Indian Super league outfit Chennaiyin FC sign Kyrgyz winger Mirlan Murzaev

Two times Indian Super League champion Chennaiyin FC have secured the signing of Kyrgyzstan international Mirlan Murzaev. The winger becomes the Kyrgyz player to feature in India’s top flight league after signing a one year contract with the Marina Machans.

The lanky forward who predominantly plays as a right-winger can also slot in a striker. Murzaev becomes the second international signing for Chennaiyin FC. The Kyrgyz international joins a forwardline that has Indian players like Jobby Justin and Rahim Ali in their roster.

“I’m just very very happy to join Chennaiyin FC. I can’t wait for the training, and season to start. I look forward to representing all the fans from Tamil Nadu,” the 31-year-old said after joining the club.

Murzaev brings a huge amount of experience to Chennaiyin FC as he is the highest goalscorer and also holds the highest number of appearances for Kyrgyzstan.

“As a leading scorer of his national team [Kyrgyzstan] and with 100-plus career goals, the signing of Mirlan gives us a significant attacking boost and solidity in the front. We are pleased to welcome the first-ever player from Kyrgyzstan to Chennaiyin FC and the ISL,” said a delighted CFC co-owner Vita Dani.

In 2009, Murzaev came to Indian to feature in the Nehru Cup and he even scored a goal against the Blue Tigers. He scored the winner against India in their 2-1 win in Bishkek in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualification match.

The 31-year-old will bring a lot of experience and calmness to the Chennaiyin FC frontline and will guide youngsters like Rahim Ali to play more freely.

“My thoughts on signing Mirlan Murzaev are very simple. Two words in fact. Quality. Personality,” CFC’s head coach Bozidar Bandovic said.

The Kyrgyz winger started his career at Dordoi Bishkek in 2007 and then went on to ply his trade clubs like Lokomotiv Moscow II, Denizlispor and FK Kara-Balta. Murzaev returned to Dordoi in the 2019-20 season, he finished as the top scorer and netted 10 goals from 13 games and helped the team win the title.

The Marina Machans finished eight last season but they scored only 17 goals which was the lowest among all teams last season. Hence Chennaiyin FC will hope that Murzaev’s addition can solve their goal scoring woes from last season.