Five to Watch: AFC Asian Cup young guns

Son Heung-min (Korea Republic)

Despite having significant experience for the Taeguk Warriors Son Heung-min will only be 22 when the Asian Cup kicks off in January. Korea Republic will enter the competition as one of the favourites, and their dynamic young striker will no doubt be at the centre of coach Uli Stielike’s plans. The 2013 KFA Player of the Year is considered one of the most exciting prospects in Asian football, having moved to Germany as a teenager to join Hamburger SV’s youth academy. Son quickly became a star both in his own country and in Germany, and he was selected to be the face of Hamburger SV’s marketing campaign for 2011-12. In 2013, Bayer Leverkusen paid big money for him, and he repaid that faith by scoring goals in both legs of the play-off round against Copenhagen to help Leverkusen qualify for the UEFA Champions League. In October, Son scored in Leverkusen’s 3-1 victory over Benfica.

He has also scored freely in the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal Cup tournament, and his eye for goal has created interest from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea. His father, who is also his manager, was a professional footballer, and by the age of 18 the quick, two footed striker was part of South Korea’s squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. Son was listed as a potential breakout star before the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and although Korea Republic had a forgettable tournament, Son did manage to notch a goal against Algeria in the group stage. He has found the net regularly in the Bundesliga so far this season.

Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Iran)

Growing up playing on dirt pitches and in the streets outside the Iranian capital Tehran, Alireza Jahanbakhsh idolised Brazilian star Ronaldo. He grew up wanting to be a striker, and at just 21 years of age, Jahanbakhsh is now firmly established in Europe and has made several appearances for the national team under head coach Carlos Queiroz. He is without a doubt one of the hottest properties in Iranian football. After several seasons in Iran, the young striker made the move to Dutch club NEC Nijmegen, and it wasn’t long before he was helping his new club by scoring crucial goals in their battle to avoid relegation.

Having being voted one of the top young talents in the Eredivisie, Jahanbakhsh has come on the radar of several English clubs, with Manchester United and Chelsea both rumoured to be interested in his services. In 2014, Jahanbakhsh was one of several exciting young players to be included in the Iran squad for the FIFA World Cup where he came off the bench for all three of Iran’s matches. Alongside Karim Ansarifard and Reza Ghoochannejhad, another young Iranian who has played in the Netherlands, Team Melli will have some of the most exciting attackers in the Asian Cup. A tall, lanky striker with speed and skill, Jahanbakhsh will be hoping to help his nation win their first continental crown since 1976.

Yoshinori Muto (Japan)

Currently playing for FC Tokyo in the J-League, Yoshinori Muto is a young player with a big future. Still only 22, the midfielder has been particularly impressive this season, having had 57 shots and scored 13 goals, a success rate of 22.8% - the fourth highest in the league. Crucially, he is highly rated by Japanese manager Javier Aguirre. It’s a good thing too – Aguirre has chopped and changed his line-up since taking over after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but Muto has been a constant in the Samurai Blue line-up. Capable of playing anywhere across the midfield or up front, Muto fits Aguirre’s desire for versatility. “My philosophy is to use versatile players capable of playing in a number of positions,” said Aguirre after he selected his 23 man squad for the Asian Cup. “It’s important the players can adapt to whatever system we use.”

Tommy Oar (Australia)

When Tommy Oar burst onto the scene for Brisbane Roar in 2008, comparisons were inevitably made between him and Harry Kewell. Quick, left footed and with a willingness to take his defender on, Oar reminded many of a young Kewell. However, unlike Kewell, who left for England at a young age, Oar played two seasons at home before leaving to try his luck abroad. He marked his arrival with a spectacular free-kick in just his second match for Brisbane and was named in the A-League Team of the Year in 2010. He was duly called into the national team, making his debut against Indonesia in 2010. His star was rapidly rising, and the overseas clubs soon came calling.

In March 2010 he left to trial with FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie, and within a month he had signed for the club. He made his debut for the club soon after, and played in both UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League matches that year. His performances were enough to earn him a spot in the 28-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, but he didn’t make the final 23. Oar’s first major tournament came a year later in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, the same year he scored the goal of the tournament in the U-20 World Cup in Colombia. He was selected by Ange Postecoglou for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and played in all three of Australia’s group matches.

Ahmed Yasin (Iraq)

Known as the Iraqi Cristiano Ronaldo for his good looks, fashionable haircuts and stylish outfits, Yasin is one of the most popular footballers in Asia. He left Baghdad aged just 3 with his family who migrated to Sweden. From a family of footballers, Yasin and his three brothers began playing for their local club in Obrero. His first contract was with Obrero club BK Forward, where he also captained the futsal team. In 2009 he was called into the Sweden’s U-17 national team, but as he didn’t take the field he was still eligible for Iraq, the country of his birth. In 2010, he made the move to Obrero SK and made his debut for Iraq as part of the Olympic team. Iraq didn’t qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games, but Yasin came on the radar for the Iraq national team, and Sweden’s loss was Iraq’s gain.

Then national team coach Zico was impressed with Yasin, and in 2012 he represented the senior national team in several matches, including the 2012 Arab Nations Cup, where Iraq finished in third place. In the 2013 Gulf Cup of Nations Yasin started every match in the group stage, and came off the bench in Iraq’s semi-final win over Bahrain. In 2014 Yasin has been in good form with his club in Sweden, who finished sixth in the league. They finished the season on a hot run having won eight of their last ten matches, and importantly for Iraq, Yasin played in nine of these matches. The 23-year-old rising star will be crucial to Iraq’s chances at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, where they will be expecting to progress from a group that also includes Japan, Jordan and Palestine.

Photo: AFP