In a country where thousands and thousands of players prefer to remain in their comfort zone and fail to take the step up to test themselves in the lower divisions of Europe, Rudra Ved Moola stands out as one of the very few players who made the bold decision to move to Spain, test himself and develop his game.
Today, he stands as one of the most highly rated center-backs in the country who attracted interest from multiple ISL clubs ahead of the 2026/27 season following his impressive performances in the 2025/26 Indian Football League (IFL) season.
Despite interest from several clubs, Rudra has decided to join FC Goa on a two-year deal, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2027/28 season.
Not just a no-nonsense defender, Rudra is a proactive centre-back who steps up to avert danger while remaining calm and composed on the ball.
Having played across different tiers in Spain and India, Rudra is tactically astute and versatile. He is also aerially gifted and capable of standing his ground against opposition strikers with his physical prowess.
What made him develop into the beast of a defender he is today? Let’s take a deep dive into his journey through his words in an exclusive interview with Footy India, where he started, how his time in Spain shaped him, his return to India, his emergence in the IFL, and the next big move of his career.
Where It Began – Bengaluru FC?
Born in Karnataka, Rudra started his career at the Bengaluru FC academy, which has been a strong development setup for young players in Bengaluru over the past decade or so. He joined the BFC academy in 2013 at just 13 years of age and spent three years there.
Rudra spoke about his time at Bengaluru FC and how the academy played a key role in helping young players from the state develop and compete at a high standard.
“I was part of the BFC youth setup when I was still in Bangalore from U13 – 16. BFC was the pioneer of professional academy setups in India, it set the standard for the rest of the country, in my opinion. Giving us youth players regularly a chance to train with the senior team and learn as much as we could, as well as experience a higher standard of what we were used to.”, added Rudra in an exclusive interview with Footy India
The Learning Curve at Spain
After leaving Bengaluru FC at 16, Rudra had a short spell with Ozone FC before making the boldest decision of his career, to move to Spain and develop his game. He initially joined Atletico Saguntino’s U-19 team, spending almost two years with the club.
At 21, he took the next step in his career to test himself at the senior level, joining Mare Nostrum Club de Futbol in the Valencian regional league. He then left the club less than a year later and joined Club Deportivo Acero, who played in the fifth tier of the Spanish football league system, competing in Tercera Federacion Group 6, which features clubs from the Valencia Community.
Rudra spoke about his experience in Spain and how the six years he spent there helped develop his game, both technically and tactically.
“It helped me develop a lot technically and tactically. Generally, in those leagues you have a lot less time on the ball and you’re forced to make quicker decisions. As for the football culture, in Spain it’s very competitive as they’re all brought up in that environment (irrespective of the division) and that competitiveness is contagious as you see even the fans heavily involved.”, insisted Rudra in an exclusive interview with Footy India
The Emergence at Shillong Lajong
On his return from Spain to India, Rudra Ved Moola spent a season with local club South United FC before making the move to Shillong Lajong to test the skills he had honed in Spain in the second tier of Indian football.
While the 2025/26 season was highly uncertain and challenging for players, both mentally and financially, the blessing in disguise for Rudra was Shillong Lajong’s decision to play the season with an all-Indian squad.
He made the most of the opportunity, establishing himself as a crucial part of the Lajong defense, not just as a defender but also as a leader. He went on to become one of the best defenders in the league that season and played a crucial role in Shillong’s fairytale push for promotion, which they missed by the narrowest of margins.
Rudra spoke about Shillong’s footballing culture and how his time at the club challenged him to improve himself both as a player and as a person.
“It was a dream season with a great squad. I think every person played a crucial part in what we achieved. The football culture in Shillong is second to none and that was one of the biggest driving factors in our success.”
“It taught me a variety of things personally, and professionally it really goes to show that when you put your head down and focus on your purpose, you’ll persevere.”, told Rudra in an exclusive interview with Footy India
The Next Chapter – FC Goa
So, the next chapter and the most challenging part of Rudra’s career is set to begin at FC Goa, where he will be playing in the top tier of Indian football while also competing at the Asian level. It is not just about the challenge of facing quality players on the pitch; he will also have to fight for a starting spot against one of India’s best defenders, Sandesh Jhingan.
Rudra spoke about the goals he has set for himself after joining FC Goa and the feeling and value of sharing the dressing room with Sandesh Jhingan at the club, something that could be crucial for him as he adapts to the ISL and continues to develop as an individual player.
“My personal goals are to be able to perform to the best of my ability, stay injury free and focus on what things are within my control. “
“Sharing the pitch with a national icon is an honor and privilege. To learn and absorb as much as I can from him during my time here will be incredible without a doubt., you’ll persevere.”, stated Rudra in an exclusive interview with Footy India
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