A new Hero Indian Super League (ISL) season brings along with it fresh excitement surrounding the teams and their set-ups. Besides the familiar faces from Hero ISL 2015, there are three new marquee entrants this season. In this segment building up to the third edition, indiansuperleague.com provides the lowdown on these special players, these eight marquee names that are expected to make a big difference for their respective franchises over a period of two and half months starting October 1.Helder Postiga (Atlético de Kolkata)The Portuguese striker turned up the heat through a brace in his first game of the league last year. The match was unfortunately proved to be his only participation of the season as he picked up an injury and never featured again for ATK in the remainder of the season. Postiga, youngest marquee player across all teams, will be eager to make up for lost time as the new season beckons under Francisco Molina. The former Portugal international is very good in the air besides being a clinical finisher, and Kolkata fans can safely pin their title hopes on him.John Arne Riise (Chennaiyin FC)Riise switched teams from Delhi Dynamos FC to current champions Chennaiyin FC this season of the Hero ISL and brings with him years of experience of playing at the highest level. Famed for his brilliant left-foot, football fans all over the world associate Riise with his thumping free-kicks that tend to squeeze into the little corner of the goal. The Champions League winner can also be seen tirelessly tracking attackers and can play in a variety of positions on the left side of the park as well as a central defender. If Chennaiyin do win a free-kick in the opponents’ half, there would be no prizes for guessing as to who will take centre stage then.Florent Malouda (Delhi Dynamos FC)Florent Malouda too is an experienced Indian Super League player and will represent Delhi Dynamos FC again, but this time as their marquee signing. The Frenchman was a constant threat in midfield last year and was a channel for many breath-taking moves forward for the Lions, providing eight assists in the process. He is expected to reprise his role this season too. Malouda is a silent operator, fleet-footed and good at set-pieces and has got an eye for that killer pass in the final third, and coupled with a wicked left-foot, he is surely going to enthral the Dynamos fans in unmeasurable proportions.Lucio (FC Goa)Brazilian Lucio is back with FC Goa as their marquee player for the 2016 season, and will again captain the 2015 runners-up in their quest for the Indian Super League trophy. Lucio was the mainstay of the Goan defence last season, forming a strong bond with Gregory Arnolin at the heart of the back-four. Goa were seldom at sea when Lucio played, and that says a lot about his influence. At 38, the World Cup winner is the oldest marquee player this season, but with his experience, fitness levels and incredible reading of the game, he can still be lethal. Along with defensive duties, Lucio is also an attacking threat in the opponents’ box during set-pieces, and the fan favourite will be expected to mirror his exploits from the last season.Aaron Hughes (Kerala Blasters FC)The upcoming season marks the introduction of Aaron Hughes to the Indian Super League. The experienced Northern Irish defender represented his country at Euro 2016 and is the second-highest capped player for his country with 103 games. Hughes is a leading proponent of discipline in the game, going 37,670 minutes without getting a red card in the Premier League – a terrific record for defenders who earn their bread and butter through crunching tackles and sheer physicality. Kerala fans have something extra to roar about this upcoming season with this defensive rock at the heart of their team.Diego Forlan (Mumbai City FC)The next in line of new marquee players needs no introduction. Diego Forlan is a legend from Uruguay, the best player at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, a prolific goal scorer and a well-rounded attacker who can create and score goals. Forlan is well known for his free-kicks, volleys and long-range strikes, and is someone who is comfortable using either foot - abilities that made him top-scorer in La Liga (2004-05) and the 2010 World Cup. With his reputation preceding him in the league, expect Forlan to stand and deliver for the Mumbaikars in their pursuit of Indian Super League glory.Didier Zokora (NorthEast United FC)Didier Zokora moved from FC Pune City to NorthEast United FC for the upcoming season of the ISL. The combative midfielder is a very experienced reader of the game, and is known to have got his team out of tricky situations on numerous occasions. Zokora is well known for his leadership skills, inspiring all the players that play alongside him to give their best as he does so himself. An attribute such as that can never have a price tag attached to it. He could be the missing piece of the puzzle that the Highlanders need to get them over the line this season.Eidur Gudjohnsen (FC Pune City)The third and final newcomer to the Indian Super League is not new to the world of high pressure football, having plied his trade at the highest level representing Chelsea and Barcelona, along with captaining the Iceland national team. Known for his speed and reactions in the attacking half, Gudjohnsen has scored more than 150 goals for club and country playing as a striker or forward. He is technically gifted and very skilled with the ball at his feet; has a wonderful eye for goal and that killer through-ball, and also possesses wonderful aerial ability. He is just what the Stallions need.
