The only Indian to have ever appeared in the Europa League, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu joined Bengaluru from Norwegian side Stabaek FC ahead of the 2017-18 campaign. In his first season with the Blues, Gurpreet held the Golden Glove award until the final game of the campaign before winning the Super Cup title later that year. An Arjuna Awardee, and India’s first-choice custodian, Gurpreet is Bengaluru’s guardian between the goalposts for at least another four years, having signed a five-year contract with the club at the start of the 2018-19 campaign. With his stellar performances in goal, the Blues managed to win the Indian Super League in their second attempt, as Gurpreet was handed the Golden Glove award.

The younger brother of defender Gursimrat Singh Gill, Prabhsukhan joins the Blues after strong performances for the Indian Arrows in the I-League. Starting out with the AIFF Elite Academy, Prabhsukhan made the cut to the Indian National Football Team at the FIFA U17 World Cup, in 2017. Following the World Cup, Prabhsukhan was drafted into the India U20 team to be a part of the 2018 AFC U19 Championship qualifiers. The young custodian has vowed to push himself in the Bengaluru squad, fighting for a place with fellow youngster Aditya Patra and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

A member of the India U16, U17 and U19 teams in the past, Aditya Patra joined the goalkeeping ranks ahead of the Blues’ 2018-19 Indian Super League season. Having played for amateur sides, his first ever professional contract has come with the Blues. A shot-stopper with the potential to reach the very top, Aditya featured regularly in Bengaluru FC’s B team in their victorious Puttaiah Memorial Cup and BDFA Super Division League campaigns. In 2019, Patra featured twice for Bengaluru FC in their Durand Cup campaign, and with the right amount of guidance and coaching, is one to look out for in the future.

A midfielder by trade, Harmanjot Khabra’s versatility has been his greatest strength since his move to Bengaluru in 2017. Graduating from the famed TATA Football Academy, Khabra joined Goa’s Sporting Clube and then went on to sign with and captain Kolkata club, East Bengal. The 30-year-old was Chennaiyin FC’s first pick at the inaugural Indian Super League player draft and won the title the following season. His time with East Bengal saw him lift the Federation Cup three times, the Calcutta Football League seven times and the IFA Shield in 2012. Often deployed at right-back, Khabra offers the Blues the opportunity to switch formations without looking at the bench, with his ability to move into midfield seamlessly to close games out.

A boy with very humble beginnings, Rino Anto toiled hard and long to make it as a professional footballer. Born in Thrissur, Kerala, Rino traveled to the TATA Football Academy in Jamshedpur as a 16-year-old before signing his first professional contract with Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan four years later. After stints in Kolkata and Goa, where he represented Salgaocar, a knee injury saw Rino almost quit the sport he loved, resorting to a job with the Postal services in Kerala. With one final push from his mother, who mortgaged her jewellery to fund his operations, Rino joined Quartz, an I-League 2nd Division club from Kozhikode before being picked up by the Blues ahead of their maiden campaign in 2013-14. A right-back by trade, Rino spent seasons at ATK and Kerala Blasters before returning to the club ahead of the victorious 2018-19 Indian Super League campaign.

From being left out at the Indian Super League draft three years ago to scoring the winner in the final at his hometown, life really did come full circle for Rahul Bheke. A versatile defender with a long throw in his arsenal, Bheke was the Blues’ second pick at the Indian Super League draft of 2017. Capable of playing in all four defensive positions, Bheke was named the Players’ Player of the Season and Goal of the Season in his second season with the Blues, the latter for his 117th minute header which won Bengaluru its maiden Indian Super League title. In what was a delayed but a just reward for his efforts, Bheke was called up to the Senior Indian National Team squad for the Kings Cup in Thailand, where he made his debut for the Blue Tigers.

