We are more than half way through the league stage of Hero Indian Super League 2016 and the action is starting to heat up with the title contenders beginning to announce themselves. After 32 games, the current top 4 comprise Mumbai City FC, Delhi Dynamos FC, Atlético de Kolkata and defending champions Chennaiyin FC. Interestingly, three out of these top 4 are managed by new head coaches with Marco Materazzi’s Chennaiyin FC being the only club managed by the same coach as last season.

While other new-comers Nelo Vingada with NorthEast United FC and Steve Coppell with Kerala Blasters FC have had their moments, experienced campaigners like Antonio Habas and Zico have found life difficult with FC Pune City and FC Goa respectively in Hero ISL 2016. Habas won the title with ATK in Hero ISL 2014 and Zico finished runners-up last year. Needless to say that the new season has challenged the established order at least in terms of coaches. Here we take a look at the top three coaching debutants who have had a big impact so far.

Alexandre Guimaraes (Mumbai City FC)

After underwhelming seventh and sixth-placed finishes in Hero ISL 2014 and Hero ISL 2015 respectively, it’s safe to say that expectations weren’t exactly sky high at the start of this season. However, all that has changed now with Mumbai sitting at the summit of the table having taken 15 points from their nine matches thus far. They prefer playing the ball out the back and build their attacks from defence. They, along with ATK, are the second highest scorers this season with nine goals. Mumbai seem to have also done away with their travelling woes having secured three away wins under the Costa Rican – much more than what they managed over the past two seasons – and have the third best goal-conversion rate (11.25%) and the fourth best goals per game average (1).

Gianluca Zambrotta (Delhi Dynamos FC)

Gianluca Zambrotta took over from Roberto Carlos, who guided Delhi to their maiden semis appearance last year. The Lions look like a transformed unit this season under the FIFA World Cup-winning Italian, who has turned Delhi into an attacking, free-scoring side that loves to build their play from defence. Delhi are the top-scorers this season with 12 goals from eight games and boast a goal conversion rate of 14.45% and an average of 1.5 goals per game, which is the best in the league. The fact that the Dynamos managed 16 goals in Hero ISL 2014 and 18 goals in Hero ISL 2015 after 14 matches in the league stage puts the dozen scored by Delhi in eight games further into context. Zambrotta’s men have also managed to register the most number of shots on target in a season where goals have come at a premium. They have managed 27 shots on target from inside the box and 20 from outside the penalty area: a clear reflection on the shift towards an attack-minded mentality in the squad under the 39-year-old.

Jose Molina (Atlético de Kolkata)

Of all the new head coaches in Hero ISL, perhaps no one had to deal with the burden of expectation that was on the shoulders of Jose Molina. After winning the inaugural edition and then making a semis appearance last year, expectations as always were high as Molina looked to emulate the success enjoyed by his predecessor Antonio Habas. Judging by their opening eight matches, not much has changed as they remain in a strong position as regards their semis chances. If anything, Kolkata seem to be playing more attack-minded and stylish football with plenty of flare under Molina. Their goal conversion rate (10.84) is bettered only by three other clubs in the top 4, whereas their goals per game average of 1.13 is third behind Delhi and champions Chennaiyin. Kolkata have also registered 43 shots on goal – 14 from inside the box and 29 from outside – which is second only to Delhi.