Who is Vibin Mohanan? Indian football team's new call-up

From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of the game,  Vibin Mohanan is living the dream of every football fan in his pursuit of all the football milestones.

The young midfield player has so far set a challenging path that any aspiring football player can follow and learn from; it is a graph made of sweat shed in the name of consistency and tenacity.

Manolo Marquez, the head coach of the Indian National Football Team, has called him up for national duty for the forthcoming international friendly against Malaysia, marking a new milestone in his journey.

The Kerala Blasters have long been renowned for maximizing the enormous reservoir of potential in the area by supporting and developing homegrown talent.

Vibin Mohanan rose through the Kerala Blasters academy's ranks to become a professional football player, and his steady play for the Blasters in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024–25 season thus far has earned him a call-up to the Blue Tigers.

In their opening fixture of the season, the Blasters’ head coach Mikael Stahre placed his trust in the youngster, who was returning from an injury, to come on from the bench. 

Since then, Vibin Mohanan has grown to be a crucial part of his strategy. Stahre has aptly described him as ‘gifted’.

Career and Performances

At the age of 9, Vibin Mohanan started playing football in 2012 at the Kerala Police Football Academy, where he was coached by the renowned I.M. Vijayan. He made his debut with the Kerala Blasters in 2017 when he was selected for their U-15 squad and played for them in the Hero Junior League.

In 2020, after advancing through the academy, he was loaned to Indian Arrows. In a match against Churchill Brothers in the I-League, Vibin made his professional debut. During his loan period, he captained the team and scored his first goal in professional football against Real Kashmir.

Following two seasons on loan, Vibin rejoined the Kerala Blasters for the 2022–2023 season, making his debut against Sudeva Delhi FC in the Durand Cup.

His consistent performances in the Durand Cup, including an assist, helped him break into the first team. His performance impressed Ivan Vukomanovic, the Blasters' then-head coach, who gave him his Indian Super League debut that same season.

From the U16s to the U23s, he has represented the nation at every level on the international stage. In May of this year, he was called up for India, but he had to withdraw due to personal reasons.

Playing Style

Despite his primary role as a box-to-box midfielder, Vibin provides versatility in the middle of the park. He has frequently served as the center of the Blasters' midfield, especially when Luna was out early in the season.

The lad has a lot of experience under his belt as a defensive midfielder playing in a deeper role, as well as a box-to-box midfielder who runs across the field. He can even play as an attacking midfielder, concentrating only on being creative up front. His versatility in any setup is essential to his persona as a complete midfielder who can play in both single- and double-pivot systems.

The youngster brings stability, creativity, and technique to the midfield. His accurate passes help create scoring opportunities from deep positions by dividing the defense and finding teammates behind.

He is a past master in the making and possesses a collection of exquisite passes in his repertoire, especially his accurate long balls. During counterattacks, his long balls accurately locate the open men and frequently assist in shifting the play to the wings.

Vibin takes up the open spaces during attacks, and his propensity to win duels for the second ball frequently presents him with scoring opportunities near the box's edge.

Any team can benefit from his press-resistant dribbling when it comes to controlling possession around the opposition's box and moving the ball forward. His fluidity in attack, helps him to quickly adapt to any tactical setups.

One of Vibin's most distinctive playing traits is his ability to control the game's tempo. Playing in deeper positions, he sets the rhythm and reads the game so well. Moreover, he is dedicated to tracking back while playing box-to-box midfield without neglecting his defensive duties.

Future Prospects

Undoubtedly, Vibin Mohanan possesses a vast amount of potential. The Thrissur-born midfielder has rapidly improved thus far, and his two seasons with the Blasters demonstrate how reliable he has been in terms of both quality and growth. He has already made 40 official appearances for the Blasters at the young age of 21, which is a remarkable accomplishment.

Given the time and the right guidance, it is certain that Vibin Mohanan has everything needed to inscribe his name into Indian football history. He is still in the early stages of his career, though, and will need to put in a lot of effort and remain dedicated if he is to reach his full potential.

Undoubtedly, this call-up is not the highest level of achievement he ought to aim for on the international stage. The composure he showcases on the pitch should serve as the cornerstone, the very brick upon which he builds the foundation of his career.

With constant work and meticulous development, the "gifted" Vibin Mohanan will be a shining star for the Blue Tigers and the Tuskers.

Cover Credits - ISL Official