The second club in the Indian Super League from the City of Joy, East Bengal have been one of the heavyweights of Indian football right since their birth in 1920.

One of the most decorated Indian football clubs with eight Federation Cups, three Super Cups, 29 IFA Shields and 16 Durand Cup titles, the Red and Gold Brigade made the switch from the I-League to the ISL in 2020/21 where they will once again look for success.

 

Let’s look at SC East Bengal Squad for 2021-2022.

 

Also Read – India Super League – Transfer Talk

 

SC East Bengal Goalkeepers

Arindam Bhattacharya

Kolkata-born Bhattacharya was a member of Tata Football Academy. A promising talent, Bhattacharya showcased his talent at the junior level in the Subroto Cup that saw him get a senior team call-up with Churchill Brothers in 2007.

After spending five seasons with the Goan team, Bhattacharya moved to Mohun Bagan but spent only a season with his home team as he returned to Churchill Brothers the season after. Bhattacharya had a strong second stint with Churchill Brothers as he managed to win the Federation Cup with them and his performances earned him an ISL call-up with FC Pune City.

After three seasons with the Pune-based team, Bhattacharya shifted to Mumbai City in 2017 where he spent a spent a season before joining ATK. Bhattacharya had a strong spell with ATK and won the title with the club in the 2020/21 season.

Even though he had a contract with the team till 2022, both parties mutually terminated the contract in September 2021, following which Bhattacharya joined ATK Mohun Bagan‘s arch-rivals East Bengal.

 

Suvam Sen

Having started his career with Guwahati FC in 2017, Sen joined Mohammedan Sporting in 2018.

After a season with Mohammedan, Sen spent two years with Calcutta Customs and joined Bhawanipore FC in 2020. After a season with the Bhawanipore team, Sen went to United FC where, once again, he spent only a season before joining East Bengal for the 2021/22 season.

 

Sankar Roy

Roy started his career with Mohammedan Sporting in the I-League 2nd Division and was signed up by Mohun Bagan in 2017.

Although he didn’t get a lot of game time during his debut season, an injury to Mohun Bagan’s No. 1 saw Roy make full use of his chance, and the 26-year-old shot-stopper put in stellar performances that helped Mohun Bagan win the 2019/20 I-League.

Roy joined East Bengal in 2020

 

SC East Bengal Defenders

Adil Khan

Product of Goa’s Sesa Academy, Khan started his senior career with Sporting Clube de Goa in 2008. After five years with the Goan side, Khan joined Mohun Bagan for the 2013/14 season but spent only a season with the Kolkata-based team before shifting to the ISL with Delhi Dynamos.

Khan returned to the I-League for the 2014 season with Pune-based team Bharat FC and left them after their disbandment in 2015 before joining Lonestar Kashmir in 2016.

Khan returned to Goa for the following years with Dempo and Churchill Brothers before shifting to Pune City in 2017. Following two seasons with Pune, Khan joined Hyderabad FC in 2019 and was loaned out to East Bengal for the 2021 season.

 

Raju Gaikwad

Veteran defender Raju Gaikwad started his career as a Tata Academy graduate before signing for Pailan Arrows, making his senior debut with them. After a season with Arrows, Gaikwad signed for Kolkata giants East Bengal in 2011.

Gaikwad spent four seasons with East Bengal before moving to FC Goa in 2015, making the switch from the I-League to the ISL. Gaikwad spent time with Mumbai City, Jamshedpur FC and Kerala Blasters between 2017 and 2020. At the start of the 2021 season, the Mumbai-born defender rejoined East Bengal for a second time.

 

Amarjit Singh

The 20-year-old from Manipur, Singh, who is a graduate of the AIFF Elite Academy, made his senior debut with Indian Arrows in 2017. After a promising start with Arrows, Singh was signed up by ISL team Jamshedpur FC.

Following three seasons with Jamshedpur, Singh switched to FC Goa. He was loaned out to East Bengal before the start of the 2021 season.

 

Hira Mondal

A member of the East Bengal youth academy, Mondal started his career in 2015 with Calcutta Port Trust before moving to New Barrackpore Rainbow Athletic Club the following season.

Mondal spent the next three years shifting between Tollygunge Agragami, Peerless and East Bengal. He was transferred to Mohammedan Sporting in 2019 and was a part of their I-League 2nd Division-winning campaign. He was signed up by East Bengal for a second stint in 2021.

