Lalchhanchhuaha spent his youth career with U Mumba before joining Bengaluru FC in 2019. He spent his first year with Bengaluru FC’s B team before moving to the senior team in 2020.
In September 2021, the young midfielder moved to NorthEast United on a four-year deal.
FORWARDS
Lalkhawpuimawia
Lalkhawpuimawia started his career with Chhinga Veng FC in the Mizoram Premier League before making his big career move in 2018 as he signed for Aizawl FC.
After a season in Aizawl, Lalkhawpuimawia signed for Churchill Brothers in 2019, and after one season with the Goan team, the striker from Mizoram joined NorthEast United in 2020.
VP Suhair
After graduating from the United SC Academy, Suhair made his professional debut with them in 2016 in the Calcutta Football League before signing for Gokulam Kerala later that year.
The Palakkad-born striker joined East Bengal in 2016, scoring a hat-trick on his debut. An injury saw him ruled out of the remainder of the season, though, and the following season he joined Gokulam Kerala.
Suhain returned to Kolkata in 2019, this time signing for Mohun Bagan, and was a member of their I-League-winning squad.
Suhair joined NorthEast United in 2020 on a two-year deal.
William Lalnunfela
After spending his junior career with Pui Pui, Vengthar VC, Pune and Chanmari, Lalnunfela made his senior debut in 2015 with Aizawl FC.
Lalnunfela spent three seasons with Aizawl, winning the I-League with them in the 2016-17 season.
Mohun Bagan signed Lalnunfela in 2018, but lack of game saw him return to Aizawl the following season before moving to the ISL in 2020 with Jamshedpur FC.
Ahead of the 2021-22 season, Lalnunfela was signed by NorthEast United.
Laldanmawia Ralte
Ralte spent his youth career with Dinthar FC, Chanmari FC, Chanmari West and Madras Sporting Union before making his professional debut in 2016 with Aizawl FC in the Mizoram Premier League.
The following season, Ralte was signed by East Bengal, and after two seasons with The Red and Gold Brigade, Ralte moved to the ISL with Hyderabad FC.
Ahead of the 2021-22 season, the India international was signed by NorthEast United.
Deshorn Brown
The Jamaica international was a member of the Mobile Rams in the UCF Knights youth system in the US before making his debut with Des Moines Menace in 2011.
The following season, Brown moved to Reading United before signing for Colorado Rapids in 2013.
After two seasons with the Colorado team, Brown shifted to Norway, signing for Vålerenga. Between 2016 and 2019, Brown had year-long stints across China, Spain and the US as he played for the likes of Shenzen, Tampa Bay Rowdies, DC United, Lorca and Oklahoma City Energy.
Brown moved to India in 2020, spending a season with Bengaluru FC before signing for NorthEast United in 2021.
Mathias Coureur
The Martinique international got his football career underway in France with Beauvais in 2007. He spent two years with the Nantes B team before signing for Orihuela in 2010.
Coureur spent the next season with Atlético Baleares before moving to Golden Lion in his home country. Coureur returned to Spain in 2013 with Huracán Valencia before moving to Bulgaria in 2014 with Cherno More. The striker spent two years in Bulgaria before shifting to FC Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia in 2016.
Between 2016 and 2020, Coureur had stints with Lokomotiv GO, Kaisar, Seongnam and Cherno More. Coureur had a short stint in Turkey with Samsunspor before signing for NorthEast United in 2021 on a one-year deal.
Manvir Singh
Hailing from Sujjon in Punjab, Singh is a graduate of the Ozone FC youth academy who made his senior-team debut for the same in 2018.
Singh moved to the ISL in 2019, signing with Kerala Blasters FC, but he spent the majority of his time on loan with Indian Arrows.
Singh had a short stint with Sudeva FC in the I-League before he signed for NorthEast United in October 2021 on a three-year deal.
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