ISL: Defender Pratik Chaudhari in back in Jamshedpur FC fold

The 32-year-old returns to the Men of Steel after three seasons

Mail New Service

Jamshedpur, July 31: Tata Steel-owned club Jamshedpur FC pulled in Pratik Chaudhari to bolster its defence as the club continued building the squad for the upcoming Hero Indian Super League 2022-23 season.

The 32-year defender was part of the Red Miners in 2018-19 and returns to the Furnace after three seasons.

“This was an obvious choice for me. I feel nostalgic to come back home to the amazing city of Jamshedpur. It has a huge legacy of football with the boisterous Red Miners supporting the team through thick and thin. I look forward to the added responsibility of defending the League winners shield and add more. I am excited to work under the guidance of Aidy Boothroyd as the new gaffer along with my team mates and staff,” pratik said after signing the dotted lines.

 The centre-back has made his mark as a rock-solid defender in his 76 appearances in ISL. Born in Mumbai, Chaudhari began his football career while playing  for Bank of India and then Union Bank of India. He soon joined I-League side Air India in 2011.

He debuted in ISL with  Kerela Blasters FC while playing for I-League club Mumbai FC. He then joined Delhi Dynamos in 2017-18 and later Jamshedpur FC in 2018.

He played a huge role in the 2018-19 season where Men of Steel finished in 5th place, narrowly missing out on the semi-final spot. He joined Mumbai City FC in 2019-20 and then Bengaluru FC in 2020 where he spent 2 seasons.

Aidy Boothroyd  welcomed Pratik into the squad and said, “Having Pratik back to Jamshedpur is a real boon to the team’s defence. He is one of the best Indian defenders with a strong physical presence. A player like Pratik brings with him leadership qualities as well as stability in the squad. A stable and steady defence wins titles and that’s what Pratik is here to do. I am thrilled to work with him.”

Pratik Chaudhari will don jersey number 24 and join the squad in Jamshedpur for the pre-season in mid-August.

Jamshedur FC, which pocketed the League Winners Shield in the last ISL season and narrowly missed the coveted trophy, is continuing with team building exercise. Brazilian defender Eli Sabia and mid-fielder Jitendra Singh have signed for the club earlier this week. The entire squad, including the foreigners, should be in place by August 10, before the preseasons at the Flatlets in Kadma.