Field Vision

Odisha FC made brilliant strategic acquistions in the summer keeping the core group intact.

With the Indian Super League 2024-25 kicking off on September 13, Odisha FC will look to continue their momentum as they begin their campaign against Chennaiyin FC. The Bhubaneswar-based franchise has built a strong and stable squad since their inception in 2019. Their smart decisions in the transfer market and a strong footballing culture have resulted in a fourth-placed finish in ISL 2023-24, reaching as far as the semi-finals.

Under the tutelage of the iconic manager Sergio Lobera, the Juggernauts have established themselves as a force to reckon with in the ISL. They will surely look to challenge for their first title win this year.

Previous Season

ISL 2023-24 was a breakout season for the Odisha FC in terms of being a top-table finisher in the league. The new manager and the summer signings of Roy Krishna changed the entire outlook of the Odisha FC squad, and they secured their first-ever playoff spot in the ISL, winning 11 of their 22 league matches, amassing a club-record 39 points. They finished the season in fourth place and also won their first silverware under Lobera.

Manager Profile

Over the years, Odisha FC has experimented with a number of managers, including former South Africa national team boss Stuart Baxter and Barcelona youth coach Josep Gombau. However, since Gombau’s departure, Odisha has put their faith in former FC Goa and Mumbai City manager Sergio Lobera.

Like most of Odisha’s former managers, Sergio Lobera also hails from Spain. However, his football education has strictly been formed in FC Barcelona, where managed the youth and ‘Barcelona C’ team for almost 11 years.

He successfully transitioned to the Indian football league, starting his ISL managerial career with FC Goa back in 2017. He won the ISL Winner’s Shield and Super Cup in 2019. He then moved on to Mumbai City, where he continued to fill up his trophy cabinet, winning the ISL title as well as the ISL Shield in the 2020-21 season.

Summer Signings

Odisha FC’s steady rise over the years has been in part because of their smart investments in the transfer market, and the same has been true for this season as well. After their success in ISL last season, instead of resting on their laurels, the Kalinga Warriors dipped into the market to strengthen their squad.

Their biggest capture has been that of French-Moroccan midfielder Hugo Boumous, who has previously played under Sergio Lobera for both FC Goa and Mumbai City. Boumous, who just turned 29 in July, will be in his prime and can be expected to be the focal point of their play for a number of seasons to come.

They have also purchased a number of Indian players to strengthen their numbers. One signing which can prove to be one of the shrewdest buys of the season is Amey Ranawade from Mumbai City. The 26-year-old full-back is one of the most exciting Indian youngsters in the ISL. 

Odisha FC have also signed striker Rahim Ali from Chennaiyin FC, and fans will hope that the 15-cap Indian attacker finds his shooting touch again before the start of the ISL season. Defensive midfielder Rohit Kumar has joined from Bengaluru FC. 

However, their biggest win in the transfer market will be able to retain the services of Roy Krishna. Krishna, one of the best strikers in the history of ISL, will surely be crucial in Odisha FC’s bid to challenge for the title.

Youth Talents at the Club

One of the highlights of Sergio Lobera’s game is entrusting the club’s youth players to move up the ranks, and Odisha FC have invested in their young players to fuel that approach further.

In collaboration with the Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC), Odisha FC has taken in promising youngsters Narendra Naik and Subham Bhattacharya to their first team this season. How many minutes these youngsters get for the first team remains to be seen yet, but their addition is a step forward in bridging the gulf in class between the senior and youth teams of Odisha FC.

The club has also dipped into the market for young players, and several teenage talents have been admitted to the first team for experience building. 20-year-old former India U16 international Paogoumang Singson joined from Kenkre FC, while 19-year-old Jeremy Zohminghlua was signed from Hyderabad FC.

20-year-old right back Tankadhar Bag, signed from Indian Arrows in January 2023, will be expected to feature often for the Kalinga Warriors in this season’s edition of the ISL.

Pre-Season

Odisha FC competed in the Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy in Goa for their pre-season preparations, and they reached the final stages after winning all their other matches. They defeated both of the foreign teams participating in the tournament – Brisbane Road of Australia and CSD Defensa y Justicia of Argentina – as well as ISL teams like Chennaiyin FC, on their way to the final round.

Even though Odisha FC eventually lost to FC Goa in a close final match, they will take a lot of learnings from their performance in the rigorous pre-season tour.

