Advertisement
Crespo playing for Parma last year. Tony Marshall/EMPICS Sport
Retirement Home

Sold! Indian league splashes €5.3m in auction for players and coaches

Robbie Fowler and Peter Reid are set to team at Kolkata, while Hernan Crespo received the highest bid today.

THE NEW INDIAN football league held its auction ahead of next month’s kick-off and former Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo was the most in-demand player on offer.

A number of former stars were confirmed to play when the new franchise, which will be held from February 25 – April 8 in West Bengal, was announced a couple of weeks back.

The format involves each of the six teams bidding for one ‘icon’ player, two overseas players and a coach. Crespo received the highest bid when Basarat offered €634,000 for the 36-year-old Argentinian’s services.

World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was next in line, Siliguri paid €630,000 for the defender, while Fernando Couto became the most expensive coach after Howrah agreed €171,000 for the ex-Porto and Barcelona centre-half.

Robbie Fowler will be managed at Kolkata by compatriot Peter Reid, Robert Pires links up with Couto at Howrah and Jay-Jay Okochowill play with Durgapur.

Irish Eye: Rooney bags a double in the FA Cup

WATCH: Flying Bolivian back-heel goal