NorthEast United Football Club has signed 2010 FIFA World Cup & 2008 UEFA Euro winner Joan Capdevila as their Marquee player for the inaugural season of Indian Super League (ISL).

The Spanish defender, who marshalled the left back position for the La Roja, was a prominent member of the sides that won both the World Cup in 2010 and European Championship in 2008. He has played over 400 games with 36 goals in the Spanish La Liga for big guns like Espanyol, Athletico Madrid, Deportivo and Villarreal.

Capdevilla last season played for La Liga club, Espanyol and expressed his delight on signing for NorthEast United FC. “At this stage, after winning everything to be won a new challenge was needed. After speaking to John Abraham about the way he is passionately looking to promote football in India and the project of NorthEast United FC, it excited me to take up this challenge.”

“India is a huge country and it should be a privilege for me to be a small part in popularising this global game here and working with the young talented footballers of North East India.”

NorthEast United FC co-owner John Abraham said, “We at NorthEast United FC are very excited that Joan Capdevilla is a marquee player for our team. We are confident that his achievements in the game and his presence in our team will motivate our younger Indian players and his inputs would help us build a strong team for our future. Speaking with him when he was in Brazil I got a sense of his passion for the game and especially his excitement for joining our team was motivational and unparalleled. We look forward to his arrival in India.”

Lajong FC Managing Director and NorthEast United FC co-owner, Larsing M. Sawyan feels, “This is the best thing that has happened to NorthEast United FC. A player of Joan Capdevilla’s calibre will definitely add impetus to our ambitions in the upcoming ISL. Football fans from the NorthEast are already familiar with him and we believe the excitement of the ISL in North East has already reached a high level. We welcome Joan Capdevilla to NorthEast United FC and hope he can help us bring success both on and off the field.”