The early days of the Indian Super League (ISL) had fame written all over them with the arrival of star-studded players. But while the spotlight often shone on the outfield players, the league also witnessed some exceptional goalkeepers make their mark. Among them, one figure stood taller than the rest: Apoula Edima Edel Bete. The giant between the posts, the calm amidst chaos, and the man who made goalkeeping look like an art form.

Once he pulled on the gloves, one thing was clear: he was no ordinary goalkeeper. At over six feet tall, broad-shouldered and commanding, Edel filled the frame of the goal with sheer authority. Over his three seasons in the ISL, he won two ISL Cups with two different clubs, etching his name into history as one of the league’s finest guardians.

Here, we spotlight his time in the league.

A guardian in Red and White

The former Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) custodian didn’t have the smoothest of starts in the ISL. Signed by ATK FC for the inaugural 2014 season, Edel began as a deputy to local boy Subhasish Roy Chowdhury, a move that also allowed coach Antonio Habas to field an extra foreign outfield player.

Edel managed just two starts in the first ten matches, patiently waiting for his moment. But when his chance finally arrived, he made it count. From the 11th game onwards, he established himself as ATK FC’s number one, keeping one clean sheet in the final four league matches as the team finished third in the table and secured a playoff spot.

#Throwback to when #EdelBete pulled off this impossible save in the #ISL 2014 final! 🧤#LetsFootball #ISLSaveoftheDay pic.twitter.com/ZuvcE5PbUt

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) May 5, 2025

Then came the knockouts, and that’s where Edel Bete transformed. He rose to the occasion, keeping three consecutive clean sheets across the semi-finals and the final. Calm under pressure, quick in one-on-one situations, and fearless when faced with penalties, Edel was the wall ATK FC needed. His heroics over the two-legged semifinals helped the team reach the final, where he continued his indomitable form against Kerala Blasters FC. He made a stunning save to deny Michael Chopra before Mohammed Rafique scored the winning goal in the dying stages to help ATK FC lift the first-ever ISL Cup.

The second crown

The next season saw Edel make the move to Chennaiyin FC, a side bursting with attacking flair under Marco Materazzi. But amidst the chaos and the drama that defined their football, Edel brought what they needed most, stability.

He became the rock at the back for the South Indian club, guiding their goal through some thrilling encounters with his commanding presence and calm leadership. Throughout the campaign, Edel was once again at his best. He saved two penalties and kept five clean sheets during the league phase, including three consecutive shutouts in the final three league matches, once again taking his game to the next level at the business end of the campaign.

His brilliance continued in the two-legged semifinal against his former club ATK FC, where his assured performance helped Chennaiyin FC book their first-ever ISL final. Then came the big night, the 2015 ISL Final. As Chennaiyin FC’s attackers scripted one of the most dramatic comebacks in league history against FC Goa, Edel’s composure at the back provided the foundation for that triumph. When the final whistle blew, he had done it again, a back-to-back ISL Cup champion with two different clubs.

To cap off a remarkable season, Edel also claimed the Golden Glove Award, finishing with six clean sheets, etching his name permanently into ISL history.

The final chapter in Pune

After two glorious seasons and two ISL Cups, Edel Bete began a new chapter in 2016 with FC Pune City. For the first time, he wasn’t joining a title favourite, but a team still searching for identity and consistency. Yet, for Edel, that didn’t matter. He carried the same hunger, the same drive to compete, and the same towering presence between the sticks.

Even though the results at FC Pune City weren’t ideal, with the team finishing sixth, Edel continued to lead by example. He managed just one clean sheet, but his staggering 44 saves, the most by any keeper in the campaign, stood as proof of his resilience. Amidst a challenging season, he remained the calm within the storm, the figure his teammates could still rely on when everything else faltered.

That season may not have ended in silverware, but it showed that his commitment never dipped. Whether fighting for trophies or pride, Edel Bete gave every match the same passion and professionalism that had defined his ISL journey.