Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuala Lumpur: Iranian midfield maestro Ali Karimi, Ulsan Hyundai star Lee Keun-ho and Guangzhou Evergrande defender Zheng Zhi are the remaining nominees of the prestigious AFC Player of the Year award 2012.
As announced by the AFC on Thursday, Sooceroos skipper Lucas Neill, who plays his club football for Al Jazira of UAE and Iranian defender Mohsen Bengar of Persepolis failed to make the final cut.
The former Bayern Munich midfielder Karimi was instrumental for Iran in their ongoing FIFA World Cup 2014 Asian Qualifiers campaign and also made appearances in the 2012 AFC Champions League for Persepolis (Piroozi). This would be the second chance for the 34-year old after he won this prestigious award in 2008.
Lee helped Ulsan Hyundai win the 2012 ACL and was named the Abdullah Al Dabal 'Most Valuable Player' of the competition. Lee was influential in Ulsan Hyundai's nine wins during the campaign culminating the final 3-0 win over Saudi Arabia giant Al Ahli.
Lee 's form was particularly important for Ulsan in the knockout stages of the competition, scoring the late winner against Kashiwa Reysol in the Round of 16 before netting in three consecutive games prior to his club's appearance in the final.
Guangzhou Evergrande's Zheng Zhi put in a series of impressive displays as the Chinese champions reached the quarter-finals of Asia's premier club competition on their continental debut and the versatile defensive midfielder was also appointed as a campaign ambassador of AFC's 'Asian Football Against Hunger' campaign during the knockout stages of the ACL 2012.
The AFC Player of the Year award will be presented at a grand ceremony on November 29 at the Mandarin Oriental in Kuala Lumpur.