After a successful ISL campaign, Odisha FC went on to secure the Super Cup against all odds to book a place in the AFC Cup. Now to cherish the occasion of playing in the continental competition and to improve in the ISL, the Juggernauts went for a squad revamp in the summer. The changes have made the team look far stronger on paper. Not only were the players brought in top-class with ISL-winning experience but also the manager appointed is of high esteem too.
Multiple ISL Shield winner Sergio Lobera returned to India to manage Odisha FC after his double with previous ISL side Mumbai City FC. Under his guidance, Odisha FC are hopeful of creating fireworks although his debut game did not go to plan with a 4-0 loss to Mohun Bagan Super Giants in the AFC Cup opener. However, Odisha FC are expected to see Lobera’s tactics knitting their play soon. With so many high-profile arrivals, the team will wish for the best return from both competitions. In this article, going forward we will look at the Odisha FC 2023-24 squad and ISL 2023/24 season preview.
Previous season performance
Odisha FC's season ended in the eliminator game of the playoffs to Mohun Bagan after they managed to grab the sixth spot on the table. The bright spark in the league was striker Diego Mauricio who bagged 12 goals and four assists in 20 matches. He was instrumental in the Super Cup success which became the pinnacle of Odisha FC’s season. The Kalinga warriors came out of a group containing I-League side Aizawl FC, fellow ISL team East Bengal and former league winners Hyderabad FC. After beating NorthEast United 3-1 in the semi-finals, two first-half goals from their Brazilian strike-man helped an eventual 2-1 victory over Bengaluru FC in the final. Mauricio increased his reputation by scoring a hat-trick against last year’s I-League winners Gokulam Kerala FC in the AFC Cup group stage qualification playoff to secure a berth in the competition.
Odisha FC 2023-24 New Signings
IN: Roy Krishna (Foreign), Lenny Rodrigues, Laldinliana Renthlei, Puitea, Amey Ranawade (on loan), Mourtada Fall (Foreign), Ahmed Jahouh (Foreign), Jerry Lalrinzuala, Lalliansanga Renthlei, Ashangbam Aphaoba Singh, Lalhrezuala Sailung, CY Goddard (Foreign), Givson Singh (on loan), Paogoumang Singson
OUT: Saúl Crespo (Foreign), Nandha Kumar Sekar, Víctor Rodríguez (Foreign), Vinit Rai, Pedro Martín (Foreign), Rishabh Dobriyal, Akshunna Tyagi, Lalhrezuala Sailung, Osama Malik (Foreign), Lalruatthara, Sebastian Thangmuansang, Karan Amin, Dylan D'Silva
Signings for Odisha FC have drawn all the headlines with key members of the Shield win for Mumbai City FC joining the squad. Right-back Amey Ranawade, Center-back Mourtada Fall and midfielder Ahmed Jahouh have arrived being one of the best in their position in the league. CY Goddard had also tasted success before with the Islanders and will hope to do the same in a Juggernaut shirt now. Forward like Roy Krishna has been added to the attack already containing Diego Mauricio while the experience of Lenny Rodrigues or talented players like Puitea brings a different dimension to the team.
Among the departures, three important contributors to their Super Cup success Víctor Rodríguez, Nandha Kumar Sekar and Saúl Crespo all sought new clubs in the summer. The latter two have joined East Bengal while the Spaniard playmaker has knocked on the doors of FC Goa. Osama Malik, Pedro Martín and Vinit Rai’s permanent signing for Mumbai City FC are the notable departures from the club.
Odisha FC 2023-24 Squad
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Lalthuammawia Ralte, Niraj Kumar
Defenders: Amey Ranawade, Mourtada Fall, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Laldinliana Renthlei, Carlos Delgado, Deven Sawhney, Lalliansanga Renthlei, Paogoumang Singson, Narender Gahlot, Thoiba Singh, Sahil Panwar, Tandankar Bag
Midfielders: Lenny Rodrigues, Puitea, Ahmed Jahouh, Isaac Chhakchhuak, Isak Vanlalruatfela, Princeton Rebello, Paul Ramfangzauva, Givson Singh
Forwards: Roy Krishna, CY Goddard, Diego Mauricio, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Ashangbam Singh, Pungte Lapung, Aniketh Jadav, Pungte Lapung
Head Coach: Sergio Lobera
Here is Odisha FC ISL 2023/24 Schedule
Strength
Getting a Mumbai City FC contingent means there will be title winning mentality in the squad. Experience is also something Odisha FC have in abundance with their new faces and also sheer amount of individual brilliance. There are winners in the squad who have lived it and seen it all knowing exactly how to bail the team from tough situations. Their biggest strength is obviously their manager who has worked with these players to glory. Another factor that could help the ambitious side mount a challenge is their unpredictability.
Weakness
The question remaining on the team is whether they could play as a unit and not leave everything on those star players to conjure. In the big defeat to Mohun Bagan in the AFC Cup opener, this aspect raised its head when the opposition neutralized the threat of the team completely. One cannot make the judgment on the very first game of the season but it was a glaring issue which downed the team in that match. While the other positions look staked, goalkeeper Amrinder Singh looks a weak link to the team. That being said he was in his best form under Lobera in his time at Mumbai City.
Prediction
Odisha FC have every right to dream big with the squad and one of the best manager in the league at their disposal. Playoffs should be guaranteed for the side and they could even turn out to be contenders for the Shield if they could jell with Lobera’s tactics and meet the expectations. If the connection is not there, the team will not be able to do much even with so many winners around. The factor that could define the season is how well they could manage the domestic league side by side with the hustle at the continental stage. It has eroded teams before but Odisha FC will hope to keep the level of intensity throughout the campaign.