Picked up by the Blues from the India U19 squad in 2015, Nishu Kumar came through the ranks at the Chandigarh Football Academy and the AIFF Elite Academy. Representing the India U20 side at the 2016 AFC U19 Championship, Nishu impressed the Bengaluru backroom staff after strong performances in a friendly game held in the city in 2015. In four seasons with the club, the left-back has amassed over 70 appearances in all competitions, and has become a mainstay in the Bengaluru backline over the years. Nishu made his senior International debut when he started and scored against Jordan in November 2018.

Among the most versatile players to come out of the Bengaluru FC B setup, Parag Shrivas can play along the left flank as a full-back, winger and has even started as a striker in some of the developmental side’s BDFA Super Division League and Puttaiah Memorial Cup games. He made his debut for the first team in the club’s clash against Jamshedpur FC at the JRD TATA Sports Complex, slotting in at left-back for the final 30 minutes. Parag was named the BFC B Player of the Year for his impressive performances, and has been drafted into the first team for a second season on the trot.

A product of RCD Espanyol’s youth system, Albert Serran appeared in three La Liga games with the Barcelona-based team before making the move to Swansea City in the Football League in 2008. Despite offers to turn out for FC Barcelona as youngster, Serran chose to remain in a side where he would get regular game time. Under Brendan Rodgers, Serran featured in a Swans’ side that was promoted to the Premier League in 2012, but chose to move away to Cyprus, where he turned out for AEK Larnaca FC. After stints in Albania and Morocco, Serran signed with Bengaluru FC during the club’s pre-season tour to Spain in 2017. Forging a partnership with Juanan, the defender was instrumental in the club’s Indian Super League winning season.

Capable of playing in multiple defensive positions, Gursimrat Singh Gill joined the Blues in 2016, after spending his formative years with the AIFF Elite Academy. Despite hailing from a family fond of hockey, Gursimrat and his brother Prabhsukhan followed their passion for the beautiful game, and found their way into the Bengaluru dressing room. Gursimrat was a part of the AIFF Elite Academy that won the I-League U19 title in 2014-15. The 22-year-old made his debut for the Blues in the AFC Cup, and made just three appearances before moving to NorthEast United in 2017 at the Indian Super League draft. After a season with the Highlanders, Gursimrat moved back to Bengaluru ahead of their second season in the ISL and came off the bench on several occasions to aid the Blues’ defence. Gursimrat has featured regularly for the Bengaluru FC B side with whom he has won the BDFA Super Division League and the Puttaiah Memorial Cup.

A defender with bouts of pace and an astute aerial presence, Kima is one of India’s brightest young defenders. A product of Chanmari’s youth academy, Kima represented DSK Shivajians in 2015 before signing with Jamshedpur ahead of their debut campaign in the Indian Super League. After signing with the Blues in 2018, Kima featured in Bengaluru FC B’s League and Cup triumph before making his ISL debut against former club Jamshedpur FC at the end of the Blues’ campaign.

The club’s current longest-serving foreigner, Juanan Gonzalez joined the club ahead of their historic run to the 2016 AFC Cup final. Having turned out for Real Madrid’s Castilla side after a youth career at Mallorca and San Francisco, Juanan traveled to Germany, Hungary and the USA where he represented Fortuna Dusseldorf, Ujpest and Rayo OKC respectively. A no-nonsense defender with a penchant for scoring at important moments, Juanan netted the Blues’ third and final goal against Johor Darul Ta’zim in their 3-1 win at the Fortress in October 2016. Juanan has taken to Bengaluru like a fish to the water, imbibing as much of the culture as possible in his three years at the club so far. His love for the club and city saw Juanan etch one of its famous monuments, the Shiva Temple, to his sleeve as a tattoo.

A two-time winner of the Indian Super League, Raphael Augusto will find it easy to blend into the Blues’ dressing room. Born in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Augusto came through the youth ranks of Fluminense and the Brazilian outfit remained his parent club for over ten years, where a string of loan spells saw him play at various clubs in USA and Poland. A strong and imposing presence in midfield, with his hold-up play and close control, Augusto won the Indian Super League in 2015 and 2018 with Chennaiyin FC, scoring against Bengaluru in the latter final at the Fortress. Having signed with the Blues on a two-year deal, the Brazilian will look to add some samba to the Bengaluru attack, joining forces with Erik Paartalu, Dimas Delgado and Eugeneson Lyngdoh in midfield.

