The tiki-taka (short passes) style of play will be missing when Men of the Steel City take the field in the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21 season.

Jamshedpur FC’s dependence on Spanish magic has become a thing of the past as is evident when one looks at the composition of foreign recruits in the current Jamshedpur FC squad.

The Tata Steel-owned club has just two Spaniards in Aitroy Monroy and David Grande in the squad vis-à-vis 6 in the last season. Both Monroy and Grande have a year left in their contract with JFC.

Jamshedpur has a huge fan following and the club is no mood to disappoint its supporters who always come in numbers to pitch for the team whenever a home match is played at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur.

Moreover, the club wants to move forward by making it to the play-offs and beyond. Foreign players have been drafted in keeping this key aspect in mind. Needless to say, JFC is yet to qualify for the knock-outs ever since making its debut three seasons ago.

The Spaniards who were the fulcrum of the squad last season and have been not signed this season include Jose Luis Espinosa Arroyo (Tiri), Francisco Medina Luna (Piti), Noe Acosta and Sergio Castel. Even head coach Antonio Iriondo’s services has not been availed.

Dependence on Spanish players has been the trend for at least the past two seasons. Besides the players, JFC had also experimented with Spanish coaches in Cesar Ferrando and Antonio Iriondo. However, the team did not derive the expected benefits, forcing it to look beyond Spain this time.

To top it all, bringing in Scottish-born Owen Coyle as head coach was an indication that Jamshedpur wants a complete change in its style of play. Selection of foreign and Indian players has been done in consultation with Coyle who helped Chennaiyin FC qualify for the final the last season.

Coyle has done special homework when it came to selection of foreign players, a member of the JFC team management revealed . “He (Coyle) will also adopt his own style of play,” he pointed out.

As per ISL guidelines, a franchise can select a maximum of seven foreign players, including one from the AFC-affiliated nation. JFC has already signed four foreign players in Nerijus Valskis (Lithuania), Peter Hartley (England), Stephen Eze (Nigeria) and Alexandre Monteiro de Lima (Brazil). Monroy and Grande are already in the squad. Only one foreign player from an Asian nation is left to be signed.

Jamshedpur FC Mukul Choudhari said they have tried to form a strong side which is expected to perform as per expectations.

Asked about Spanish recruits, he said: “It is not the question of Spanish players. We have not looked at a particular country for signing players this season but have tried to pick the best with a proven track record.”

The cash-rich tournament will unfold in Goa in November .

JFC finished fifth under Ferrando and eighth when Iriondo was in charge last season.