Fan favourite Bernard Mendy back at Chennaiyin FC for ISL 2016

ISL DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Chennaiyin FC have signed their fan favourite stopper Bernard Mendy for a third straight ISL campaign. He has been a core figure in the team since the first edition of the private tournament.

With 28 appearances, Mendy is Chennaiyin’s most capped player in the team and has also netted three goals including the famous bicycle-kick strike against Kerala Blasters in 2014.

A huge crowd favourite at the Marina Arena, Mendy made it to the team of the season in both ISL campaigns besides winning ten individual awards and lifted the trophy in Goa last December. Chennaiyin FC co-owner Mrs Vita Dani said,

“Retaining Mendy endorses our club philosophy of valuing continuity. He has been one of the best players in the ISL’s first two seasons and is an icon in our city of Chennai. We believe he will once again inspire our team both on and off the field."

Chennaiyin FC head coach Marco Materazzi stated,

"We are very happy to have Bernard at the club for the third consecutive season. His class and experience were instrumental in our consistency in the first two campaigns. We look forward to another strong season from him.”

After the end of ISL 2015, Mendy had a stint at I-League club outfit East Bengal, where things did not go that well, and he ended the 2015-16 season with a public spat with fans at the Barasat Stadium. He is now excited to be back at Chennaiyin. In a statement from France, he said,

“I am delighted to be back at Chennaiyin and would like to thank the owners and Marco for giving me another opportunity to reunite with my second family. I have had two memorable years at Chennaiyin with the highlight being celebrating with our Supermachans after returning with the trophy in Chennai. We want to win the title again for the people of Chennai and are going to work very hard towards achieving that goal.”