Indian football.

Taken from the Daily Mail.

Robbie Fowler and Peter Reid were among the famous names snapped up at auction for a new Indian football league yesterday.
Former Liverpool striker Fowler, 36 was signed for £338,000 by Koikata, where he will be managed by ex-Sunderland boss Reid, who went for £128,000.
Premier leagus soccer ( PLS ) is based on the success of cricket's IPL and will run for six weeks from February 25.
Former Chelsea forward, Hernan Crespo attracted the most money, going for £535,000.
Five franchises collectively spent nearly £4.5 million, each buying an 'icon' player, two overseas footballers and a coach.

And here was me think that Blackburn were India's biggest football club!

Pretty sure a certain Augustine Okocha is involved in that competition. Wonder how much he went for.

Crespo was bought for his base price of $840,000 (£533,000) by Barasat, one of the five city franchises which will play in the Premier League Soccer tournament to be held in the eastern state of West Bengal in March-April this year.


Italy's World Cup-winning captain, Fabio Cannavaro, was the next most expensive after costing Siliguri $830,000.


Former France midfielder player Robert Pires went to Howrah for $800,000, Nigerian playmaker Jay Jay Okocha to Durgapur for $550,000 and ex-England striker Robbie Fowler was taken by Kolkata for $530,000.


Apart from these five "icon" players which had to sign for different teams, other overseas footballers who were the objects of bids included Nigerian defender Robert Egbeta (Kolkata, $350,000) and midfielder Christian Lara of Ecuador (Barasat, $200,000).


All teams also received a foreign coach – Fernando Couto of Portugal (Howrah, $240,000), Samson Siasia of Nigeria (Durgapur, $210,000), Teitur Thordorson of Iceland (Barasat, $210,000), Peter Reid of England ($200,000) and Marco Etcheverry of Bolivia (Siliguri, $200,000).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/9051204/Hernan-Crespo-most-expensive-player-in-Indian-football-auction.html

Bloody hell how old is Jay Jay?..........I hope our stupid fans don't see that or they will be saying why didn't Coyle go for him

All of the players seem to be well past their sell by date. I hope they like the food.

Jay Jay is still playing? Why didn't OC go in for him?

Coyle out!

One thing that is interesting about this league is that each team can only have two overseas footballers which gives the Indian players a chance to shine.

Remember when the same applied in the old First Division ? Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricky Villa at Spurs. Frans Thyssen and Arnold Muhren at Ipswich.

Unfortunately the IPL seems to attract players who can no longer compete at the highest level.

I am surprised nobody put in a cheeky bid for Michael Owen.