Since the inception of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL), only five clubs have managed to get their hands on the league title. Coincidently there have been only five players who have won back-to-back titles in the league. One of them is the league’s all-time highest goalscorer, Bartholomew Ogbeche.
Who are the other four? Find out here.
FIKRU TEFERRA
Years: 2014, 2015
Clubs: Atletico de Kolkata, Chennaiyin FC
The man who scored the opening goal of the Hero ISL, Ethiopian striker, Fikru Teferra will forever be known as a Hero ISL legend. His five goals in 2014 were instrumental in making Atletico de Kolkata the first Hero ISL champions.
In 2015, the veteran striker moved bases to Chennaiyin FC and took his winning quality to the Marina Machans. He may have scored just one goal in the campaign but he was a key player in the title-winning season.
APOULA EDEL
Years: 2014, 2015
Clubs: Atletico de Kolkata, Chennaiyin FC
French Cup winner with Paris Saint-Germain, Apoula Edel was a fabulous keeper during his time in the Hero ISL. He began his journey in Indian football with Atletico de Kolkata, where he won the league title in the very first attempt.
He earned a transfer to Chennaiyin FC for the following season and he turned out to be one of the signings of the season. Apoula emerged as the Golden Glove winner in the 2015 campaign with six clean sheets as Chennaiyin FC went on to lift the league title and became the second winner of the Hero ISL.
HENRIQUE SERENO
Years: 2016, 2017-18
Clubs: Atletico de Kolkata, Chennaiyin FC
Former Porto defender, Henrique Sereno made his debut in the Hero ISL in 2016 with Atletico de Kolkata. He featured in ten matches in the 2016 season for the club from Kolkata and helped them lift their second Hero ISL title.
Just like his former teammates, Sereno made a move away from ATK to Chennaiyin FC for the 2017-18 season. He was a key member of the Marina Machans, featuring in eighteen games for his club and kept things solid at the back for the title which helped them lift the title in the fourth season of the league.
BIKRAMJIT SINGH
Years: 2016, 2017-18
Clubs: Atletico de Kolkata, Chennaiyin FC
Bikramjit Singh started as a striker in age-group football, but soon became a utility player who could be deployed anywhere on the pitch. He had a top season with FC Goa in 2015 and helped them reach the final in the season.
He moved bases to Atletico de Kolkata for the 2016 season and featured seven times in the title-winning season. For the 2017-18 season, Chennaiyin signed Bikram and the defensive midfielder became an integral part of the team straight away. He registered 15 appearances for the Marina Machans and was key in the final as well. Bikram is the only Indian player to have won back-to-back Hero ISL titles.
BARTHOLOMEW OGBECHE
Years: 2020-21, 2021-22
Clubs: Mumbai City FC, Hyderabad FC
Finally, we have the most recent player to join this list and it is an elite striker in Bartholomew Ogbeche. The all-time highest goalscorer of the league lifted his first Hero ISL title in 2020-21 with Mumbai City FC but he wasn’t the first-choice striker for his club.
He was signed by Manolo Marquez for the 2021-22 season for Hyderabad FC. He was by far their best player of the campaign and his experience and winning know-how helped the Nizams lift their first-ever title. Ogbeche emerged as the Golden Boot winner in the season as well.
Read: Roy Krishna’s Accolades In Indian Football
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