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          CK Vineeth to rejoin Kerala Blasters after leaving Bengaluru FC

          CK Vineeth will be back at Kerala Blasters for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season, the club confirmed on Wednesday. The striker had earlier confirmed his departure from Bengaluru FC, after three seasons at the club.

          Vineeth has spent two loan spells in the Indian Super League (ISL). He rose to stardom with the ISL last season, where his five goals in nine games took Kerala Blasters from the bottom half of the table to the final. He is now a household name in Kerala, getting the loudest cheers from the home fans and a genuine celebrity with several endorsement deals.

          Vineeth, whose contract with BFC expired at the end of last season, spent three seasons with the club, winning two I-League titles and two Federation Cups.

          "I've had to say goodbye quite a few times in life. But never once like this. Bengaluru, let me tell you how much I will miss you. I will miss the shirt and the fans, the songs, the chants, the stands, the banners. I miss everything," he said on his Twitter account.

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          Vineeth, who used to play for United Sports Club, signed with Bengaluru FC mid-season in 2013-14. He impressed then coach Ashley Westwood and was given a two-year contract extension later.

          The striker won the I-League twice with BFC -- the first time in his debut season, where he only played a bit-part role. His best season with BFC was his second, where he helped them win their first Federation Cup and his contribution was pivotal in the club reaching the AFC Cup final; he scored the only goal in the quarterfinal against a fancied Tampines Rovers. BFC reached the final of the AFC Cup that year, finishing runners-up after losing to Iraq's Air Force Club.

          Vineeth final season at BFC was also memorable. He was their second-highest scorer, behind Sunil Chhetri, in the I-League. But his most telling contribution came in the Federation Cup, where he scored a brace in extra time as BFC beat Mohun Bagan 2-0 and won their third trophy in as many years.

          Bengaluru FC, who are now part of the ISL, have so far retained only two of their players -- Sunil Chhetri and Udanta Singh -- going into the next season.