With the ability to turn a stone into a cotton ball, Dimas Delgado is Bengaluru FC’s magician in the middle. At 36, his best years may be behind him, but Dimas continues to defy age and time with his performances in the 2018-19 Indian Super League testament to that. A product of the FC Gramenet academy, Dimas was a pupil at Pep Guardiola’s FC Barcelona B before moving south to Numancia, Cartagena and Recreativo de Huelva in a seven-year spell. His travels then took him to Australia where he captained Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League for two campaigns. Since his move to Bengaluru in 2017, Dimas has been a focal figure at the club, providing the assist from a corner for Rahul Bheke’s 117th minute strike in the 2018-19 Indian Super League final.

From the sugarcane fields of Malappuram to the Blues’ dressing room, Ashique Kuruniyan’s story is one of grit and determination. Going through the ranks in his district and state teams, Ashique turned out for Pune FC in the U19 I-League before moving to the FC Pune City academy in 2016. A loan deal saw the youngster fly to Spain where he represented La Liga giants Villarreal CF’s reserve team before making his India U19 bow. Among India’s rising young stars, Ashique made his Senior National Team debut at the AFC Asian Cup in 2019 and formed a lethal partnership with Sunil Chhetri and Udanta Singh up front. Having signed with the Blues, he will now hope that the chemistry is forged at club level.

Having joined the club through open trials for the Residential Academy setup in 2016, Ajay Chhetri was among the longest serving members of the BFC B squad before being drafted into the senior team last season. A midfielder with intelligence beyond his years, Ajay keeps his game simple by recycling possession and connecting defence and midfield. The 20-year-old put on strong performances for the reserve side in their Durand Cup campaign, scoring their only goal against East Bengal in Kolkata and is touted to have a big role to play in years to come.

Another graduate of the AIFF Elite Academy, Suresh Wangjam began his career with the Bir Chandra Memorial Sports Club in Manipur, was selected to represent the India U14s in 2014 and was also a part of the national team that took part in the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2017. Before joining the Blues, 18-year-old Wangjam spent two years alongside Prabhsukhan in the Indian Arrows setup. A midfielder who adds steel to Cuadrat’s squad, Wangjam represented the Bengaluru FC B side in their Durand Cup campaign of 2019, scoring three times from the spot to finish the tournament as the Blues’ top-scorer.

A journeyman in his own right, Erik Paartalu played for clubs in Australia, Scotland, China, Thailand, Qatar and South Korea before making the switch to Bengaluru in 2017. Capped twice by the Australian National Team, Paartalu is tasked with what footballers call the ‘dirty work’, heckling opposition midfielders and breaking down potential attacks. With a long diagonal punt to die for, Paartalu also plays a key role in Cuadrat’s attacking intent, providing the passes for Udanta and Chhetri to run onto while providing cover for the Blues’ defence line. The defining moment of Paartalu’s career, by his own admission, came when he scored Brisbane Roar’s equaliser with the last touch of the game in the 120th minute in the A-League final of 2011.

Eugeneson Lyngdoh is no stranger to Bengaluru. His tryst with the city began a long time ago when he turned out for the Bishop Cottons’ Boys School in the Baldwin Shield. After stints with Shillong Lajong and Rangdajied United, the midfielder joined the Blues in 2014. In his first season at the club, he scored 9 goals and assisted 16 more as he claimed the I-League’s midfielder of the season award and also the AIFF Player of the Year award. He was also named the Fans’ and Players’ Player of the Year at the annual awards night before being signed by FC Pune City at the inaugural Indian Super League auction. Later, after guiding the Blues to the AFC Cup final of 2016 and the Federation Cup victory in 2017, Lyngdoh joined ATK. Now back in the city where his footballing journey began, Lyngdoh is keen to make his second coming count.

