Indian Super League champions Chennaiyin FC are delighted to announce that they have retained defender Bernard Mendy for the third season of the ISL.

The Frenchman is set to play for Chennaiyin for a third straight campaign, having been an inspirational figure for the Chennai-based ISL franchise in the past two seasons.

With 28 appearances, Mendy is Chennaiyin’s most capped player 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.

“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,” said Chennaiyin FC co-owner Mrs. Vita Dani.

“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,” Chennaiyin FC head coach Marco Materazzi stated.

After the end of ISL 2015, Mendy had a stint at I-League club outfit East Bengal and is now excited to be back at Chennaiyin.

“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,” an ecstatic Mendy said from France.

(Report courtesy Chennaiyin FC Press Release)