 

Joyner Lourenco

Goa-born Lourenco started his career with local club Goa Velha in his hometown before making his professional debut with Sporting Clube de Goa in 2010.

Seven seasons and fifty appearances later, Lourenco shifted to Bengaluru FC, where he spent a season before moving to Mumbai City FC.

After a season with Mumbai, Lourenco moved to Jamshedpur FC for the 2019 season. Following two seasons with Jamshedpur, Lourenco moved to East Bengal ahead of the 2021 season.

 

Ankit Mukherjee

After showing promise at the school level, Mukherjee was roped in by the East Bengal youth academy.

After a year at the East Bengal academy, Mukherjee made his professional debut with Kolkata-based side Aryan FC for the Calcutta Football League. Impressive performances for Aryan FC and his state side led to then-ISL champions ATK signing up the youngster in 2018.

Following three years with ATK Mohun Bagan, Mukherjee joined East Bengal at the start of the 2021 season.

 

Daniel Gomes

Daniel Gomes, who was captain of Goan side Salgaocar, joined East Bengal at the start of the 2021 season. Gomes started his career with Salgaocar, representing the U19 team, before making the move to the senior team.

The centre-back, who impressed all with his performances in the Goa Pro League, makes the move to India’s premier football league and will hope to make a mark there as well.

 

Sarineo Fernandes

Starting his career with Goan side Young Strikers, Fernandes had short stints with Salgaocar, Sporting Clube de Goa and FC Bardez Goa before moving to Dempo.

Fernandes made the switch to the ISL in 2017, moving to FC Goa, and spent time with their reserved team before making his debut in the 2020 season.

After four years with FC Goa, Fernandes signed for East Bengal in September 2021.

 

Asheer Akhtar

A Pune FC academy member, Akhtar made his senior team debut with the I-League 2nd Division side Lonestar Kashmir and spent a season with them before moving to Salgaocar in 2016.

Akthar shifted to Mumbai FC in the I-League the following season and after a season with them, the Kamptee-born defender made his switch to the ISL with Bengaluru FC. Akhtar didn’t get much playing time with the senior team of the Bangalore franchise and spent most of the time with their B-team.

Akhtar made the move to East Bengal in 2019 and after a season on loan with Mohammedan Sporting, returned to East Bengal before the start of the 2021 season.

 

Lalrinliana Hnamte

Mizoram-born Hnamte started his junior career with Pune City FC’s U18 side in 2018 and represented his side in the Hero U18 I-League as well.

Hnamte’s talent was quickly spotted by Hyderabad FC who signed him up, and after a season with them, Hnamte joined East Bengal in 2021 on a one-year deal.

 

Tomislav Mrcela

A graduate of the youth academy of RNK Split in Croatian, Australian Mr?ela made his professional debut in 2009 with Jadran Kaštel in the lower divisions of the Croatian league before signing for NK Primorac 1929 in 2010.

Mr?ela moved to NK Imotski in 2011 where he soon became a regular starter and after a couple of strong seasons, Mr?ela was signed by NK Mosor. Mr?ela strong performances led to a call up with Croatian top division side NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac. The centre back spent two seasons with them before moving to Lokomotiva Zagrev in 2014 where he had anothe two year spell with sporadic appearances.

Mr?ela moved to South Korea in 2016, signing for Jeonnam Dragons in 2016 and after an unsuccessful stint he moved to Australia in 2018, signing for Perth Glory on a two year deal. Mr?ela was a part the A-League winning team where he played a crucial role. In September 2021, Mr?ela signed a one year deal with East Bengal.

Franjo Prce

Croatian professional Prce made his senior team debut in 2015 with Italian club Lazio. Prce spent three seasons with the Italian club but limited game time meant he spent the majority of the three years on loan with Salernitana, Brescia and Istra 1961 in Croatia.

Prce moved to Cyprus in 2018. signing a yearlong deal with Omonia before moving to FC Karpaty Liv in Ukraine. The centre back returned to Croatia in 2019 with Varaždin before spending a short spell with Slaven Belupo. Days ahead of the ISL 2021 season, Prce signed a one year deal with East Bengal.

