Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Lokomotiv Tashkent made their AFC Champions League debut in 2013 and have since appeared in every edition, with coach Andrey Miklyaev playing a big part in the club’s recent successes.
The former Pakhtakor player first arrived at the club in 2004 for a brief spell as manager, before filling in at various roles - including as a sport director and assistant manager. Since 2016, he has been the club head coach, leading them to back-to-back Uzbek League titles.
One of the youngest clubs in this year’s AFC Champions League, Lokomotiv were only established in 2002, but are already rivalling the likes of Pakhtakor for domestic supremacy and have also made large strides on the continental stage.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Just over 11 weeks since Urawa Red Diamonds hoisted the AFC Champions League trophy into the Saitama sky, Asia’s most prestigious club competition is set to return on Monday.
The 16 teams in the West will take to the field on Monday and Tuesday, with former continental champions Al Ain, Al Hilal, Al Sadd and Esteghlal among the contenders ahead of what promises to be another scintillating campaign.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: With the AFC Champions League set to kick off on Monday, the-AFC.com picks out 10 stars to watch ahead of the return of Asia's biggest club competition.
Photos: Getty Images, The AFC
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Islamic Republic of Iran's Esteghlal FC have boosted their 2018 AFC Champions League hopes with the signing of Senegal striker Mame Baba Thiam.
Thiam, whose playing career includes a three-season stint with Italian Serie A giants Juventus, will be counted on to deliver in the 2018 AFC Champions League.
Esteghlal have been drawn in Group D alongside Al Rayyan of Qatar, Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal and Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates.
Thiam, 25, has also played for Serie A sides Inter Milan and Empoli. He will don the No 25 shirt at the Tehran-based club.
Esteghlal also completed the signing of Macedonian central midfielder Bojan Najdenov on Monday.
Esteghlal open their AFC Champions League campaign against Qatar's Al Rayyan in Doha on February 13.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kawasaki: Yu Kobayashi was among the standout performers in last year’s AFC Champions League and the Kawasaki Frontale captain insists the side are among the contenders for the continental title in the coming campaign.
Kawasaki had not reached the AFC Champions League quarter-finals since 2009, but were unbeaten on their march to the last eight in 2017 before ultimately being ousted by domestic rivals and eventual champions Urawa Red Diamonds.
This year, drawn in Group F alongside Ulsan Hyundai, Melbourne Victory and a star-studded Shanghai SIPG, who they meet on Matchday One on Tuesday, Kobayashi believes the side – crowned J.League champions for the first time at the end of 2017 – are well prepared for another shot at the continent’s biggest prize.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: As the clock ticks down towards the 2018 AFC Champions League, a number of big-name forwards have been snapped up by clubs across the continent.
With less than a week to go until the big kick-off, the-AFC.com looks at some of the movers who already boast invaluable experience in Asia’s biggest club competition and know exactly how to find the back of the net.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Osaka: Kenyu Sugimoto believes Cerezo Osaka can gain inspiration from Urawa Red Diamonds’ AFC Champions League victory last year as the side from Japan’s second city return to continental action for the first time since 2014.
After a third-place finish in the 2017 J.League, Cerezo secured their third appearance at the competition, where they reached the quarter-finals in 2011 and the Round of 16 three years later.
In 2017, domestic rivals Urawa became the first side from Japan to win the AFC Champions League since Cerezo’s neighbours Gamba Osaka claimed the title in 2008 and the forward feels his side can build on that success.