AFC Champions League
| This file may be deleted after Wednesday, 12 March 2008. | |
| Founded | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Region | Asia (AFC) |
| Number of teams | 28+1 (group stage) |
| Current champions |  Urawa Red Diamonds |
| Most successful club(s) |  Esteghlal F.C. |
The AFC Champions League is the current annual Asian club football competition hosted by Asian Football Confederation (AFC). In normal circumstances, 28 top clubs from fourteen Asian countries along with the defending champions competed in the tournament.
Inclucding the results from the Asian Club Championship and Asian Champions Cup, seven clubs have won the tournament twice; Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Pohang Steelers, Al-Hilal, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Thai Farmers Bank FC, Esteghlal F.C. and Al Ittihad. Maccabi cannot add any further titles, as the Israel Football Association has not been an AFC member for over 30 years, and has since joined UEFA.
History
- Asian Club Championship Era (1967-1972)
The competition started as the Asian Club Championship back in 1967. Eight domestic champions from eight Asian leagues competed in the inaugural season. With the exception of 1968 season, the tournament was held annually until 1971. During this first four editions, two Israeli clubs from Tel Aviv took three championships. In 1972, the tournament canceled due to a lack of interests which eventually resulted in withdrawals of most participants except for two clubs. The tournament was not held for next fourteen years. This also due to the fact that professionalism in Asian club football did not start till late 90s and early 2000s.
- Asian Champions Cup Era (1985/86-2001/02)
The tournament returned to Asia during the 1985/86 season with a new name, Asian Champions Cup. Entry was restricted to the domestic champions of certain Asian leagues. Even so, few withdrawal were seen for year to year. From 1990, AFC introduced Asian Cup Winners Cup which, as the name suggest, was also restricted to domestic cup winners. The winners of these two Asian tournaments then played at the Asian Super Cup.
- AFC Champions League Era (2002/03-2008)
From 2002/03 season the three major Asian tournaments, Asian Champions Cup, Asian Cup Winners Cup, and Asian Super Cup was merged into one larger competition and was re-branded as AFC Champions League. In the first edition, after several qualifying round, a total of sixteen clubs participated. The 2003/04 season was canceled due to SARS virus and Iraq War. The tournament was re-launched in 2004 season with 28 clubs from fourteen countries. In the current format, these 28 clubs are divided into 7 groups of four and plays double round-robin (home and away). The seven group winners along with defending champions qualifies to the quarter-final. Quarter-final, semi-final, and finals are two-legged series, with away goal, extra time, and penalties are used as tie-breaker.
- 2009 and beyond
The champions league will be expanded to 32 clubs and will be limited to top ten Asian league only. Each countries will receive 1 to 4 slots depending on the league strength, league structure (professionalism), marketability, financial status and other criteria set by the AFC Pro-League committee. Current report suggests that in the eastern region, Japan and Korea will receive four, China will receive three, Australia will receive two, and other easter countries will receive the other three slots. Western region will also receive 16 slots. The defending champions will also join the league at the group stage. The 2008 AFC Cup winner may also qualify. The eight group winner and eight runners-up will qualify to the round-of-16.
Qualification & format
The domestic champions of the 14 top Asian federations qualify automatically for the tournament, along with the respective cup winners of the same federations. The tournament holders receive a bye into the quarter-finals. Teams which are not in the top 14 federations go into the AFC Cup.
In total, 29 clubs competed in the 2006 Champions League tournament.
The qualifying teams are split on a regional basis into seven groups of four teams. The teams play each other home and away, and the top team from each group qualifies for the quarter-finals, where they join the reigning holders. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are played on a home-and-away basis in the format of a knockout competition.
In 2008 the tournament will stay at 28 teams for the qualifying stages and the current Champions (Urawa Red Diamonds) will join the 7 group winners in the quarter finals.
Due to their teams' technical performance and match results of the Thai and Vietnamese clubs in recent seasons, the AFC decided that Thailand and Vietnam would be reduced to one representative each in the competition with their second places teams demoted to the AFC Cup. Two teams from Australia's A-League have been offered places in the tournament to replace the demoted teams.
