Considered a sin, many players have played for both teams, ditching one to join another

Be it the Manchester Derby or the El Classico, football fans of one club absolutely despise it when a player from their club joins their derby rival. Remember how Luis Figo was treated when he left Barcelona to join Real Madrid? The quality of football may be different in India compared to Europe, but emotions run high. Therefore, even in India, fans go crazy when a player from their club wears the opponent’s jersey.

Nonetheless, in the history of Indian football, several players have played for both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal without caring about the consequences or the fans’ feelings. Ahead of the October 19 Kolkata derby, let us recall some of those players who donned both the Bagan and Bengal jerseys.

Arun Ghosh

Winner of the 1962 Asian Games gold medal, Arun Ghosh was one of the first defenders from India who learnt the art of attacking despite being a defender under the leadership of late coach Syed Abdul Rahim. In the early 1960s, he played for Mohun Bagan but shifted his loyalty towards the “Red and Gold Brigade”. Ghosh later became the India U-20 coach and also served as the director of the Tata Football Academy.

Bhaichung Bhutia

One of the most significant players ever produced by India, Bhaichung Bhutia probably had a love-hate relationship with East Bengal given he left and went back to the team on six different occasions. In between, he moved to Mohun Bagan twice. For East Bengal, the Sikkimese striker had scored 148 goals across competitions, whereas for Mohun Bagan, Bhutia had scored only 16 goals during his two different stints.

Katsumi Yusa

Hailing from Japan, Katsumi Yusa quickly turned himself into a hardcore Mariner, proving his worth every minute on the pitch. In 2014-2015, Yusa was one of the reasons why Mohun Bagan lifted the I-League trophy, scoring seven goals in 20 encounters that season. For Mohun Bagan, he scored 17 goals in 78 I-League appearances, and overall, he played over 120 games. After Mohun Bagan, he was loaned to NorthEast United, but the very next year, he shocked the Mariners by signing a contract with East Bengal.

PotsangbamRenedy Singh

Among the list of underrated players, Renedy Singh probably tops the chart because, time and again, he was hailed as the best midfielder in the country. However, many new-generation football fans are not even aware of Renedy Singh’s supremacy. A youth product of East Bengal, Singh moved to the senior team in 1996, but in 2000, he made the daring move to Mohun Bagan. In 2008, he returned to East Bengal before having short stints at Chirag United SC and JCT FC.

Anwar Ali

The most recent case of playing representing both teams is of Anwar Ali. Hailed as one of India’s potential centre-backs, Anwar Ali was loaned to Mohun Bagan last season by parent club Delhi. Ali had signed a four-year deal with Bagan, having played 26 games last season, which helped the Mariners lift the Indian Super League shield. However, Ali suddenly breached the contract and signed a new contract with East Bengal. Initially, he was handed a four-month ban by the AIFF, but as of now, a stay order has been passed by the Delhi High Court because of which Ali is playing in the Bengal jersey.