In the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season 2020-21, Jamshedpur FC would forget its past performances and move ahead for a fresh start. It will be aiming for a first-ever playoff appearance after missing out on the top four spots in their three previous seasons.

Jamshedpur FC will be headed by the person who took Chennaiyin FC to the final last season. Having appointed three different coaches in three seasons, Jamshedpur FC have put their confidence in the Scottish coach Owen Coyle for this season after finishing eighth in the last edition.

Before the season, Jamshedpur had a lot of transfer activity with coach Coyle roping in former Chennaiyin FC striker and last season’s Golden Boot winner Nerijus Valskis.

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The team has a good blend of experienced players and talented youngsters.

Defender Peter Hartley is an important addition for Jamshedpur FC. He joined Jamshedpur after a two-year spell with Scottish club Motherwell and has spent nine years at Sunderland. He has been appointed captain for the upcoming edition.

The Jharkhand club also signed Brazilian midfielder Alex Lima, Nigerian defender Stephen Eze and Australian forward Nicholas Fitzgerald as the season approaches. The franchise’s major Indian signing is former FC Goa winger Jackichand Singh.

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Jamshedpur’s chances to finish in a top four spot have been significantly improved with the arrival of head coach Coyle and Nerijus Valskis, who were both vital to Chennaiyin FC’s run to the ISL final last season. Players like Alex Lima, Stephen Eze and Nicholas Fitzgerald beside Jackichand Singh in the squad bring different aspects and make a balanced team.

However, Jamshedpur have always began their ISL campaigns effectively, losing that early momentum midseason and fizzling out in the latter stages of the league. They finished fifth in their first two ISL campaigns, since the club’s inception in 2017.

Jamshedpur suffered their most underwhelming season yet in the 2019-20 campaign, finishing eighth under Spanish head coach Antonio Iriondo. However, they will be hoping their new arrivals, both players and the coaching staff, can fire them to the playoffs this year.

Jamshedpur FC squad

Goalkeepers: Pawan Kumar, TP Rehenesh, Niraj Kumar, Raj Mahato, Vishal Yadav.

Defenders: Stephen Eze, Peter Hartley, Narender Gahlot, Joyner Lourenco, Laldinliana Renthlei, Karan Amin, Manash Protim Gogoi, Sandip Mandi, Ricky Lallawmawma, Subhash Barua.

Midfielders: Alex Lima, Aitor Monroy, Jackichand Singh, Nicholas Fitzgerald, Issac Vanmalsawma, Amarjit Singh, Mobashir Rahman, Jitendra Singh, Manisana Singh, Harsha Parui, Billu Teli, Gorachand Mardi, Gaurab, Bhupender Singh

Forwards: David Grande, Nerijus Valskis, Aniket Jadhav, Sapam Kennedy Singh, William Lalnunfela.