A Mumbai-boy through and through, Kean Lewis began his career with the PIFA Sports Club before being invited to trial with Leicester’s Academy at the age of 14. He then moved to Mahindra United and then TATA Football Academy. In 2010, Lewis moved to the United States of America and continued to play college football with the Fairleigh Dickenson Heights. He then moved to Texas, where he turned out for the U23 side of Houston Dynamos and Laredo Heat. In 2015, Kean returned to India where he signed with Mohun Bagan and won the I-League in his first season. After seasons with FC Pune City and Delhi Dynamos in the ISL, Kean signed with Bengaluru in 2018. A winger with an eye for a key pass, Kean assisted Erik Paartalu’s winner on his first start for the club and has been an important part of the Blues’ squad during his time with the club.

The club’s longest serving player and the only one to have played all six seasons in Bengaluru blue, Sunil Chhetri is a name that needs no introduction. India’s all-time highest goalscorer and appearance maker, Chhetri has won six top-scorer awards in his time with Bengaluru and at 35, is still firing in the goals. Captain since the club’s inception in 2013, Chhetri has played for India’s biggest clubs in Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, JCT and Dempo among others while also playing abroad with Sporting Kansas in the US and briefly with Sporting Club de Portugal ahead of his arrival in Bengaluru. Chhetri has over 150 appearances for BFC and going by the look of things, he has no plans of slowing down.

Spotted by Pune FC while playing for the United Sports Association team in Khurai, Semboi, has he’s more popularly known, made his way through the ranks in Pune before graduating to the senior team in 2013. After loan spells with FC Goa and Salgaocar, Semboi moved to Kerala Blasters in 2016. Semboi moved to East Bengal on loan in 2017 before joining Bengaluru FC ahead of the maiden ISL season. While at Pune, Semboi went on to finish the 2014–15 I-League season as the top scorer among all Indians with seven goals. An important asset coming off the bench, Semboi played a crucial role in the Blues’ 2016-17 AFC Cup campaign, playing nine times and scoring three goals.

Arguably the fastest player in the country, when Udanta Singh gets on his bike there’s really no catching him. Having joined the club as a teenager in 2014, Udanta is a product of the TFA Academy and helped his side win the U19 I-League before making the switch to Bengaluru. Born in Manipur, the 23-year-old is blessed with bags of pace that he utilizes to run onto long diagonals and create chances. Among the most improved players in the Indian Super League last season, Udanta claimed the award for the highest number of assists in the 2017-18 campaign with seven to his name, including two in the final against Chennaiyin FC.

A graduate of the AIFF Elite Academy, Edmund Lalrindika represented the India U20 team and was drafted into the Indian Arrows setup in 2017. After a strong season with the Arrows, Lalrindika joined the BFC B squad in 2018. Returning from injury, he helped the developmental side to a BDFA Super Division and Puttaiah Memorial Cup triumph, scoring six goals in a single game as he went on to make his senior team debut, against Mumbai City FC at the Mumbai Football Arena in November. A striker with bouts of pace and the ability to take on defenders, Edmund made four appearances for Carles Cuadrat, winning a penalty against Jamshedpur FC.

Born in Tudela, Manuel had youth spells with Club Atlético Valtierrano and CD Tudelano, making his senior debut with the latter in 2006. In 2007, Onwu signed with Osasuna B and had loan spells at CD Iruña and UD Alzira before returning to the reserve side of the La Liga side. While Manuel featured and netted regularly for Osasuna B in the Segunda B Division, he was called up to the first team and made his La Liga debut in March 2012. With big shoes to fill in the Bengaluru attack, Onwu’s resume suggests he is up to the task. Having played three seasons in the Spanish top flight and another one in the Segunda Division for Osasuna, Manuel had a brief spell in Georgia with FC Dinamo Tbilisi where he was part of the side that won the 2015 Georgian Cup. He returned to Spain the following season and featured for Lleida Esportiu and Lorca FC helping the latter to a promotion to Segunda Division in his first season.

Head Coach

Asst. Coach

Asst. Coach