Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuala Lumpur: Ulsan Hyundai's historic AFC Champions League victory has earned the Korean club the prestigious AFC Club Team of the Year.
Ulsan capped a phenomenal undefeated campaign with a 3-0 victory over Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli in the final of the 2012 edition of Asia's premier club competition, which took the two-time K-League champions goal tally for the tournament to 29 with just eight conceded.
On route to their first ever continental title, Ulsan saw off the challenge of some of the biggest names in Asian football, including seasoned ACL campaigners Al Hilal and Bunyodkor .
"After winning the AFC Champions League this is the icing on the cake and we are very proud to be the best Asian Club," said Ulsan Hyundai President Kim Dong-dae after collecting the 2012 Club Team of the Year award from Dr Hafez Al Medlej, AFC Executive Committee Member and Chairman of the AFC Marketing Committee.
"This year, we gave huge emphasis on the continental competition because last year we had a Korean side in the ACL final but they could not win. So winning the ACL was our main aim and we put lots of effort to get here.
"There have been so many Korean clubs who have won the ACL in the last few years because we have a good professional league and strong player development program.
"Now the focus is on the next month's FIFA Club World Cup. We are up against the CONCACAF champions from Mexico so we are preparing our best and are determined to represent Asia in the best way."