While it may not appear completely apt to call a player the King of ISL after just three seasons in the Indian Super League, Ferrán Corominas, better known as Coro, has many reasons why the debate will always rest in his favour.
The Spanish forward, who now plays for Segunda Division B side Atletico Baleares, is the all-time top scorer in ISL with 48 goals in just 57 matches and holds the record as the only player to reach double figures for three seasons in a row. His rate of scoring per game is the best among ISL players (among those who have netted at least 20 goals).
These efforts shaped him into a cult figure at FC Goa and an icon in the league’s folklore for winning the ISL Golden Boot in successive seasons (2017-18 and 2018-19).
𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑺𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑨𝑳 🔥
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) September 30, 2020
The 🔢 from Coro's time with @FCGoaOfficial in #HeroISL 👏 pic.twitter.com/tJ150TxVau
Coro’s legacy isn’t just limited to his personal achievements, as he has played a significant role in the revolution at FC Goa - a team that plays attacking possession-based football and scores goals as well.
We go down memory lane to relive the three memorable campaigns of Coro, the King of ISL.
2017-18: Record goals in a single ISL season
Following a disappointing 2016 season, FC Goa replaced Zico with Sergio Lobera with a clear intent to overhaul the existing setup. At the age of 34 and brimming with experience from his time at Spanish clubs like Espanyol, Girona FC, Elche, and Mallorca, Coro was brought on board from Cyprus side Doxa Katokopias FC.
In his first five games, the Spaniard registered eight goals and three assists - including back-to-back hat-tricks against Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters, the latter within seven minutes. Neither the club faithful nor Lobera could have envisaged such an immediate impact by the attacker.
While he led the Gaurs to a third-place finish, Coro finished his first season at the club with 18 goals, five assists, and the Golden Boot award. Coro’s 18 strikes remains the record for the most number of goals scored in a single ISL season.
2018-19: Two-time Golden Boot winner
The 2018-19 campaign is the most productive in Corominas’ career in ISL. Apart from registering 16 goals -- and seven assists -- to win the Golden Boot, he also bagged the Hero of the League award and steered FC Goa to a Super Cup victory. To date, he is the only football player to have won the ISL Golden Boot twice, and that too in succession.
Before the start of the season, Coro saw his contract extended with a new salary package. And in typical style, he recreated his solid start from his debut campaign with six goals and four assists in his first four games.
After his first career red card suspension in the Indian Super League, the Spaniard’s goal contribution levels took a dip. Nonetheless, he was the focal point of FC Goa aggregating the group stages’ most goals (36 goals) for the third time in five seasons.
In the Super Cup, Coro found the net five times and anchored them to their first-ever piece of silverware after a 2-1 win over Chennaiyin FC.
2019-20: Guiding FC Goa to AFC
In his final season at FC Goa, which coincided with Sergio Lobera’s final year as head coach, Coro etched his name in the record books for being the first player to score in the opening fixture of three consecutive seasons.
Needless to say, it was just the beginning of another spectacular campaign as a club icon.
FERRAN '(S)CORO'MINAS, @FCGoaOfficial's constant goal threat!
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) October 28, 2019
The Spanish forward has scored the most number of goals in the #HeroISL so far! #GOABEN #LetsFootball #TrueLove pic.twitter.com/Dyd030KIPN
Despite sitting out for three games with injury, Corominas never showed signs of giving up as he racked up 14 goals and four assists in 15 appearances. He ended up as the club’s top-scorer for the third straight season.
His efforts led FC Goa to lift the ISL League Winners Shield and become the first Indian club to qualify for the AFC Champions League group stages.
After the end of his third season, the contract renewal talk with FC Goa broke down as Coro went on record to say that the tabled offer “didn’t value him for his performances.” This news shocked fans, who held hopes for the ‘King of ISL’ to continue his stay at the club for ISL 2020-21.
But, with the club’s appointment of Juan Ferrando as head coach and Igor Angulo as a replacement, the partnership between Ferrán Corominas and FC Goa ended.
Three seasons, 48 goals and 16 assists in tow, Ferrán Corominas’ reign as the King of ISL seems untouchable for at least for a couple of years.
Feature Image Courtesy: 2021 Indian Super League
