Ahead of the upcoming season of the Indian Super League (ISL 2024-25), Kerala Blasters FC announced the departure of their two foreign players, Marko Leskovic and Daisuke Sakai.
Croatian centre-back Leskovic joined the Blasters during the 2021-22 season from GNK Dinamo Zagreb. He made an indelible mark at the club, leaving after three successful seasons. He was a mainstay in the central defensive position for Ivan Vukomanovic’s side.
However, the defender struggled with injuries in the last two seasons, making 15 and 12 appearances in the league, respectively. During his three-year tenure, he featured in 53 matches for the Blasters across all competitions. His only goal came against Bengaluru FC in their 3-2 win in the ISL during the 2022-23 season.
Japanese attacker Sakai joined the Blasters ahead of this season from the Thailand-based club Customs United. The 27-year-old played a significant role for the side in the absence of Adrian Luna. Clocking 1,414 minutes across 21 league appearances, Sakai made a major contribution to the team.
He scored three goals and provided one assist, helping his side reach the playoffs for a third consecutive year. Additionally, he created 18 chances and maintained a passing accuracy of 79%.