In a footballer's journey, behind every breakthrough, every rise to prominence, there’s often a head coach who believed before the rest of the world did. The head coaches are more than just tacticians; they play an instrumental role in unlocking hidden potential in their players, transforming their careers, and elevating them to new heights.

From refining raw talent into future superstars, unleashing potential to achieve greatness, head coaches play a profound role in reshaping players' destinies with the right guiding hand.

With that said, let's delve deep into five Indian stars whose Indian Super League (ISL) careers saw a drastic upturn under head coaches who unlocked their true potential.

Sunil Chhetri under Carles Cuadrat: The legend shines brighter

Indian football's evergreen forward Sunil Chhetri experienced a pivotal shift when Carles Cuadrat took charge in 2018. Cuadrat fine-tuned Chhetri's offensive prowess, allowing him to play with more freedom and positional intelligence.

The Spaniard utilised Chhetri's sharp off-the-ball movement, intelligent runs behind the defence, and smart positioning sense to exploit spaces in his 4-3-3 formation and made him more lethal in the final third.

The Indian forward played a pivotal role in Cuadrat's setup, helping the Blues win the ISL Cup in the 2018-19 season. Chhetri scored nine goals and racked up three assists to his name in that season. He also created 27 chances and attempted 20 successful dribbles in Bengaluru FC's Cup-winning campaign.

Liston Colaco under Juan Ferrando: From raw talent to attacking sensation

Liston Colaco's blistering speed met Juan Ferrando's tactical masterclass as the skilled winger experienced a remarkable season with the Mariners. He went from a promising talent to one of the most feared attacking forces in the ISL, highlighting his ability to scoring golazos with ease.

The Spaniard took over the charge midseason, and the impact was immediate and profound. Colaco scored eight goals and provided five assists in the ISL 2021-22 season in comparison to two goals and three assists in the 2020-21 season.

Ferrando's possession-based, high-pressing system gave Colaco the freedom to express himself, dribble with confidence, and take more shots.

Brandon Fernandes under Sergio Lobera: The journey of No. 10

A gifted attacking midfielder, Brandon Fernandes truly blossomed into one of India's premier playmakers under the tutelage of Sergio Lobera at FC Goa. Lobera's free-flowing, attacking brand of football, characterised by high possession and intricate passing, was instrumental in Fernandes' vision and technical prowess.

Under the Spanish head coach, Fernandes consistently led the league in chances created, with his exquisite passing range, ability to pick out runners, and dangerous set-piece delivery. He was the highest Indian chance creator for three successive seasons with the Gaurs, recording 24 (2017-18), 33 (2018-19), and 44 (2019-20) chances, deploying in a central, creative role to become the team's primary orchestrator.

Apuia under Khalid Jamil: A workhorse emerges

Lalengmawia Ralte, fondly known as Apuia, transformed from a promising young midfielder to an indispensable midfield general under Khalid Jamil. Apuia matured significantly under Jamil, taking on a more authoritative role in the midfield.

Offensively, Apuia scored a goal, created nine chances, and attempted 14 successful dribbles in the 2020-21 season. Defensively, he was more impactful as he won 114 duels, completed 110 recoveries, and also racked up 32 interceptions and 20 clearances to his name.

While Apuia always boasted good defensive instincts, Jamil instilled greater tactical discipline and positioning. His incredible work rate, coupled with his passing ability, made him a true box-to-box presence.

Khalid also entrusted 20-year-old Apuia with captaincy, making him the youngest captain in the league’s history. Apuia’s 2020-21 campaign proved to be a breakthrough one, with him bagging the Emerging Player of the Season award.

Sahal Abdul Samad under Ivan Vukomanovic: Playmaker unleashed

Ivan Vukomanovic's system and coaching style were key in pushing Sahal Abdul Samad to play higher up the pitch, closer to the opposition goal, and encouraged him to take more risks in the final third. This tactical tweak allowed Samad's creativity to translate into tangible outputs.

The skilled midfielder recorded his best-ever ISL season in 2021-22 under Vukomanovic, scoring six goals and providing an assist, a significant leap from his previous seasons. Samad repaid that faith with key goals, improved tactical discipline, and playmaking intelligence, becoming the face of Kerala Blasters FC’s resurgence.