Doi played in both legs when Kashima slid out at the Round of 16 phase at the hands of the Chinese Super League club – and two-time AFC Champions League winners – as Antlers continued a dismal record of failing to advance to the last eight for the fourth time since 2009.

But, with their confidence since boosted by their first-ever title win last year, Doi is convinced he and his teammates can avenge that loss and keep alive their dream of claiming back-to-back AFC Champions League crowns.

The two-time FIFA World Cup winner retired from competitive football in May following a stellar career which also saw him claim a plethora of Spanish La Liga and UEFA Champions League crowns.

Having bowed out on a high thanks to 2018-19 Qatar Stars League title success as a player with Al Sadd, the 39-year-old is adamant that his thirst for silverware remains the same as his charges prepare for a new domestic campaign and knockout stage action in the 2019 AFC Champions League.

The United Arab Emirates international joined Al Hilal in a blaze of publicity from Al Ain last August, but was subsequently sidelined for most of the season after he damaged an anterior cruciate ligament just two months after signing for the two-time AFC Champions League runners-up.

Despite subsequently recovering from the injury, Abdulrahman is now set to leave Al Hilal after failing to agree a new contract.

Ahead of the Round of 16, the quartet of Guangzhou Evergrande, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Kashima Antlers and Urawa Red Diamonds in the East Zone had all won the coveted trophy, while in the West, Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad and Al Sadd had done likewise.

With two-time winners Jeonbuk having now departed, there are five former AFC Champions League winners still in the mix. Three of those sides, meanwhile, will look to create history by becoming the first team to lift the trophy on three occasions – the-AFC.com takes a closer look at the trio.

Last season’s Qatar Stars League runners-up announced the 19-year-old’s arrival via their social media channels on Monday following protracted negotiations between the Doha-based club and their Iraqi counterparts.

Ali, who starred for his country at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, reportedly rejected interest from European heavyweights Manchester City and Juventus to join Al Duhail who saw Japanese ace Shoya Nakajima leave to join FC Porto earlier this month.

The 45-year-old Dutch tactician took over from compatriot Henk Ten Cate in June, and has been using the camp to familiarise himself with the players.

Zobahan, who are in pre-season training, will face Al Ittihad on August 5 and 13 and Mansourian said his players are working hard to ensure they will be ready.

It will be a changed Zobahan side from the one that played in the 2018 AFC Champions League with several players having departed and new faces brought in.