East Bengal Rebuild Champion Squad to Defend ISL Crown

East Bengal will enter the new Indian Super League season carrying a title for the first time in 22 years, after Antonio Habas guided the club to its maiden ISL triumph, pipping city rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant on goal difference following a campaign in which they lost just once. Now, with a crown to protect, the Kolkata giants have used an unusually busy pre-season to retool a squad that lost several key contributors while keeping its tactical identity intact.

A long road through pre-season

Since their last match of the previous campaign against Inter Kashi, East Bengal have featured in the Durand Cup, the Calcutta Football League, the IFA Shield and continental fixtures. A younger group was tested in the CFL, but the bulk of senior players have logged meaningful minutes elsewhere, giving Habas a clearer picture of his squad ahead of the new season. Few sides in the league can claim as thorough a preparation block.

Departures create space for reinforcements

The club had to say goodbye to important pieces of its title-winning puzzle, with midfielder Miguel Figueira, centre-back Kevin Sibille and forward Youssef Ezzejjari all moving on. East Bengal responded with purpose in the transfer market. Croatian defender Diego Zivulic arrives to partner Anwar Ali at the back, stepping into Sibille's void alongside one of the league's most highly rated defenders.

The wide areas, crucial to Habas's counterattacking system, have also been reinforced. Sandip Mandi and Hardik Bhatt join from Inter Kashi and Sreenidi Deccan respectively, adding to a group that already includes Jay Gupta. All three bring defensive discipline without sacrificing the energy needed to support attacks on the break.

Creativity and goals to replace key departures

Losing Ferreira's creativity and Ezzejjari's goals in the same window was a significant blow, but East Bengal moved quickly to address it. Dani Ramirez, who contributed five goals and three assists in 17 appearances for Punjab FC last season, has already shown his value with two goals and three assists in eight outings for the club. He is expected to be the side's chief playmaker, with Mohammed Rashid, Jeakson Singh and new arrival Rohit Kumar shielding the midfield behind him.

Up front, four foreign signings aim to offset Ezzejjari's exit. Effiong Nsungusi arrives with a strong track record from his time at Punjab FC, while Ivorian forward Ake Loba, Polish striker Lukasz Zwolinski and Australian Chris Ikonomidis give Habas multiple attacking profiles to choose from. Indian forwards Edmund Lalrindika and David Lalhlansanga, both of whom scored hat-tricks in recent pre-season fixtures, will push hard for starting roles.

Depth built for a demanding calendar

With the AFC Champions League Two also on the schedule, squad depth will matter as much as quality. Habas's system relies on absorbing pressure and striking on the counter, and the club now appears equipped to rotate without a significant drop-off. On the back of one of the more complete pre-seasons in the league, East Bengal will go into the campaign with genuine ambitions of contesting both the ISL trophy and the League Shield.

East Bengal strongest XI

• Gill (GK), Bhatt, Anwar, Zivulic, Jay, Jeakson, Rashid, Ramirez, Edmund, Vishnu, Nsungusi

East Bengal full squad

• Goalkeepers: Phurba Lachenpa, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Gourab Shaw
• Defenders: Anwar Ali, Diego Zivulic, Lalchungnunga, Narender Gahlot, Nacho Monsalve, Martand Raina, Jay Gupta, Sandip Mandi, Boris Singh, Mohamad Rakip, Hardik Bhatt
• Midfielders: Mohammed Rashid, Jeakson Singh, Rohit Kumar, Ramsanga, Souvik Chakrabarti, Vanlalpeka Guite, Danish Farooq, Raynier Fernandes, Dani Ramirez, Asif Khan
• Forwards: Naorem Mahesh Singh, Vishnu P V, Bipin Singh, Rohit Danu, Chris Ikonomidis, Jesin TK, Ake Loba, Nsungusi Effiong, Edmund Lalrindika, Lukasz Zwolinski, David Lalhlansanga