We always talk of some of the most beautiful goals in football but often forget the roles that goalkeepers play in helping teams achieve their ultimate objectives. Not only do they become shot-stoppers or collectors of crosses, but they also become crucial in starting attacks and organizing the backline.
Acknowledging their generous efforts, this article lists down the seven best goalkeepers of the ISL in the seasons gone by.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
The current Blues goalkeeper has been a mainstay since his return to India. The only Indian to play in the Europa League has made his presence felt during his time in the ISL. So far, Gurpreet has represented the Blues in the ISL nearly 80 times and is currently playing his fifth ISL season.
Gurpreet has started by conceding two in the season-opener for the blues, but one can be confident that he will stack up those clean sheets during the 2021/22 season. Gurpreet has one of the best clean sheets-to-games ratio in the ISL, having produced 29 clean sheets before this season.
Amrinder Singh
A former Blue, Amrinder Singh has become one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the ISL over the years. Coming into his seventh ISL season, he has joined ATK Mohun Bagan for the 2021/22 season — a move he earned given his consistent performances with Mumbai City FC.
Amrinder is quite similar to Gurpreet; he has produced 29 clean sheets in the ISL so far. However, he has played an additional 18 games. He will indeed be looking to impress in the ISL during the 2021/22 campaign, although he has started by leaking a couple of goals in the league.
TP Rehenesh
Probably one of the longest-serving goalkeepers in the ISL, Rehenesh continues to play in the league with Jamshedpur FC. So far, he has represented various ISL clubs, including NorthEast United, Kerala Blasters and East Bengal.
In terms of numbers, Rehenesh has registered 23 clean sheets in the ISL — a number he will be looking to improve upon in the coming games.
Subrata Pal
The very experienced Subrata Pal, now aged 34, moves into his seventh season in the ISL. Yet another goalkeeper who has spent a considerable amount of time in the league, Pal has played with various ISL teams including Jamshedpur FC, Hyderabad FC, Northeast United and Mumbai City FC.
Pal’s numbers are some of the highest in terms of starts and appearances for keepers in the ISL; he has played 95 games in the ISL so far. In his 95 games, the veteran has produced 28 clean sheets in the league.
Arindam Bhattacharya
Arindam Bhattacharya and Gurpreet could be considered some of the most effective goalkeepers in the ISL. Arindam has entered his eighth season in the ISL with East Bengal. In the past, the experienced campaigner has also been a part of ATK Mohun Bagan, Mumbai City FC and Bengaluru FC.
Arindam has an impressive record for clean-sheets-to-matches ratio, nearly as good as that of Gurpreet. He has registered a total of 29 clean sheets in his 80 games in the ISL.
Apoula Edel
Edel is the only foreign player to appear on this list of the best keepers in the ISL. Although the former Armenia international spent a mere two years in the ISL, he did not fail to impress those watching. During his time in the league, Edel had stints with two teams — Pune City FC and Chennaiyin FC.
Edel was known for his impeccable shot-stopping abilities and impressed those watching, particularly during his solitary season with Chennaiyin. Although he did not continue his career in the ISL, he deserves a mention on this list.
Karanjit Singh
Karanjit Singh is yet another keeper who has been an integral part of the development of Indian football. The 35-year-old has spent five years in the ISL across various teams in the league.
In the ISL, Singh has played with Chennaiyin FC, though he will not be making an appearance in the ISL during the 2021/22 campaign.
In terms of numbers, Singh may have played fewer games compared to the rest on this list despite his age. However, Singh has played a crucial role in imparting his knowledge and making stops with his gloves. In total, he has registered 13 clean sheets in the ISL.
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