15 Players Who Will Actually Make the Indian Super League Worth Watching

This weekend will see the biggest feast of football nostalgia since EA Sports introduced Legends cards to FIFA Ultimate Team. We're about to witness the start of the first ever Indian Super League.

The league, which lasts just two months and is played out by eight 'franchises' (owned by some India's rich and famous), looks like it's ready to give the MLS a run for its money as football's richest retirement home. The ISL will run alongside India's already established (but not very successful I-League) and is expected to boost football's popularity in the country with a hazy mix of international heroes from yesteryear and promising domestic talents.

There won't be any promotion or relegation in the ISL, which could leave some of football's traditionalists to wonder exactly where the drama comes from?

To answer that very question, here are the 15 players who will actually make the Indian Super League worth watching.

Signed for: Kerala Blasters

Best known as: English football journeyman

Michael Chopra was one of a handful of prospects from Newcastle United's academy to be burdened as the 'next Alan Shearer'. After three goals in black and white, followed by spells at Cardiff, Sunderland, Ipswich and Blackpool we can assume that 30-year-old Chopra isn't threatening to break the Premier League scoring record at any point soon. Thanks to his father he was the first player of Indian heritage to appear in the Premier League, which should be enough to grant him hero status in the ISL.

Signed for: Chennaiyin

Best known as: Mercurial Man City and Galatasaray talent

Elano was one of the most successful signings of the short-lived Thaksin Shinawatra era at Man City, back when the blue half of Manchester still thought that finishing in the Premier League top half was as good as it would get. His contract was terminated by Brazilian side Grêmio in August and at only 33, a good showing in the ISL could be enough to put him in the shop window. Maybe.

Signed for: Kerala Blasters

Best known as: Former England number one

Ex-England and Liverpool goalkeeper David James was declared bankrupt in May 2014, a little under one year since retiring from the game. On that basis alone, it makes sense for the big man to return as a player-manager at Kerala Blasters FC, owned by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.

Signed for: Chennaiyin

Best known as: Man United wonderkid turned Eastern Europe journeyman

Despite winning an award for his exploits as an academy prospect, Bojan Djordic made just one league appearance for Manchester United in five years and more recently, he couldn't even get a single game at Blackpool during the 2011/12 season.

Signed for: Goa

Best known as: Arsenal misfit

Andre Santos is yet another Arsenal defender who's more popular amongst the white half of North London, which tells you all you need to know about his success at the Emirates. However, even his harshest critics sided with Santos after he was physically attacked by his own fans at Brazilian club side Flamengo after a 4-0 loss.

Signed for: Chennaiyin
Best known as: The victim of Zinedine Zidane's headbutt

Materazzi is still waiting for the bruising to go down from Zinedine Zidane's infamous headbutt in 2006, which is probably why he'll be spending more time on the ISL touchline as manager of Chennai.

Signed for: NorthEast United

Best known as: World Cup winner with Spain

Capdevila was long considered the weak point of a Spain side that won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup but the emergence of Jordi Alba means that getting in Spain's first XI isn't really a concern anymore. This is Capdevila's first drop away from elite level football (he was still playing in La Liga with Espanyol last season).

Signed for: Mumbai City

Best known as: Outspoken ex-Premier League manager

Peter Reid is one of the most famous names to be managing an ISL team in its maiden season. His most successful spell in management came at Sunderland, who he led to 5th place in the Premier League. Since then, Reid has been the national coach of Thailand and is a part-time pundit. Bad news for Mumbai City fans: he's already touted himself for a job back in English football.

Signed for: Atlético de Kolkata
Best known as: Being part of Liverpool's 2005 Champions League winning side

Luis Garcia's 'ghost' goal against Chelsea in the 2005 Champions League semi-final is one of the most important moments from Liverpool's recent history and the Kop icon comes to the ISL after one year out of the game through retirement. He'll be playing for Atlético de Kolkata, where he was more than likely picked up due to his association with Atletico Madrid (who co-own the ISL franchise).

Signed for: Pune City
Best known as: World Cup and European Championship hero for France

David Trezeguet scored the most famous Golden Goal in history when he struck the winner in France's Euro 2000 final against Italy. He also scored 138 league goals in ten years at Juventus and after floating around in South American football for the last few years, pitches up at Italy as another relic from France's golden age.

Signed for: Mumbai City
Best known as: Sulking French striker

Six months ago it would have been hard to imagine that Nicolas Anelka and Peter Reid would be working together in India but that's exactly how it's turned out. Anelka was playing Premier League football as recently as last season and should still have enough to about him to be one of the ISL's exceptional talents. As long as he stays away from dodgy goal celebrations.

Signed for: Goa

Best known as: 'Invincible' Arsenal midfielder

The re-ermergence of a 40-year-old retired Robert Pirès is one of the most intriguing aspects of this ISL campaign. The French legend has won every trophy worth winning in football (apart from the Champions League…and he's not going to win that playing in Goa) so his appearance as a marquee player doesn't carry the same sense of desperation that we'll see in some others. Pirès hasn't played a professional game for over three years…any success on his behalf won't be a ringing endorsement of ISL standards.

Signed for: Mumbai City

Best known as: Arsenal legend and Calvin Klein model

Realising that Peter Reid wouldn't be the best face of Mumbai City, the club probably pulled in Freddie Ljungberg as their poster boy. Like Pirès before him, Ljungberg was part of the 'Invincibles' team at Arsenal that went an entire Premier League season unbeaten and his last football came two years ago in Japan. He 'retired' from football in 2012.

Signed for: Delhi Dynamos

Best known as: World Cup winner and Juventus' record goalscorer

Alessandro Del Piero can rightly lay claim to being one of the finest talents to grace the modern game and his decision to sign for Delhi Dynamos is being viewed as the biggest coup ahead of the ISL's big kick off. Del Piero most recently featured in Australia's A-League with Sydney FC, so he's become accustomed to making easy money.