 

 

SC East Bengal midfielders

Mohammed Rafique

Having started his youth career in Kolkata with Tollygunge Agragami, Rafique made his senior team debut with United Sports Club in 2010 and spent four seasons with the club, amassing over fifty appearances.

Rafique moved to East Bengal in 2014 and spent loan spells at ATK during the 2014 and 2015 season in the ISL. He helped ATK win the inaugural ISL edition, scoring the winning goal in the final.

After returning to East Bengal, Rafique remained with the club until 2018, after which he joined Mumbai City FC on a two-year deal. He returned to East Bengal in 2020 and looks set to emulate his 2014 ISL heroics with the Red and Gold Brigade.

 

Bikash Jairu

Jairu started his career with ONGC in 2008 and after two years with the Mumbai-based team, moved to Shillong-based Rangdajied United.

After a year with Rangdajied, Jairu signed for Salgaocar FC, spending two years with the Goan team before moving to East Bengal in 2015.

Jairu made the move from I-League to ISL in 2017, moving to Jamshedpur FC after loan spells with Pune City FC and ATK and spent three years with Jamshedpur.

Jairu re-joined East Bengal in 2020.

 

Wahengbam Luwang

A graduate of the Shillong Lajong academy, Luwang made his professional debut with TRAU in the I-League 2nd Division in the 2017/18 season.

Following three seasons with the Imphal-based team, Luwang moved to East Bengal in 2020.

 

Loken Meitei

24-year-old Meitei started his career at the Royal Wahingdoh youth academy before moving to their senior set up in 2014. After two seasons with Wahingdoh, Meitei moved to Real Kashmir on a one-year deal following which he was signed up by Kerala Blasters in 2017.

Meitei spent most of his time with Kerala’s B-team and moved to TRAU in 2019. After a year with TRAU, Meitei joined East Bengal in 2020.

 

Haobam Singh

18-year-old Singh, hailing from Manipur, made his professional debut with East Bengal during their inaugural ISL season.

Since his debut in 2020, Singh has made a handful of appearances and will look to gain more game-time and experience from his teammates.

 

Sourav Das

A graduate of Tata Football Academy, Das made his senior debut with Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan in 2016.

Das spent three years with Mohun Bagan where he won the Calcutta Football League, before moving to Mumbai City FC in 2019. Over the course of his two-year stint in Mumbai, Das didn’t get much game time and moved to East Bengal for the 2021 season.

 

Jackichand Singh

Singh started his career as a graduate of the Army Boys Academy before making his senior debut with Royal Wahingdoh in 2009. After six seasons with the Shillong-based team, Singh made the move from the I-League to the ISL when he moved to Pune City in 2015. Following a year-long stint at Pune, Singh shifted back to the I-League on a loan spell with Salgaocar before returning to the ISL with Mumbai City.

Singh joined East Bengal on loan from Mumbai in 2017. The following three years, Singh had stints with Kerala Blasters, FC Goa and Jamshedpur before moving to East Bengal before the start of the 2021 season.

The Red and Gold Brigade will be hoping that the 29-year-old brings all his experience to the club and help them lift the ISL trophy.

 

Romeo Fernandes

Fernandes started his youth career with Dempo and was a crucial member of the team at the U18, U19 and U20 levels. His impressive performances saw him get a move to the Dempo senior team.

Fernandes was loaned to FC Goa during the first edition of ISL. He also spent a season on loan with Brazilian club Atlético Paranaense in 2015 and became the first Indian player to play in South America professionally.

Fernandes rejoined FC Goa for the 2015 season and spent two seasons with the Goan side before being loaned out to East Bengal for the 2016/17 season.

Following his stint with FC Goa, Fernandes was roped in by Delhi Dynamos for the 2017 season and remained with the club as they transformed to Odisha FC.

Fernandes returned to FC Goa, but was signed up by East Bengal in 2021 even before he could make an appearance for Goan side.

 

Songpu Singsit

22-year-old Singsit began his professional career with Neroca in the I-League during the 2020/21 season, and an impressive debut season that saw him receive the Fans’ Emerging Player of the Season award also resulted in him getting an ISL call-up with East Bengal.

 

Amir Derviševi?

Derviševi?, a Slovenia international, began his youth career with his home team Nogometni klub IB 1975 Ljublijana in 2011. He was promoted to the senior team the same year and spent a year with them before moving to Krka.

