#ACL2022 Final - The Coach: Ramon Diaz (Al Hilal SFC)

Wed, 26 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022 Final - The Coach: Ramon Diaz (Al Hilal SFC)

Riyadh: Returning to the AFC Champions League™ final for the second time in charge of Al Hilal SFC, Ramon Diaz will be eager to write his name in the competition’s history books not just as a member of an elite club of managers who led their teams in two finals, but also as the first Argentinian coach to win Asia’s prime club competition.

As fate would have it, Diaz’s second attempt at leading Al Hilal to glory comes against the same club he lost to five years earlier, Urawa Red Diamonds, adding to the importance of the clash for the 63-year-old tactician.

The former striker’s first effort in 2017 ended in disappointment as his side were held to a 1-1 draw in Riyadh before losing 1-0 in Saitama in the return leg, denying Diaz a historic treble that season. And while his hopes of lifting a trio of trophies come the end of the season remain alive, Diaz’s focus will undoubtedly be on winning the club a record-extending fifth continental title.

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#ACL2022 Final – The Coach: Maciej Skorza (Urawa Red Diamonds)

Wed, 26 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022 Final – The Coach: Maciej Skorza (Urawa Red Diamonds)

Saitama: Polish tactician Maciej Skorza is just a few months into his job as the head coach of Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, but he is presented with the opportunity to win the biggest prize in Asian club football when his J1 League side take on Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC in the final of the AFC Champions League™ 2022. 

The 51-year-old, who has predominantly worked in Polish football during a coaching career which began in the mid-1990s, took over from Spanish tactician Ricardo Rodriguez ahead of the 2023 J1 League season after Urawa had finished in a disappointing ninth place in the Japanese top flight last term while still managing to make a fourth continental final.
 
As Skorza looks to become the 11th coach from Europe to win Asia’s showpiece club competition by guiding Urawa to their third Asian title, the-AFC.com takes a look at the journey of one of Poland's most successful managers. 

#ACL2022: Al Hilal SFC - Road to the Final

Mon, 24 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022: Al Hilal SFC - Road to the Final

Riyadh: With the hotly anticipated AFC Champions League™ 2022 final fast approaching, the-AFC.com relives how Al Hilal SFC made it to their second final in a row, winning seven of their nine games.

After reaching the 2017 AFC Champions League final, Al Hilal struggled to deliver the same levels of performances the following year, finishing bottom of their group, but having conquered the continent in 2021, they came back to defend their title with renewed vigour, winning their first four games of the group, and sealing a place in the next round with two games to spare.

#ACL2022: Urawa Red Diamonds – Road to the Final

Mon, 24 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022: Urawa Red Diamonds – Road to the Final

Kuala Lumpur: Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds are eyeing their third continental title when they take on four-time winners Al Hilal SFC in the final of the AFC Champions League™ 2022, and getting the better of the defending champions would make the J1 League team the joint-second most successful club in the competition. 

Urawa are looking to match Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers by winning their third Asian crown and their road to the final of the 2022 edition has been eventful, as they have overcame a number of strong opponents in the East to earn the right to challenge the Saudi Arabian giants and reigning champions of Asia, Al Hilal.
 
The 2007 and 2017 AFC Champions League winners booked their place in the 2022 tournament by winning the Emperor’s Cup in 2021, and have played nine matches and scored an incredible 31 goals so far to reach the title decider. Join the-AFC.com as we relive Urawa’s memorable journey to the AFC Champions League 2022 final.

Al Hilal SFC vs Urawa Red Diamonds: A modern-day rivalry

Fri, 21 Apr, 2023

Al Hilal SFC vs Urawa Red Diamonds: A modern-day rivalry

Kuala Lumpur: The final of the AFC Champions League 2022™ sees Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC take on Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds as the sides meet in the showpiece event for the third time in six editions of the tournament. 

In a competition that is split into East and West until the final, it’s unprecedented to see teams from different sides of the continent face off so regularly. But with holders Al Hilal and Urawa continuing to shine in Asia’s most prestigious club competition, the pair have established a rivalry for the ages. 

Test Your #ACL2022 Final Knowledge!

Thu, 20 Apr, 2023

Test Your #ACL2022 Final Knowledge!

Kuala Lumpur: The first leg of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 Final will be played in Riyadh next Saturday with defending champions Al Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia hosting Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds. 

The two-leg decider has all the ingredients to be a classic and as the countdown gathers pace, the-AFC.com invites you - the fan - to test your AFC Champions League knowledge of the two sides. 

Players who featured in multiple ACL finals

Fri, 21 Apr, 2023

Players who featured in multiple ACL finals

Riyadh: A quartet of Al Hilal SFC players are set to play their fifth AFC Champions League™
final in a few days’ time, marking a record for the competition, thanks to the club’s incredible run of form in recent years.

Over the years, many players have led their teams to battle for glory at the showpiece match of Asia’s top club competition. the-AFC.com looks at several players who have made multiple appearances in the final, be it for the same club or multiple clubs.

Al Ittihad 2004-2005: The last team to win back-to-back ACL titles

Thu, 20 Apr, 2023

Al Ittihad 2004-2005: The last team to win back-to-back ACL titles

Riyadh: The upcoming AFC Champions League™ final carries an added weight of history for Al Hilal SFC who not only want to make it five continental titles, but also dream of becoming only the second side to ever retain their crown since 2002-03.

The two last editions of the Asian Club Championship saw Korea Republic’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings lift the trophy back-to-back in 2000-01 and 2001-02, but since the mantle was passed on to the AFC Champions League the following year, only one team has been able to replicate this success.

Urawa Red Diamonds' ACL history

Wed, 19 Apr, 2023

Urawa Red Diamonds' ACL history

Saitama: The most successful Japanese side in Asia’s premier club competition, Urawa Red Diamonds have won the AFC Champions League™ twice and reached the final four times, while only two teams have lifted the continent’s most prestigious trophy on more occasions.

Should they win the final of the 2022 edition against four-time champions Al Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia, the Saitama side would move level on three titles apiece with Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers and write yet another chapter in their continental success story.
 
Ahead of the first leg of the final in Riyadh on April 29, the-AFC.com looks back at Urawa in the AFC Champions League. 

Al Hilal’s ACL history

Tue, 18 Apr, 2023

Al Hilal’s ACL history

Riyadh: The AFC Champions League™ 2022 Final will offer Al Hilal SFC the chance to extend their record as the most successful side in the history of the competition as they chase a fifth title, which would put them two clear of the next best side in the continent.

When the competition was relaunched under the AFC Champions League name in 2002-03, Al Hilal had already been one of a few clubs who had two titles to their name, alongside the likes of Esteghlal, Thai Farmers Bank and Korean duo Pohang Steelers and Suwon Samsung Bluewings, but in the years since then, the club set out on a journey to stand out from the rest.

#ACL2022 Final: The Venues

Sat, 15 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022 Final: The Venues

Kuala Lumpur: The two legs of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 Final will take place at two of Asia’s most iconic football venues: King Fahd International Stadium and Saitama Stadium.

As Al Hilal SFC and Urawa Red Diamonds get set to renew one of Asia’s greatest rivalries by meeting in the final for the third time in six editions, their respective stadiums offer the perfect settings for the continent’s biggest club game. 
 
With the first leg set to take place in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh on April 29 and the return meeting slated for Saitama Stadium in Saitama on May 6, the-AFC.com takes a closer look at the two venues.