Although Hyderabad FC did not win any trophy last season and also missed out on AFC Cup qualification, they had a campaign to admire. The aim for them will be to carry on the progress made over the last couple of seasons but with a much-changed squad this time. The biggest exit more than the transfer of players has been manager Manolo Marquez who has set for a new journey now with FC Goa. The Spaniard gave the ISL title to the club last year in a difficult campaign with many disruptions due to the pandemic state back then. He also took them to their records-point tally the previous season.
After Marquez parted ways with the club, Hyderabad FC decided to appoint Conor Nestor as their head coach but he will remain the first team coach for the team until he receives his UEFA Pro License. In that period, assistant coach Thangboi Singto will take charge. Both of them will be looking to fill the mammoth gap left by their predecessor and help the club maintain its heights. It is an increasingly difficult job with the league going bigger and stronger than before. The Nizams will wish to build again with a new squad to come up with goods this season. In this article, going forward we will look at the Hyderabad FC 2023-24 squad and ISL 2023/24 season preview.
Previous season performance
In the final season under Manolo Marquez, Hyderabad FC reached their record tally of points with 42 gained out of 20 games. The Nizams finished just three points below the top place losing not only the ISL Shield to Mumbai City but also a chance to play in the AFC Champions League group stages directly. Looking at the extraordinary season the Islanders had, Hyderabad FC will feel proud of their achievement having just a little gap between them at the end. They failed to defend their ISL trophy as well losing to eventual Mohun Bagan on penalties after the score ended 0-0 at the end of both legs in the semi-final. The Mariners also triumphed in the same manner in the AFC Cup qualification playoffs as Hyderabad FC suffered their third disappointment of the season.
Hyderabad FC New Signings 2023/24
IN: Makan Winkle Chote, Joe Knowles (Foreign), Petteri Pennanen (Foreign), Vignesh Dakshinamurthy, Alex Saji, Jonathan Moya (Foreign), Felipe Amorin (Foreign), Oswaldo Alanis (Foreign)
OUT: Halicharan Narzary, Rohit Danu, Sweden Fernandes, Javi Siverio (Foreign), Borja Herrera (Foreign), Odei Onaindia (Foreign), Lalchungnunga Chhangte (Foreign), Joel Chianese (Foreign), Akash Mishra, Biaka, Amritpal Singh, Laldanmawia (on loan), Bartholomew Ogbeche (Foreign)
Losing almost the entirety of the 2022 trophy-winning squad, Hyderabad FC almost had to build from scratch in the summer transfer window. Undoubtedly, foreign signings have been a priority as most of the Indian stars are retained in the squad. One of the most decorated players in the ISL and its all-time top-scorer Bartholomew Ogbeche has been released by the club as the major outgoing in the window. Big money move of Akash Mishra to Mumbai City FC is a headline transfer as well as the Spanish trio - Javi Siverio, Odei Onaindia and Borja Herrera’s departures.
Hyderabad FC Squad 2023/24 season
Goalkeepers: Aman Kumar, Anuj Kumar, Gurmeet Singh, Laxmikant Kattimani
Defenders: Vignesh Dakshinamurthy, Nim Dorjee, Sajad Parray, Alex Saji, Chinglensana Singh, Manoj Mohammad, Mohammed Rafi, Nikhil Poojary, Oswaldo Alanis, Saphaba Singh
Midfielders: Petteri Pennanen, Joao Victor, Hitesh Sharma, Mark Zothanpuia, Makan Winkle Chote, Lalchhanhima Sailo, Ramhlunchhunga, Mohammed Yasir, Sahil Tavora, Abdul Rabeeh
Forwards: Joe Knowles, Jonathan Moya, Felipe Amorin, Aaren D'Silva
Head Coach: Thangboi Singto/Conor Nestor
Check out here Hyderabad FC Fixtures for ISL 2023/24
Before Hyderabad FC was able to register the players for ISL, they had to pay pending wages to their departing stars to escape the transfer ban imposed on them by FIFA. Even though some players still bring up the issue of not getting their payment. With the club going rifle of changes only Gurmeet Singh, Laxmikant Kattimani, Nim Dorjee, Chinglensana Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Joao Victor, Hitesh Sharma, Sahil Tavora and Aaren D'Silva are the key contributors from the past two seasons still at the club. Captain Victor is the only foreigner retained.
Strength
A new set of players added to the team brings about fresh energy which is required at times to maintain the flow of success. Even though other areas of the team have gone through changes, the midfield has remained intact and the position has been the strongest for Hyderabad FC in the previous season. The leadership of Joao Victor and the tenacity of Sahil Tavora will charge up the side every time with the new arrival of Petteri Pennanen hoping to add to the quality. The team is once again blessed with talents this season which has been the motto of the club to develop and give them the stage to shine. There seems to be more depth this time in the attack for the team as they struggled at times in that department last season.
Weakness
The drawback of a new squad is it may require a lot of work to fit the pieces left by the stars of the past seasons. The players arriving will feel the pressure of maintaining the same intensity and above all mentality to stay on the track the club want itself to move. It will be hard for the Nizams to replace a striker like Bartholomew Ogbeche relying solely on some extraordinary from the new faces. Akash Mishra and Odei Onaindia's exits also leave a big hole in the defence. Also, it will be tough to replicate the legacy left by head coach Manolo Marquez and it is left to see whether the gamble of Thangboi Singto taking charge and later Conor Nestor after he completes his pro license pays off.
Prediction
Hyderabad FC have been a top-four side over the past couple of seasons due to the extraordinary spell of Marquez at the club. Whether the new side can replicate it that is a big question because other contenders have strengthened up their teams hugely. A run for either the ISL Shield or Trophy is debatable for the team because it depends on how well the new signings will adapt and how the new management will react. Making it to the semi-finals either directly or through the eliminators will be a strong outcome for the side. Otherwise, not qualifying for the playoffs will surely be a big downfall.