Meanwhile, the reserve team of Odisha FC competed in the Durand Cup, where they lost two matches and won one match in the group stage.

Tactical Approach

As a result of his FC Barcelona upbringing, Lobera’s own footballing tactic has been shaped by a blend of Cruyff’s dynamic structure and the famed tiki-taka format of attacking play accentuated by short and quick passes.

He has instilled this form of fluid attacking style in both Goa and Mumbai, which has led to him becoming a quasi-revolutionary manager in Indian footballing history. He has epitomised the concept of ‘total football’ pioneered by Cruyff, where the entire team plays like one cohesive unit in both attack and defence.

However, this is not to say that Lobera simply lifts his ideas off of his early education. His tactical approach has its own unique points as well, the most important of which is his choice of formation. Ever since his Goa days, Lobera has preferred to play with a 4-2-3-1 or a slightly different 4-4-1-1 formation, which is different from La Masia’s usual 4-3-3 approach.

With a new-look Odisha FC under his leadership in this season’s ISL, it will be interesting to see what tactical approach Lobera takes as he attempts to lead his team to the final glory.

Challenges Ahead

The biggest problem for Odisha FC this season, much like the rest of the footballing world, is fixture congestion. During the first two weeks of December, Odisha FC will face Bengaluru FC, Mumbai City FC, and East Bengal FC within a span of 12 days, which will stretch their squad to the limit.

Another note of concern for the Odisha FC squad will be their away form. Odisha FC had made their home ground of Kalinga Stadium an impenetrable fortress, going unbeaten in 13 games and winning 10 of those. However, their away form has been much less spectacular, with the team winning only three of their 12 away encounters last season.

Fans Expectations

The Kalinga Warriors have enjoyed some of the most passionate levels of fan support throughout their stint in the ISL, and that is expected to continue this season as well. The expectations from fans will be even more pronounced after their title-challenging performance last season, and the home crowd will not settle for anything less this year as well.

The mood in the Kalinga Stadium has been quite joyous as well, especially with the recent signing of Hugo Boumous. The former Morocco U23 squad member has been one of the best attacking midfielders in the ISL since joining FC Goa in 2018, and his partnership with Roy Krishna will be one to savour for both Odisha FC fans and neutrals alike.

Early Predictions for the Season

For the first time since their inception, Odisha FC will start of the ISL season as genuine title contenders. They have a well-rounded squad with a mix of experienced foreigners and up-and-coming local stars in each position.

With veteran Senegalese defender Mourtada Fall manning the backline ahead of their custodian Amrinder Singh, Odisha FC will be sure of their defensive solidity.

The presence of Diego Mauricio and Roy Krishna makes Odisha FC’s attack one of the most lethal in the league, and they can expect to unlock even the strongest of defences with the creativity of Puitea and Boumous.

Therefore, the Kalinga Warriors will be expected to lead the charge to yet another title challenge and a top-four finish in this season’s ISL campaign. However, even the best of teams can have their campaign derailed by injuries, so they will need to rotate their squad appropriately and maintain their form through the entirety of the season.

Odisha FC Predicted XI: 

Amrinder Singh (GK), Amey Ranawade, Narender Gahlot, Carlos Delgado, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Ahmed Jahouh, Puitea, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Hugo Boumous, Isak Vanlalruatfela, Roy Krishna

Odisha FC Squad: 

Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Anuj Kumar, Kamaljit Singh, Niraj Kumar.

Defenders: Amey Ranawade, Carlos Delgado, Jeremy Zohminghlua, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Narender Gahlot, Saviour Gama, Mourtada Fall, Subham Bhattacharya, Tankadhar Bag, Thoiba Singh.

Midfielders: Hugo Boumous, Ahmed Jahouh, Givson Singh, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Narendra Naik, Raynier Fernandes, Rohit Kumar.

Forwards: Aphaoba Singh, Diego Maurício, Isak Vanlalruatfela, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Rahim Ali, Roy Krishna.

Coaching staff: Manager: Sergio Lobera (Spain), Team Manager: Anish Shetty (India), Assistant Manager: Santosh Kashyap (India), Assistant Manager: Floyd Pinto (India), Goalkeeping Coach: Manu Patricio (Argentina), Fitness Coach: Pepe Losada (Spain), Technical Assistant: Joy Gabriel (India)