Mumbai City FC have announced the signing of Indian international and former BFC fullback Rahul Bheke on a two-year-contract.
Born in Mumbai, Bheke was part of the youth team setup at Mahindra United. He turned pro in 2011 with Air India FC who used to compete in the I-League. Rahul left Air India in 2013 and after a brief spell at Mumbai Tigers, he joined I-League side Mumbai FC in January of 2014. A few more seasons in the I-League followed – first a season and a half with Mumbai FC and a couple of seasons with East Bengal FC.
While he was at East Bengal, Bheke was drafted into the ISL with Kerala Blasters in 2015 and FC Pune City in 2016. He also won back to back CFL titles while he was with the Red & Gold Brigade.
The now 30-year-old right back who can also fill in a centre back role joined ISL side Bengaluru FC in 2017 and has been one of their mainstays in defence over the last four seasons. He scored the winning goal in extra time in the ISL final against FC Goa and helped BFC to their first ever ISL Championship in the 2018-19 season.
So far in the ISL, Rahul has featured in 92 matches in which he scored five goals and assisted five. He made his debut for the national team in June 2019 and has been part of the squad which played in the AFC Asian Cup 2023/FIFA World Cup 22 Qualifiers. He has been capped 13 times.
Analyst’s Take
Versatile, robust and very experienced.
Proven winner with the ISL and has caps for the NT, offers services all across the back-line.
Decent with his crossing and long balls. Has slowed down a little lately, but will be a great figure in the dressing room for boys like Amey and Mehtab.
Shlok
A reliable defender and somebody that comes with plenty of experience in the ISL.
He’s a little short on pace and attacking ability, but could potentially be the first choice Indian CB for Mumbai.
Has been struggling for form over the last 18 months, but he will be extra motivated to resurrect his NT hopes at his hometown club.
Amrit
Rahul Bheke, Stats, ISL 2020-21 League Stage
| MATCHES | |
| Total played | 15 |
| Started | 13 |
| Minutes per game | 76 |
| ATTACKING | |
| Goals | 1 |
| Scoring frequency | 1137 min |
| Goals per game | 0.1 |
| Shots per game | 0.4 |
| Shots on target per game | 0.2 |
| PASSING | |
| Assists | 1 |
| Touches | 44.8 |
| Big chances created | 1 |
| Key passes | 0.6 |
| Accurate per game | 22.3 (79%) |
| Acc. own half | 15.7 (87%) |
| Acc. opposition half | 6.9 (61%) |
| Acc. long balls | 2.1 (52%) |
| Acc. chipped passes | 0.8 (40%) |
| Acc. crosses | 0.3 (33%) |
| DEFENDING | |
| Clean sheets | 2 |
| Interceptions per game | 1.2 |
| Tackles per game | 1.9 |
| Possession won | 0.1 |
| Dribbled past per game | 0.2 |
| Clearances per game | 1 |
| OTHERS | |
| Succ. dribbles | 0.6 (60%) |
| Total duels won | 4.1 (58%) |
| Ground duels won | 2.9 (57%) |
| Aerial duels won | 1.2 (58%) |
| Possession lost | 11.2 |
| Fouls | 1.1 |
| Was fouled | 0.3 |
| Offsides | 0 |
| CARDS | |
| Yellow | 4 |
| Red cards | 0 |
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