Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Asia's most prestigious club competition returns in exactly one month with eight of the continent's finest teams vying for four semi-final spots.
It has been five and a half months since Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv put five past UAE’s Al Wahda to signal an exciting start to the 2018 AFC Champions League group stage. 112 matches and 334 goals later and we are down to eight contestants for the Continental trophy.
Both sides that got us underway exited the competition at the group stage, with the Uzbeks only missing out on a Knockout Stage spot due to an inferior head-to-head record against Islamic Republic of Iran’s Zobahan who nipped second place in Group B. The big winners from the group were Qatar’s Al Duhail, who became just the fourth team in the AFC Champions League history to collect all 18 points in the group stage.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: With the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals just over a month away, we look at seven players whose form in the competition can drive them to excel in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in January.
Eight of Asia's biggest club sides are battling for the 2018 AFC Champions League title, and amongst their ranks are some top players hoping to impress their national team managers as we approach the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
Some have already shown glimpses of their talents at the FIFA World Cup in Russia, while others are dreaming of one last grand showing before hanging their boots. So let's look at some of the biggest AFC Asian Cup hopefuls featuring in August's AFC Champions League quarter-finals.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Persepolis will be the team to beat in the Iran Pro League 2018-19 season which kicks off on Thursday.
Tehran-based Persepolis are the most successful club in the Islamic Republic of Iran, having won 11 league titles. The Red Army picked up the Iranian Super Cup last week after clinching their fourth Pro League title ahead of second placed Zobahan with Esteghlal and Saipa third and fourth respectively.
Branko Ivankovic's side will now be aiming to secure a hat-trick of league titles, a feat only achieved by Sepahan during their 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 run.
"This is the third year already that we have been on top of the league which is hard to do because one of the hardest things is to achieve continuity, maintain this level of focus and concentration," Ivankovic said.
"The key to success is mainly hard work. There is no success without hard and persistent work.
The league champions open their title defence against Padideh at the Samen Stadium, while Zobahan travel to Nassaji Mazandaran and Esteghlal play Paykan at home on Friday.
In the AFC Champions League quarter-final first leg, Persepolis will face Qatar's Al Duhail on August 28 while Esteghlal take on another Qatari club Al Sadd on August 27.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Nabil Maâloul has taken over from Djamel Belmadi at the helm of Al Duhail, the club said on Friday.
Belmadi led the Doha-based club to three domestic titles - Qatar Stars League, Qatar Cup and Emir Cup - in 2018, becoming the first Qatari club to achieve the feat, as well as securing a spot in the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals courtesy of eight successive victories.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Suwon: Korea Republic’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings have bolstered their squad by signing Han Eui-kwon, Park Jong-woo and Elvis Saric ahead of the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals.
Forward Han (pictured above) , 24, began his youth career with Daejeon Citizen in 2013 and had a short stint with Gyeongnam FC a year later, before returning to the Daejeon-based club in July 2015.
Park will bring in a wealth of international experience, having played with Chinese Super League’s Guangzhou R&F, as well as in the United Arab Emirates with Al Jazira and Emirates Club.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: 14 players from five nations represented the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finalists at the World Cup. The-AFC.com reviews their performances in Russia.
An Islamic Republic of Iran side featuring seven players plying their trade at Esteghlal, Persepolis and Al Sadd impressed in the World Cup despite exiting at the group stage. Korea Republic stunned reigning champions Germany with two Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors players on the pitch and a third on the bench.
Kashima Antlers’ pair Gen Shoji and Naomichi Ueda reached the Round of 16 with Japan, but Tianjin Quanjian’s Axel Witsel was the AFC Champions League quarter-finalist to go furthest in Russia, helping his Belgium side to a historic third-place finish. Samsung Suwon Bluewings' Matthew Jurman wasn’t as fortunate as his Australia team were eliminated at the group stage.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Al Sadd’s new signing Gabi Fernandez has spoken of his delight at joining the Wolves, after sealing his move from Atletico Madrid.
The Spanish star signed a two-year-contract with the club on Monday evening and will now join his countryman Xavi in the Al Sadd midfield.
Speaking after signing the contract, Gabi said: “I took the decision to play in Qatar after deep thought, especially as I spent many years playing in Spain. I now look forward to this new experience at a new club, which I’m sure will be a great one.
“I have seen the sights of Doha and I also observed the preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, including the great facilities at the Khalifa International Stadium. I am convinced that Qatar will host a successful World Cup in 2022.”