Pitted against Korea Republic, DPR Korea, Lebanon and Sri Lanka in Group H in the second round of the Asian Qualifiers, the Karakum Warriors’ chances of making a real impact looked slim.

Their first few results didn’t suggest otherwise, with losses to Korea Republic and Lebanon sandwiching a 2-0 win in Sri Lanka. Just as their campaign looked in jeopardy, however, Turkmenistan bounced back in unexpected fashion. A 3-1 home win over DPR Korea and another two-goal defeat of Sri Lanka propelled them top, one point clear of Korea Republic.

However, these concerns dissipated four months later, when the team took part in their first tournament under Sousa’s stewardship. Bahrain topped their group at the 2019 West Asian Championship after defeating Jordan and Kuwait, and drawing with Saudi Arabia. They then triumphed over hosts Iraq in the final en route to their maiden regional title.

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A record six-time winner of Uzbekistan’s Player of the Year Award, a league champion in both his homeland and China PR, and voted best player at a club which featured Roberto Carlos and Samuel Eto’o – only one of whom makes this list – Akhmedov’s career has seen him team up with footballers of global renown, and match them every step of the way.

With his professional career now in its 15th year, Akhmedov selects a team comprising the very best of his teammates, drawing on his experiences of 104 international caps and fruitful club stints at Pakhtakor, Anzhi Makhachkala, FC Krasnador and current home Shanghai SIPG.

The Montenegrin’s first foray into the Asian game, however, came with a short stint in Saudi Arabia in 2006. But it is in East Asia where the now 38-year-old truly made his name and, after moving to Korea Republic’s K League in 2007, he has not looked back since.

Having found a home away from home on the other side of the world, and collected plenty of prizes along the way, Damjanovic tells the-AFC.com about his life and times in Asia and reflects on a move that has proved an unequivocal success both on and off the pitch.

Wise words indeed and an undeniable truth that has inspired an army of photographers to document the exhilarating highs and lows of Asian football. To produce images that – sometimes years on from when they were first produced – never fail to resonate, never fail to stir the emotions, never fail to excite.

After previously featuring the finest acrobatic goals, solo goals, volleys, long-range screamers and chips, this week's selection sees stunning set-piece specials from some of the biggest names of the Continental game including Paulinho, Theerathon and Abdulrahman, so enjoy the trip down memory lane and vote for your favourite in the poll below!