2016_Kerala_Blasters_FC_season
2016 Kerala Blasters FC season
3rd season in existence of Kerala Blasters FC
The 2016 season was the third season in Kerala Blasters FC's existence, as well as their third season in Indian Super League. After finishing second position in the league stage, the club managed to make it to the final. In the finals, they were again defeated by Atlético de Kolkata, this time through the penalty shoot-out.
Quick Facts Head Coach, Stadium ...
| 2016 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Steve Coppell | ||
| Stadium | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium | ||
| Indian Super League | 2nd | ||
| Finals | Runners-Up | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: C.K. Vineeth (5 goals) All: C.K. Vineeth (5 goals) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 80,294 | ||
| Average home league attendance | 55,535 | ||
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| |||
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In 2016, in an effort to rebuild after failing to qualify for the finals the previous season, Kerala Blasters announced the signing of former Crystal Palace manager Steve Coppell as head coach on 21 June 2016.[1] A week later, the club announced the signing of Northern Ireland international Aaron Hughes as their marquee player for the season.[2] Other moves made before the season included the signing of Graham Stack, Kervens Belfort, Duckens Nazon, and Mohammed Rafique and return of former players Michael Chopra and Cédric Hengbart.[3]
The season began where the previous left off, with a 1–0 defeat away from home against NorthEast United.[4] After the first month of the season, the Blasters had one of the best defenses statistically in the league but struggled in attack.[5] In the second half of the season, after the return of C.K. Vineeth from loan with Bengaluru FC, the Blasters managed to surge their way into the finals.[6] They achieved this by defeating Delhi Dynamos 3–0 in a penalty shootout during the semi-final.[7] In the final, the Kerala Blasters would play host to Atlético de Kolkata. The Blasters took the lead early through Mohammed Rafi before Kolkata equalized soon after. The match went into a penalty shootout, Despite taking the lead early in the shootout, the Kerala Blasters lost 4–3 and thus were defeated in their second final in three seasons.[8]
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
More information No., Pos. ...
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Source: Indian Super League 2016
Main article: List of 2016 Indian Super League season roster changes
Retained
More information Position, Player ...
Foreign players
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Indian players
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New signings
More information Position, Player ...
| Position | Player | Last club | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FW |  Thongkhosiem Haokip |
Goa |
7 July 2016 | [11] |
| DF | Pratik Chowdhary |
Mumbai |
13 July 2016 | [12] |
| DF |  Aaron Hughes |
 Melbourne City |
28 July 2016 | [13] |
| GK |  Graham Stack |
 Barnet |
3 August 2016 | [14] |
| FW | Michael Chopra |
 Alloa Athletic |
7 August 2016 | [15] |
| DF |  Elhadji Ndoye |
 Kyzylzhar |
9 August 2016 | [16] |
| FW |  Kervens Belfort |
 1461 Trabzon |
12 August 2016 | [17] |
| DF |  Cédric Hengbart |
NorthEast United |
16 August 2016 | [18] |
| MF | Mohammed Rafique |
Atlético de Kolkata |
22 August 2016 | [19] |
| MF |  Azrack Mahamat |
 Levadiakos |
23 August 2016 | [20] |
| DF | Rino Anto |
Atlético de Kolkata |
26 August 2016 | [21] |
| MF |  Didier Kadio |
Zhetysu |
30 August 2016 | [22] |
| MF | Vinit Rai |
Dempo |
2 September 2016 | [23] |
| FW | Duckens Nazon |
 Tondela |
6 September 2016 | [24] |
| GK | Kunal Sawant |
Mumbai |
7 September 2016 | [25] |
| GK | Mohammad Ansari |
Pune |
7 September 2016 | [25] |
| FW | Prasanth Karuthadathkuni |
AIFF Elite Academy |
7 September 2016 | [25] |
| FW | Farukh Choudhary |
Lonestar Kashmir |
7 September 2016 | [25] |
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BBCU 
v 
Kerala Blasters
v Kerala Blasters
| 12 September 2016 (2016-09-12) Friendly | BBCU | 1–2 | Kerala Blasters | Bangkok |
| Report |
Bangkok United v Kerala Blasters
v Kerala Blasters
| 15 September 2016 (2016-09-15) Friendly | Bangkok United | 0–0 | Kerala Blasters | Bangkok |
| Report |
Southern Samity v Kerala Blasters
v Kerala Blasters
| 24 September 2016 (2016-09-24) Friendly | Southern Samity | 1–1 | Kerala Blasters | Kolkata |
| Report |
Main article: 2016 Indian Super League season
More information Pos, Pld ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mumbai City | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 8 | +8 | 23 | Advance to ISL Play-offs |
| 2 | Kerala Blasters | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 14 | −2 | 22 | |
| 3 | Delhi Dynamos | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 27 | 17 | +10 | 21 | |
| 4 | Atlético de Kolkata (C) | 14 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 14 | +2 | 20 | |
| 5 | NorthEast United | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 18 |
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Source: Indian Super League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) play-off match
(C) Champions
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) play-off match
(C) Champions
Results summary
More information Overall, Home ...
