Dimas Delgado signs one-year deal with Bengaluru

Bengaluru FC Media

Bengaluru FC, on Tuesday, announced that midfielder Dimas Delgado would spend a fourth year with the club after the Spaniard put pen to paper in a new one-year deal that keeps him with the Blues till the end of the 2020-21 season. Delgado’s extension comes a little more than a week after Bengaluru tied down Erik Paartalu to a two-year deal. 

Thirty-seven-year-old Delgado has been central to the way Bengaluru go about their play since he arrived at the club in 2017. One of the leaders in the dressing room, Delgado turned up with yet another season full of consistent performances where he notched five assists and a goal in Bengaluru’s run up to the semifinal of the Indian Super League. 

“I am delighted in extending my stay at a club I can very comfortably call home. I have enjoyed playing my part in everything we have achieved over the last three seasons and I cannot wait to do it for one more year. It’s an honour to pull on the Bengaluru shirt and walk out in front of our fans who have always shown me love. We have more to achieve and I will keep helping this team,” said Delgado. 

Speaking on the new deal, Bengaluru FC CEO Mandar Tamhane said the contract was a fair reward for the kind of season Delgado had. “Dimas is pivotal to the way the club functions on the pitch and he showed everyone why in the season gone by. He is one of the voices on the team and a professional who sets a good example for the rest of the squad, and we are glad that he will spend one more season with Bengaluru FC.” 

Delgado signs one-year extension with Bengaluru

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC completed the contract extension of influential playmaker Dimas Delgado after the Spaniard signed a new one-year deal on Monday that keeps him with the ISL champions till the end of 2019-20 season. 

The Gramanet-born midfielder who turned 36 in February played a crucial part in Bengaluru FC’s Indian Super League triumph last season being the top assist provider for the Blues. In fact, ever since joining the club back in 2017, the Spaniard has been an ever-present figure in the Bengaluru side, first under Albert Roca and then, Carles Cuadrat. 

Delighted at extending his stay with the ISL Champions, Dimas said, “I’m so happy and proud to be able to continue for another year at Bengaluru FC - a club which has shown a lot of respect and affection towards me and my whole family.  I felt at home here ever since I arrived in 2017. The two seasons so far have been fantastic and I have enjoyed every bit of them personally and professionally.” 

“We have a fantastic technical staff that I respect and admire a lot. It’s easy to work with them and of course, we also have some great players in our team. I want to continue helping the club to win more titles and in becoming better every year. I feel like I'm at the best club in India with the best fans, and I hope to continue enjoying this fantastic experience,” added Dimas, who was also the Blues top passer in each of the last two seasons in the ISL. 

While he emphasised the importance of tying down Dimas to the club, Bengaluru FC Coach Carles Cuadrat said, “There’s little need to explain how vital a presence Dimas has been to this club over the last two seasons. He very clearly dictates the way we end up playing and I’m very happy that we will have his experience and leadership for another season. Like I’ve said before, it’s important that we keep as much of the core of this team together and Dimas’ extension is a step in that direction.” 

Dimas becomes the third foreigner in the squad for the upcoming season alongside fellow Spaniard Juanan Gonzalez and Australian Erik Paartalu, both of whom already signed extensions last season.

Dimas Delgado signs on for one more year with Bengaluru

Bengaluru FC Media

Bengaluru FC have handed a one-year contract extension to playmaker Dimas Delgado which will see him with the Blues till the end of 2018-19 season, the club announced on Thursday. The Santa Coloma de Gramanet-born midfielder becomes the sixth player to sign an extension following Rahul Bheke, Juanan Gonzalez, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Erik Paartalu and Boithang Haokip.

Having completed formalities on his extension, Dimas Delgado said, “I’m very happy to have signed for another season with Bengaluru FC. My experience at this club has been amazing so far, and our journey in the Indian Super League and AFC Cup was a memorable one. My family and I have enjoyed our time here so far and we want it to carry on. I want to stay on, fight hard and win the ISL and every other trophy we are competing for. I would like to thank everyone involved in making this decision easier for me.”

Having joined from Western Sydney Wanderers ahead of the Blues' 2017 AFC Cup knock-out rounds, 35-year-old Dimas went on to become a fan favourite, after making his debut in the 3-0 home win over North Korean side 4.25 SC back in August 2017.

The Spaniard has been one of the stand-out performers for the Blues, making a total of 1,120 passes in 17 games in the Indian Super League, the most among his teammates. With an outstanding passing accuracy of 77%, Dimas bagged three assists, and even netted a goal in the Blues' clash against FC Goa at the Kanteerava in February.

Bengaluru squad for 2017 AFC Cup knockout stage

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC, on Wednesday, announced their 25-man list for the 2017 AFC Cup knockout rounds as Albert Roca’s men prepare to take on North Korean side April 25 SC, at the Kanteerava Stadium, in a week's time. The new-look squad sees as many as fourteen new faces following the Indian Super League draft, and features two graduates from the Blues’ residential youth academy in Bellary.

Australian midfielder Erik Paartalu, along with Spaniards Toni Dovale and Dimas Delgado join defender Juanan Gonzalez to make up the Blues’ foreign contingent for the knockout rounds and Roca believes his side is ready for the task ahead.

“We’ve had very little time to prepare but the trip to Spain has been good exposure for the boys. We’ve tested ourselves against good opposition and this is the squad that we’ve been able to put together. We have a week more to prepare and I believe the boys will be ready for the challenge,” said Roca.

