Last season, the Seagulls were off the pace in the Iraqi League title race, but they did manage to win a record 15th Iraq Cup. 

Coach Essam Hamad, who led them to the 1-0 cup final victory over Naft Al Wasat, was replaced 24 hours later with Ayoub Odisho - a man who has won two Iraqi league titles at Al Talaba and Air Force Club.

Out with the old boss went key first team players, Iraq captain and striker Alaa Abdul-Zahra, defender Karrar Mohammed and goalkeeper Mohammed Kasid, but the club’s board kept busy in the pre-season, signing 13 new players over the summer to bolster the squad ahead of a second consecutive AFC Cup campaign.

Winners of the AFC Cup in 2015 after a 1-0 victory over FC Istiklol saw them become the first ASEAN club team to be crowned continental champions, Johor reached the semi-finals the following year as they established themselves as one of the most feared teams in the competition.

Johor did not fare as well in last year’s tournament but, having claimed the Malaysia Super League title for the fourth successive season, the side return to the AFC Cup once more and open their campaign with a clash against Indonesia’s Persija Jakarta in Group H on Wednesday.

Jordanian teams have a proud history in the continental competition with Al Faisaly winning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 and Shabab Al Ordon claiming the 2007 AFC Cup after denying Al Faisaly a  third successive crown.

Photos: Bali United