Too early to compare ISL with top leagues of Europe: Coaches

Mumbai: Brazilian football legend and Indian Super League side FC Goa coach Zico feels that the ISL has done a lot for Indian football but will take time to be able to compare with the best leagues in the world.

Zico also said that ultimately the ISL will have to be a full-fledged league similar to their counterparts in other countries with seventh-eight months duration.

"The first season was a success but it is too early to compare ISL with top leagues in the world. But it has done a lot of good in Indian football. It has brought Indian football to the knowledge of the world," he said at a media event here ahead of the second season beginning October 3.

"The duration of three months is not enough. It will have to be of similar duration as in other leagues in other countries. Ultimately, India will have to have one league," he added.

Kerala Blasters coach Peter Taylor also felt that it was too early to make a comparison with other top leagues but said that increasing number of players in Europe know about ISL now.

"We should not compare ISL with top Europeans leagues now, it is too early though the first season was a success. It is a short duration league and so teams sometimes get four-day gap between matches which in reality is not so since there is long travelling.

"But I can say that more and more players in England and Europe are wanting to come and play in ISL. I will not name particular players and they will come to play in the ISL," he said.

Zico, who has announced that he will stand for FIFA presidency in the elections likely to be held next year, said that he has submitted a written document to the world body how it can be reformed.

"I have submitted a letter to the FIFA how it can be reformed and clean itself up. I can't disclose here but we need to have a cleaner and more transparent FIFA," he said.