~ The midfielder hasn’t missed a single game in his two seasons with the club ~
Dynamic central midfielder Lenny Rodrigues signed a new FC Goa contract keeping him at the club until the summer of 2022. The new deal ties the experienced midfielder to the club for two more years and is welcome news as the Gaurs embark on a fierce campaign that will see them challenge both at the domestic and international stages.
Lenny, who joined FC Goa at the beginning of the 2018/19 season, guided his side to the final of the Indian Super League that season, before helping the club to its first ever trophy in the Super Cup that very season. He appeared delighted after signing above the dotted line.
“For me, personally, there were no second thoughts about where I wanted to be. This is a club that is close to my heart. This is my club, to be honest. I have enjoyed a lot of grand moments ever since I joined two years ago. And I want to keep on enjoying my football and bring in more laurels for the team and for the people of Goa,” Lenny exclaimed.
“The club, the philosophy, the passion of the fans. Everything fits in like a glove for me. Being here, I am able to focus on the game completely.”
Exciting times ahead
He spoke further, iterating the passion he shares for football like all Goans and feelings about where the club is headed as the AFC Champions League awaits the Gaurs.
“I am very happy about the evolution of the club and the way it’s heading. We have a very important season ahead of us. We are going to look to do better than last season in the ISL and on the Champions League front, what an honour it will be for us to represent India at the biggest football tournament in the continent. I wouldn’t have let this pass.
“We have done really well to be thinking ahead of time. We had signed Seriton, Hugo and Brandon to long term deals last season and this season it was Edu. We have another great addition in Redeem on the wings. That is the kind of intent I wanted to see from the club and I’m really excited for the times to come.
“I have been lucky enough to play for the club I love and bring in honours both the years. I feel my contribution can only grow. I have much more to achieve in my time with FC Goa.”
Lenny Rodrigues has been an omnipresent figure on the FC Goa team sheet over the past two seasons. Having signed as a free agent in 2018, the hometown boy has been in the starting XI in every single game for the Gaurs since joining.
His presence and effect on the pitch is well documented in the numbers as he has taken to the FC Goa way of football like a duck to water. Over the past two seasons, the 33-year-old has been a vital cog in the system, topping the charts for passes completed in a season by an Indian player.
“We have together achieved great success in the two years here. But I feel there is still room for improvement and that is what I am going to strive for in the coming years,” signed off Lenny.
About FC Goa
FC Goa is a professional football club based out of Goa that competes in the Indian Super League (ISL) and is the current holder of the Super Cup. Nicknamed the Gaurs, FC Goa has been one of the most consistent teams in the ISL - reaching 3 semi-finals and 2 finals in 6 seasons.
In Season 2019/20, the club won the Hero ISL League Winners Shield, by finishing top of the table in the league stages and became the first ever club from India to qualify for the group stages of the AFC Champions League. The Gaurs are also the only ISL side to win more than 50 games and score more than 200 goals.
Co-owned by Mr Jaydev Mody, Mr Akshay Tandon and Mr Virat Kohli, FC Goa is one of Indian few Clubs to have a complete youth development ecosystem. It’s U14, U16, U18 and Developmental Teams compete at the highest levels in Goa and nationally. The system has produced recognizable talents like Saviour Gama, Princeton Rebello and many more. The Gaurs are also the current Champions of the Goa Professional League, GFA U20 & GFA U18 Leagues.
