The 2020-21 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) was the longest season so far. Comprising 120 games over the course of 5 months, it was eventually won by Mumbai City FC – which secured both the League Winner’s Shield and the playoffs title.
The team’s victory didn’t end there. When the ISL released its Team of the Year, Mumbai City came out on top, dominating the prestigious line up. From the team’s goalkeeper to its central midfielder, four of its players made the cut. This means it just beat Hyderabad FC, which supplied three players to the team.
Mumbai City FC may be just six years old, but it’s already distinguished itself as one of the strongest teams in the country. In this blog post, we’ll share which Mumbai City players made the Team of the Season.
1. Amrinder Singh (Goalkeeper)
With 10 clean sheets throughout the season, it’s no surprise that Amrinder Singh was singled out as the best goalkeeper of 2020-21. He made his football debut during the 2011 Indian Federation Cup, playing for Pune Football Club (now replaced by Hyderabad FC). Singh remained with the team until the end of 2015.
Singh was loaned to Mumbai City in 2016 and signed for the club permanently the following year, after winning the 2016 Indian Super League Golden Glove. His contract has since been extended until May 2021.
2. Ahmed Jahouh (Central Midfielder)
Most touches and tackles, second-most passes, seventh-most assists – Ahmed Jahouh had an impressive track record in the 2020-21 season. Over the course of 20 matches, he made five assists and averaged 8.65 tackles per game.
Jahouh started his career playing for a Moroccan football club and played for the Arab Nations Cup in 2012. His playing style has been described as ‘tenacious’ and ‘ingenious’ by sports journalists.
3. Hugo Boumous (Right Midfielder)
French footballer Hugo Boumous moved to Mumbai City from FC Goa in 2020, so this was his first season playing for Mumbai. He recorded an average of 3.22 tackles in every match and scored twice against Goa, but unfortunately had to miss a few matches on account of injuries.
In the 2019-20 season, while playing for FC Goa, Boumous won the Indian Super League Golden Ball, a prize given to the best player in the league.
4. Bipin Singh (Left Midfielder)
Completing the set is Bipin Singh, a 26-year-old player who started playing football professionally in 2012. Although his debut was brief – he came on as a sub in the 81st minute– it paved the way for an impressive ongoing career.
Playing against Odisha Football Club on 24th February, Bipin scored a hat-trick, helping Mumbai City FC secure its 6-1 victory. Meanwhile, Singh also scored the decisive winner in the competition’s final, rounding things with fitting excitement.
After the season ended, he was one of the 35 players selected for the India national football team camp. He made his debut in a match against Oman on 25th March 2021.
