12 May,2015 08:22 AM IST | | IANS
Former French footballer Mikael Silvestre on Monday said he is keen to play in the second season of the Indian Super League (ISL) but is still awaiting an offer from any willing franchise
New Delhi: Former French footballer Mikael Silvestre on Monday said he is keen to play in the second season of the Indian Super League (ISL) but is still awaiting an offer from any willing franchise.
Silvestre turned out for Chennaiyin FC in the inaugural edition of the football league and guided them to the semi-finals where their run was halted by Kerala Blasters.
He is best known for playing in the English Premier League (EPL), distinguishing himself as a left-footed defender, making 361 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United.
He won five EPL titles and the Champions League once during his nine-year career at United till 2008, before spending two more years at Arsenal.
"Chennaiyin FC are yet to contact me. I am open to play for any team," he said on the sidelines of a Manchester United Soccer School programme here.
He claimed to be in a top physical shape to be able to play in the physically demanding tournament, which was crammed with successive matches in a short span of time during its first season.
"Any willing franchise can contact me, I am ready to listen to their offer," the 37-year-old said.
Slivestre was bought by Chennaiyin FC for a reported sum of around $500,000, scoring once in 14 appearances for the southern Indian team in the first season of ISL.
He expressed his pleasure to have been a part of such a football initiative in India. He added football has the potential to overtake cricket as the country's most followed sport.
"ISL has the potential to improve the standard of India football. There are a lot of talented Indian footballers and if provided correct guidance under proper infrastructure, they can excel," the former France international, capped 40 times by his country during a six year spell from 2001 said.
