Considered as the pillars of support, defenders are an integral part to the success of any side. From its inception, the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) has been replete with some of the hardest tacklers and disruptors. The foreign contingent of defenders have proven vital to the overall success of a club in the league, providing the much-needed experience and composure at the back.

Here we look at the league’s most resilient and gifted defenders from foreign lands.

Lucio

Despite playing only two seasons, Brazilian legend Lucio firmly established himself as one of the best defenders to play in the Hero ISL. The former World Cup winner with Brazil made a total of 14 appearances during his first season with FC Goa, leading the side to a second-place finish in 2015. Lucio was a master at disrupting attacks, which is evident from the 31 interceptions he made in 2015, the highest by any player.

Bernard Mendy

The French defender was an ever-present entity for Chennaiyin FC in the first three seasons of the Hero ISL. The 36-year-old was an integral part of the squad which lifted the trophy in 2015. One of the primary attributes of Mendy’s game was his ability to play in any position across the backline. His hard-tackling and leadership skills on the pitch make him one of the league’s standout players. Mendy made a total of 39 appearances for the club. He also contributed to the team’s attacking threat and chipped in with a few handy goals.

Henrique Sereno

Considered by many as one of the finest defenders in the league, Henrique Sereno has enjoyed a brilliant two-year spell in the Hero ISL. The Portuguese defender, who joined ATK in 2016, formed an effective partnership with Tiri at the back as the Kolkata-based side cruised to their second title in the league. His only goal for ATK came in the final against the Kerala Blasters. For the 2017-18 campaign, the 33-year-old joined forced with Chennaiyin FC, where he was made the club captain. His composure at the back alongside his ability to lead the side were the hallmarks of his second consecutive Hero ISL title. Sereno made 18 appearances for the Marina Machans, completing the joint-most number of interceptions in the league with 30.

Lucian Goian

Lucian Goian has been one of Mumbai City FC’s most pivotal players over the past two years. The Romanian defender, who made 16 appearances for the Islanders in his debut campaign in 2016, finished the season with 79 tackles, the most by any player in the league. Goian continued from where he had left off in his second season, impressing the Mumbai faithful with his commanding performances at the back. Although Mumbai City finished seventh in the 2017-18 campaign, Goian was their standout player owing to his sublime individual displays.

Mailson Alves

Brazilian defender Mailson Alves is one of the few players to have played a part in both of Chennaiyin FC’s Hero ISL title triumphs. However, his most significant contribution to the club came in the finals of the 2017-18 season when he scored a brace against Bengaluru FC. Despite being a potent threat from set-pieces, Alves’ is particularly known for his defensive capabilities. Alongside Sereno and Inigo Calderon, the Brazilian was part of a formidable defensive backline for the South-Indian side. The 30-year old has 40 Hero ISL caps to his name, completing a total of 105 tackles overall.