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The Tehran-based outfit have lost three of their last four league matches to sit five points behind leaders Tractor after 13 games of the current campaign. Assistants Karim Bagheri and Seyyed Jalal Hosseini will take charge on an interim basis.

The move to the second division outfit brings an end to a six-year spell with the club, during which time Yamaguchi helped steer Kobe to back-to-back league titles and two Emperor’s Cup crowns.

Six matchdays in the books, and a big shout out to all users who have participated in our Match Predictor so far. You’ve correctly called big results, missed out on some, but give yourself a pat on the back for getting through the Group Stage.

For those who still have not taken part in our FREE to join AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Match Predictor, sign up now to compete with friends and win cool prizes at (https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_two/predictor.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=topMenuBar&utm_campaign=acl2matchpredictor&utm_content=ENG).

Alright, time now for the recap of your picks in the tournament so far.

So, let’s start by taking a quick look back to reflect on which players have been racking up the points on your Fantasy team and the ones you should have in your squad going forward.

But before we get to all that, don’t forget you can still take part at https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite/fantasy.html. It’s free, it’s fun and it’s for all Asian football fans!

With the AFC Cup making way for a revamped continental club competition structure, Mariners were the ones standing tall at the end of a challenging campaign.

With the AFC's club competitions transitioning to a new format from the 2024/25 season, it was only fitting that the inaugural winners brought the curtains down on the AFC Champions League by waltzing their way to a second title.

The 54-year-old takes over as the long-term replacement for Harry Kewell, who led the club to the final of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 but left in July due to a run of poor domestic form.

After six Matchdays of the current League Stage, the ACL Elite has witnessed an average attendance of 11,966, which exceeds official figures from the 2022 and 2023/24 editions of its predecessor, the AFC Champions League™. This mark is 17% higher than the average of 10,194 from the first six Matchdays in the 2023/24 Group Stage.

Hasebe, who was named the J.League’s Manager of the Year for 2023, takes over after Oniki ended a hugely successful eight-year spell with the club at the conclusion of the 2024 J1 League season to join Kashima Antlers ahead of next season.

While the matches are still several weeks away, the-AFC.com takes an early look at what can be expected when the teams go head to head in February, with the last-16 ties to be decided over two legs.

The action promises to be spectacular, with the draw throwing up some fascinating ties.

With the tournament to only resume in February, the-AFC.com listens to what was said by the teams after another pulsating round of matches.