Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuala Lumpur: Leading Ulsan Hyundai to glory at the 2012 AFC Champions League has earned Kim Ho-kon the AFC Coach of the Year award.
The 61-year-old former Korea Republic international defender masterminded a 12-match unbeaten run which culminated with Ulsan defeating Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli 3-0 to become the third K-League club in four years to be crowned Asian champions.
At the end of Ulsan's historic first continental title triumph Kim had overseen an AFC Champions League campaign in which the two-time K-League champions score a mammoth 29 goals with just eight conceded.
"Of course winning this trophy means a lot to me and my team as well," said Kim after receiving the AFC Coach of the Year award from Kohzo Tashima, AFC Executive Committee Member and Chairman of the AFC Technical Committee.
"This year has been fantastic for our club and credit goes to all who are directly related with the club including the fans who were always a source of motivation for us.
"We have still a couple of matches left in domestic competition so it's not a time to relax. After that the big event of FIFA Club World Cup is coming and we will be proudly representing Asia.
"Since we are the ones representing Asia by winning ACL we must produce quality football to let the world know that how club football in Asia has risen in recent years. "