FC Goa’s captain Lenny Rodrigues has terminated his contract with the club and joined ATK Mohun Bagan on an 18-month contract. Meanwhile, ATKMB midfielder Glan Martins returns home to Goa to join the Gaurs after being released by the Kolkata club.
From Cortalim village in Goa, Lenny played out his youth career with Fransa-Pax FC, Salgaocar FC and Churchill Brothers turning pro with the latter in 2008. After helping Churchill Brothers win the Federation Cup, Durand Cup and the I-League (twice), Rodrigues joined the now dissolved FC Pune City as part of the inaugural ISL draft in 2014. While at FC Pune City, he was loaned out to Dempo SC, Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC before switching over permanently to BFC for the 2017-18 season.
A year later, Lenny moved to FC Goa and has been the mainstay of their midfield for the past three seasons helping them to the league winners’ shield last season. The now 33-year-old has made a whopping 97 appearances in the ISL over the years, over 90 in the I-League and has played in the AFC Cup competition. The midfielder has been capped on 22 occasions for the Indian National Team.
Nicknamed Mr. Goa, the move in the January transfer window comes as a big surprise for the Goa faithful considering Lenny terminated his contract to join the Mariners. He had 18 months left on his contract with FCG and stepped down as vice-captain to facilitate the move. There are also reports indicating that Lenny was unhappy at the club with head coach Juan Ferrando preferring Princeton Rebello in midfield alongside Edu Bedia.
The incoming transfer – Glan Martins has big, big shoes to fill to replicate the role Rodrigues played in this FC Goa side. The former Churchill Brothers midfielder had joined ATKMB on a two-year contract at the start of the season.
[…] –In his previous stint, the former FC Goa captain Lenny Rodrigues had terminated his contract and joi…. […]
[…] An accomplished Indian midfielder, has left an indelible mark on Indian football with his stellar performances. Before joining Odisha FC, Rodrigues has showcased his talent at various clubs across India. He began his professional career with boyhood club Churchill Brothers, then Dempo and subsequently played for Bengaluru FC and ATK Mohun Bagan. […]