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 15 | −2 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 11 | −7 |
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Results
NorthEast United v Kerala Blasters
| 1 October 2016 (2016-10-01) 1 | NorthEast United | 1–0 | Kerala Blasters | Guwahati |
| 19:00 IST | Yusa  55' |
Report | Stadium: Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium Attendance: 27,629 Referee: Pranjal Banerji |
Kerala Blasters v Atlético de Kolkata
| 5 October 2016 (2016-10-05) 2 | Kerala Blasters | 0–1 | Atlético de Kolkata | Kochi |
| 19:00 IST | Report | Lara 53' |
Stadium: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Attendance: 54,900 Referee: Umesh Bora |
Kerala Blasters v Delhi Dynamos
| 9 October 2016 (2016-10-09) 3 | Kerala Blasters | 0–0 | Delhi Dynamos | Kochi |
| 19:00 IST | Report | Stadium: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Attendance: 54,913 Referee: Tejas Nagvenkar |
Kerala Blasters v Mumbai City
| 14 October 2016 (2016-10-14) 4 | Kerala Blasters | 1–0 | Mumbai City | Kochi |
| 19:00 IST | Chopra 58' |
Report | Stadium: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Attendance: 40,013 Referee: Ajit Dutta |
Pune City v Kerala Blasters
| 17 October 2016 (2016-10-17) 5 | Pune City | 1–1 | Kerala Blasters | Pune |
| 19:00 IST | Sissoko 68' |
Report | Hengbart 3' |
Stadium: Balewadi Stadium Attendance: 8,556 Referee: Ajit Meetei |
Goa v Kerala Blasters
| 24 October 2016 (2016-10-24) 6 | Goa | 1–2 | Kerala Blasters | Margao |
| 19:00 IST | César 24' |
Report | Rafi 46' Belfort 84' |
Stadium: Fatorda Stadium Attendance: 18,157 Referee: C. R. Srikrishna |
Chennaiyin v Kerala Blasters
| 29 October 2016 (2016-10-29) 7 | Chennaiyin | 0–0 | Kerala Blasters | Chennai |
| 19:00 IST | Report | Stadium: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Attendance: 23,163 Referee: Pranjal Banerjee |
Delhi Dynamos v Kerala Blasters
| 4 November 2014 (2014-11-04) 8 | Delhi Dynamos | 2–0 | Kerala Blasters | Delhi |
| 19:00 IST | Lewis 56' Marcelinho 60' |
Report | Stadium: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Attendance: 15,471 Referee: Nick Waldron |
Kerala Blasters v Goa
| 8 November 2016 (2016-11-08) 9 | Kerala Blasters | 2–1 | Goa | Kochi |
| 19:00 IST | Belfort 48' (pen) Vineeth 90+9' |
Report | Coelho 9' |
Stadium: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Attendance: 34,196 Referee: Nick Waldron |
Kerala Blasters v Chennaiyin
| 12 November 2016 (2016-11-12) 10 | Kerala Blasters | 3–1 | Chennaiyin | Kochi |
| 19:00 IST | Kadio 66' Vineeth 85', 89' |
Report | Mendy 22' |
Stadium: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Attendance: 53,152 Referee: Nivon Robesh Gamini |
Mumbai City v Kerala Blasters
| 19 November 2016 (2016-11-19) 11 | Mumbai City | 5–0 | Kerala Blasters | Mumbai |
| 19:00 IST | Forlán 5', 14', 63' Alves 69'Goian 73' |
Report | Stadium: Mumbai Football Arena Attendance: 7583 |
Kerala Blasters v Pune City
| 25 November 2016 (2016-11-25) 12 | Kerala Blasters | 2–1 | Pune City | Kochi |
| 19:00 IST | Nazon 7' Hughes 57' |
Report | Zurdo 90+5' |
Stadium: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Attendance: 51341 |
Atlético de Kolkata v Kerala Blasters
| 29 November 2016 (2016-11-29) 13 | Atlético de Kolkata | 1–1 | Kerala Blasters | Kolkata |
| 19:00 IST | Stephen Pearson 18' |
C.K. Vineeth 8' |
Stadium: Rabindra Sarobar Stadium |
Kerala Blasters v NorthEast United
| 4 December 2016 (2016-12-04) 14 | Kerala Blasters | 1–0 | NorthEast United | Kochi |
| 19:00 IST | C.K. Vineeth 66' |
Stadium: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Attendance: 53000 |
More information #, Position ...