However, defensive mainstay John Johnson is set to miss the rest of the Blues’ 2017 AFC Cup campaign owing to personal commitments. The Englishman had joined the Blues for pre-season in Spain and though his absence in the 2017 AFC Cup will be a blow, Roca believes that his players will step up to the occasion.

“Johnson’s absence is a massive blow for us, but we are aware of his situation and it was the right decision to make for us to let him be at home. It is unfortunate for us, but his return for the club’s ISL campaign will be a boost,” he added.

The squad also features BFC academy graduates Leon Augustine and Prashanth Kalinga, who impressed Roca in pre-season with the club, as they took on FC Cartagena, UCAM Murcia CF and Baniyas Club.

The first leg of the Blues’ Inter Zonal semifinal against April 25 SC is set to kick off at the Kanteerava Stadium, on August 23rd with the return leg slated to played at the May Day Stadium, in Pyongyang, on September 13th.

FULL SQUAD 

Goalkeeper: Lalthuammawia Ralte, Abhra Mondal, Calvin Abhishek.

Defense: Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose, Zohmingliana Ralte, Collin Abranches, Joyner Lourenco, Juanan Gonzalez, Nishu Kumar, Prashanth Kalinga.

Midfield: Erik Paartalu, Dimas Delgado, Antonio Dovale, Boithang Haokip, Lenny Rodrigues, Alwyn George, Harmanjot Khabra, Malsawmzuala, Robinson Singh.

Forward: Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh, Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Thongkhosiem Haokip, Leon Augustine.

Bengaluru kick-off pre-season, fans welcome new-look squad

Bengaluru FC Media

Bengaluru FC kicked off their 2017-18 pre-season with an open training session at the Bengaluru Football Stadium on Wednesday in front of the Blues’ faithful who turned out in numbers to vociferously cheer their heroes on.

With the AFC Cup Inter-zonal Semifinal against North Korean side April 25 SC fast approaching, the Blues wasted no time in starting off their pre-season training in the city three days post the ISL Draft.

Speaking on the sidelines of the season’s first ever training session, Head Coach Albert Roca was delighted to be back in action. “We’re happy to be back on the field. Our target is to build on last season’s progress as we move into a new chapter in the club’s history. But before our domestic season begins, we’ve got big matches coming up fast in the AFC Cup. We don’t want to waste any time and prepare the best way possible for the first leg at home. The Spain tour will also help us massively as it gives us a good opportunity to gel as a squad,” he said.

The day at the BFS began with an introductory meeting between the new players and the staff, both technical and non-technical as the club welcomed its new signings into the fold. Albert Roca and co. then quickly briefed the players about their expectations for the tough season ahead while encouraging them to train at the highest level always.

Club captain Sunil Chhetri said he was confident of the task ahead despite the reshuffle in the squad. “Things will get tougher from here given we have only just assembled a squad. But we’ve got a really good set of players that I’m confident will turn into a unit with time. There’s a nice blend of experience and youth and it’s going to be an exciting season ahead.”

On the field, it was all about sessions in endurance training which was overlooked by the entire coaching staff. The idea was to assess the players’ physical condition before the day was rounded off with a core session. The players and staff then interacted with the fans before posing for selfies and signing autographs.

Bengaluru sign Spanish midfielder Dimas Delgado

Bengaluru FC Media

Strengthening their squad ahead of the 2017-18 season, Bengaluru FC have completed the signing of experienced Spanish midfielder Dimas Delgado, the club announced on Tuesday. The 34-year-old Catalan joins the Blues after skippering Western Sydney Wanderers in the Australian A-League and the AFC Champions League.

The midfielder becomes the Blues' fourth foreigner and joins fellow countryman Juanan Gonzalez, along with John Johnson and recently signed Erik Paartalu in the side.

Santa Coloma-born Dimas, who began his career at Catalonia-based Spanish lower league side Gramenet in 2002, made the move to FC Barcelona in 2006. He represented FC Barcelona Reserves for two seasons, before joining newly promoted La Liga side Numancia in 2008. He was a mainstay in his side’s midfield, racking up 20 top-flight appearances in the club’s third La Liga stint post-2000.

A three-year stint at Numancia was followed by spells at Cartagena (2011-12) and Recreativo Huelva (2012-15) in the Segunda Division. Having played over 400 games in Spanish football, Dimas made his first overseas move joining Western Sydney Wanderers.

His experience proved vital for the team as they finished runners-up in the 2015-16 season after being placed ninth in the previous campaign. The following year, Dimas was named captain of the side and led them to the finals series as well as in the AFC Champions League. Over two seasons, Dimas made a total of 59 appearances, while netting six goals in all competitions for the Sydney-side.

“I’m very excited to join Bengaluru FC and it will be a fantastic experience for me and my family in India. I can’t wait to start and get to know everyone at the club along with my teammates and staff,” said Dimas having put pen to paper on a one-year deal.

“I will give my best every single day to help my team and all the players, and hope to take the club to even bigger heights,” he added.

Coach Albert Roca, who was assistant at Barcelona when Delgado was with the B side, said he was aware of the quality that the midfielder will bring to Bengaluru. “I’ve seen Dimas from close quarters and have no doubt about his quality and experience. He is a hardworking and good professional and we’re confident this stint will be a successful one.”