Prize money
For the 2004-2008 edition the money is distributed as follows. From 2009 season, the prize money also significantly increase, as several reports indicate that the champion may receive up to $ 5 million.
| Final position | Money awarded to club |
|---|---|
| 1 | $600,000 |
| 2 | $400,000 |
Note: The champion also receive at least $ 1 million at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Competing Asian Federations
Central & West Asia
Iran | Iraq | Kuwait | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | Syria | UAE | Uzbekistan
East Asia
Australia | China | Indonesia | Japan | South Korea | Thailand | Vietnam
Asian Champions Cup & Champions League Finals
AFC Champions League
| Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | |||
| 2007 | Urawa Red Diamonds
|
3 - 1 (aggregate) |
Sepahan
|
| 2006 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
|
3 - 2 (aggregate) |
Al Karama
|
| 2005 | Al-Ittihad
|
5 - 3 (aggregate) |
Al-Ain
|
| 2004 | Al-Ittihad
|
6 - 3 (aggregate) |
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
|
| 2002-03 | Al-Ain
|
2 - 1 (aggregate) |
BEC Tero Sasana
|
Asian Club Cup
| Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-02 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings
|
0 - 0 (4-2 pens) |
Anyang LG Cheetahs
|
| 2000-01 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings
|
1 - 0 | Júbilo Iwata
|
| 1999-2000 | Al-Hilal
|
3 - 2 | Júbilo Iwata
|
| 1998-99 | Júbilo Iwata
|
2 - 1 | Esteghlal
|
| 1997-98 | Pohang Steelers
|
0 - 0 (6-5 pens) |
Dalian Wanda
|
| 1996-97 | Pohang Steelers
|
2 - 1 | Cheonan Ilhwa Chunma
|
| 1995-96 | Cheonan Ilhwa Chunma
|
1 - 0 | Al-Nasr
|
| 1994-95 | Thai Farmers Bank FC
|
1 - 0 | Al-Arabi
|
| 1993-94 | Thai Farmers Bank FC
|
2 - 1 | Oman Club
|
| 1992-93 | PAS
|
1 - 0 | Al-Shabab
|
| 1991-92 | Al-Hilal
|
1 - 1 (4-3 pens) |
Esteghlal
|
| 1990-91 | Esteghlal
|
2 - 1 | Liaoning FC
|
| 1989-90 | Liaoning FC
|
3 - 2 (aggregate) |
Nissan FC
|
| 1988-89 | Al Sadd
|
3 - 3 (aggregate, away goals win) |
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|
| 1987-88 | Yomiuri
|
w/o - x (Al-Hilal withdrew) |
Al-Hilal
|
| 1986-87 | Furukawa Electric
|
Group stage win | Al-Hilal
|
| 1985-86 | Daewoo Royals
|
3 - 1 | Al-Ahly
|
| 1971 | Maccabi Tel Aviv
|
w/o - x (Al Shourta withdrew) |
Al Shourta
|
| 1970 | Taj
|
2 - 1 | Hapoel Tel Aviv
|
| 1969 | Maccabi Tel Aviv
|
1 - 0 | Yangzee FC
|
| 1967 | Hapoel Tel Aviv
|
2 - 1 | Selangor FA
|
AFC Champions League records and statistics
By Nation
The following table lists countries by number of winners and runner-up in AFC Champions League (Asian Club Championship also included).
| # | Nation | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Korea |
7 | 4 |
| 2 | Saudi Arabia |
4 | 5 |
| 3 | Japan |
4 | 3 |
| 4 | Iran |
3 | 3 |
| 5 | Israel |
3 | 1 |
| 6 | Thailand |
2 | 1 |
| 7 | China |
1 | 2 |
| 8 | Qatar |
1 | 1 |
| 8 | United Arab Emirates |
1 | 1 |
| 10 |  Iraq |
0 | 2 |
| 11 |  Malaysia |
0 | 1 |
| 11 | Oman |
0 | 1 |
| 11 | Syria |
0 | 1 |
By Club
The following table lists Clubs by number of winners and runner-up in AFC Champions League (Asian Club Championship also included).
By Club Statistics
- Iraqi clubs at the AFC Champions League
- Thai clubs at the AFC Champions League
- Thai Clubs in Asian Club Championship
Top Scorers
| Year | Footballer | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-03 | Hao Haidong |
Dalian Shide |
9 |
| 2004 | Kim Do-Hoon |
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma |
9 |
| 2005 |  Mohamed Kallon |
Al-Ittihad |
6 |
| 2006 |  Magno Alves |
Gamba Osaka |
9 |
| 2007 | Mota |
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma |
7 |
External links
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See also: International women's club football | ||