| # | Position | Player | GP | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Graham Stack | 6 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Pratik Chowdhary | 8 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Cédric Hengbart | 17 | 1 |
| 6 | DF | Aaron Hughes | 9 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | Mohammed Rafique | 10 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Vinit Rai | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Kervens Belfort | 13 | 3 |
| 10 | FW | Antonio German | 11 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | Ishfaq Ahmed | 6 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | Thongkhosiem Haokip | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | FW | C.K. Vineeth | 9 | 5 |
| 14 | MF | Mehtab Hossain | 16 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | Gurwinder Singh | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | Farukh Choudhary | 2 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | Elhadji Ndoye | 4 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | Mohammed Rafi | 13 | 2 |
| 21 | DF | Sandesh Jhingan | 17 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | Prasanth Karuthadathkuni | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | GK | Kunal Sawant | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | GK | Sandip Nandy | 10 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | Michael Chopra | 10 | 1 |
| 30 | GK | Mohammad Ansari | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | DF | Rino Anto | 3 | 0 |
| 57 | MF | Didier Kadio | 11 | 1 |
| 78 | FW | Duckens Nazon | 11 | 2 |
| 88 | MF | Azrack Mahamat | 11 | 0 |
| 99 | DF |  Josu | 15 | 0 |
Close
- "Kerala Blasters announce Steve Coppell as manager for ISL 2016". FirstPost. 22 June 2016. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- "Kerala Blasters bags Aaron Hughes as marquee player". Times of India. 28 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2 August 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- "Indian Super League 2016 Team Profile - Kerala Blasters". Goal.com. 30 September 2016. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- "NorthEast United 1-0 Kerala Blasters - Katsumi Yusa wins it for Highlanders". Goal.com. 1 October 2016. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- Bali, Rahul (26 October 2016). "Kerala Blasters' invoke defensive rally as FC Goa continue to crumble". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- "CK Vineeth - If I prove myself, I'll get selected in the national team". Goal.com. 10 December 2016. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- Puri, Rohan (15 December 2016). "Delhi Dynamos fumble at the post". Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
- Ghosh, Sayan (19 December 2016). "Atletico de Kolkata beat Kerala Blasters 4-3 on penalties to win ISL 2016". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 27 July 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
- "Antonio German and Josué Currais Prieto return to don the Yellow Jersey for Kerala Blasters in ISL Season 3". Indian Super League. Archived from the original on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- "CK Vineeth retained". Kerala Blasters FC (Twitter). Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- "Kerala Blasters sign 22-year old forward Thongkhosiem Haokip for ISL season three". Firstpost. 7 July 2016. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Kerala Blasters sign defender Pratik Chaudhari". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Indian Super League Live Football Scores, News, Stats, Schedules, Results, Highlights, Photos, Videos – NDTV Sports". NDTVSports.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Kerala Blasters sign former Arsenal stopper Graham Stack". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Kerala Blasters bring back English striker Michael Chopra". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- Maitra, Sayantan (9 August 2016). "After Michael Chopra, top Senegalese defender joins Kerala Blasters ahead of ISL 2016". www.ibtimes.co.in. Archived from the original on 16 November 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "ISL 2017: Kervens Belfort - Kochi is my home, Kerala is my family | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Kerala Blasters defender Cedric Hengbart signs for Maltese club Mosta FC | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Mohammed Rafique: Kolkata's loss, Kerala's gain in ISL3?". Hindustan Times. 13 August 2016. Archived from the original on 23 January 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Kerala Blasters bolster midfield with signing of Azrack Mahamat". ANI News. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Rino Anto signs for Kerala Blasters". Kerala Blasters (Twitter). 26 August 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- Bharali, Abhijit (21 August 2017). "ISL 2017: Ex-Kerala Blasters star slams rumours linking him to other ISL clubs". www.sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- Reporter, Sports (15 September 2010). "Vinit Rai signs for Kerala Blasters". assamtribune.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Kerala Blasters strengthen their attack with Haitian footballer Duckens Nazon for Indian Super League 2016". Indian Super League. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Kerala Blasters announces final squad for Indian Super League 2016". Indian Super League. 7 September 2016. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2016.