Derviševi? made the move to Maribor in 2013, where he spent eight years and managed to make more than a hundred appearances. He left Maribor in 2021, joining Kolkata-based heavyweights East Bengal on a one-year deal.

 

Darren Sidoel

Dutch professional Sidoel started his career in the youth academy of Ajax before making his senior team debut in 2016 with Jong Ajax. Sideol spent two seasons with Jong Ajax before moving to Reading in 2018. After barely getting any game time in England, Sidoel moved to Bulgaria in 2019, signing a one year deal with FC Arda Kardzhali.

Sidoel spent a year in the second division in Spain Córdoba CF before signing for East Bengal in 2021.

 

 

SC East Bengal Strikers

Balwant Singh

One of the most prominent Indian strikers, Singh started his career at the youth academy of renowned Indian club JCT. Singh made his senior debut with JCT in 2008 and following three impressive seasons, got signed up by Salgaocar.

Singh signed for the then-defending I-League champions Churchill Brothers in 2013 and spent a season with them before moving to Mohun Bagan in 2014. Singh spent the first two seasons of his stint with Bagan on loan at Chennaiyin in the ISL and made the permanent switch to the ISL in 2017 with Mumbai City.

After a season with Mumbai, Singh moved to ATK, where he was a part of the 2019/20-winning squad. Singh left ATK in 2020, joining East Bengal on a two-year deal.

 

Subha Ghosh

20-year-old Ghosh, who is a graduate of the Mohun Bagan youth academy, made his senior debut with Bagan in 2019.

Ghosh impressed during his debut season with Mohun Bagan and was signed up by Kerala Blasters in 2021. The Kochi-based franchise loaned out Ghosh to East Bengal for the 2021 season, where the youngster will once again look to make his mark in the ISL.

 

Naorem Mahesh Singh

Another young striker, Singh started his career with Shillong Lajong’s youth academy before making it to their senior team in 2018.

Impressing on debut with a brace, Singh was signed up by Kerala Blasters in 2020, and even though he didn’t get much play time with them, Singh spent time on loan with Sudeva Delhi and was loaned out to East Bengal for the 2021 season.

 

Thongkhosiem Haokip

Haokip joined the Pune FC Academy in 2011 and was a crucial member of the Pune-based team that won the U20 I-League titles in 2012 and 2013. His performances at the junior level saw him get a senior team call-up and he made his debut with Pune FC in the I-League in 2013.

Haokip was loaned out to ISL team FC Goa and Salgaocar for the 2015 and 2016 seasons respectively, and his performances in the ISL saw him get a permanent deal with Kerala Blasters.

Even though he didn’t get game time at the Kochi-based franchise, Haokip spent time away on loan with East Bengal in 2017 and was roped in by Bengaluru FC in 2017.

Haokip had a successful three-year spell with Bengaluru FC, before returning to East Bengal at the start of the 2021/22 season on a one-year deal.

 

Daniel Chima Chukwu

Nigerian Chima started his professional career in 2010 with Norwegian club Lyn. After a short stint with Lyn, Chima moved to Molde in Norway, where he spent five seasons, amassing over 100 appearances and even winning the Norwegian Cup and Tippeligaen multiple times.

Chima parted ways with Molde in 2015, leaving for Shanghai Shenxin where he spent two seasons. Chima spent a season in Poland with Legia Warsaw before returning to Molde in 2018. After a short spell in China with Taizhou Yuanda, Chima signed for East Bengal on a one year deal in 2021.

Antonio Peroševi?

Croatian international Peroševi?, spent his youth career at NK Osijek in Croatia before making his debut for them in 2010.

Peroševi? spent seven seasons with Osijek, where he was a maintstay of the team. Peroševi? left Osijek in 20117, joining Hungarian club Puskás Akadémia and after a season with them he signed for Újpest, based out of Budapest. Peroševi? spent two additional seasons in Hungary before signing for East Bengal ahead of the 2021 season on a yearlong deal.

Subha Ghosh

Born in Kolkata, 20 year old Ghosh spent his youth career with United SC and Mohun Bagan before signing for Bagan’s senior team in 2019.

Ghosh spent two seasons with Bagan and their rebranded ATK Mohun Bagan before moving to Kerala Blasters in 2021. Before the start of the 2021 season, Blasters loaned out the young forward to East Bengal on a season long deal.