Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jeonju: Korea Republic champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors underlined their determination to reclaim their AFC Champions League title on Wednesday when they announced the signing of Adriano, the competition's joint single tournament top scorer, from Chinese League One side Shijiazhuang Ever Bright.
The Brazilian striker, 30, enjoyed considering success at the 2016 tournament, netting 13 times in just 11 games for FC Seoul as the capital city club reached the semi-final, only to lose to eventual winners Jeonbuk.
Adriano's time in China has been a mixed experience with 10 goals in 24 games a reasonable haul, but like his first spell in China, at Dalian Shide in 2011 and 2012, the stint has ended with a move to the K League.
For this season's edition of the AFC Champions League, Jeonbuk have been drawn in Group E alongside Kitchee from Hong Kong and two as yet unknown play-off winners.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: The man named Asia's best player in 2015 joins the 2016 winner Omar Abdulrahman at the Garden City side, ahead of their 2018 AFC Champions League Play-off.
The inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain made a strong statement of their intention to not only participate in this year's group stage, but also go deep in the tournament once again with the marquee signing of 2015 AFC Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil from Al Jazira.
The 26-year-old United Arab Emirates international joins on a six-month deal ahead of Al Ain's AFC Champions League play-off tie with Bahrain's Al Malkiya on January 30.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Reigning K League Classic champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors have reinforced their squad with the signing of playmaker Son Jun-ho for the 2018 season.
The Korea Republic club said they have signed Son - who was with Pohang Steelers - to a four-year contract.
Jeonbuk said Son will strengthen their midfield with Lee Jae-sung, last year's K League Classic MVP.
Son registered 14 goals and 20 assists in 99 matches since making his pro debut with Pohang in 2014. Last year, he was the K League Classic's top assist maker with 14 assists in 35 matches.
The 25-year-old was also a member of the Korea Republic U23 national team that won the gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games.
Jeonbuk are in Group E of the 2018 AFC Champions League alongside Kitchee SC and two qualifiers from the East Play-offs.
Source: Yonhap
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Former FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner Diego Forlan will feature for Hong Kong's Kitchee in the 2018 season.
The Hong Kong Premier League champions announced Forlan's signing on Thursday.
Forlan, who scored 36 times in 112 appearances for Uruguay, will spearhead Kitchee's campaign in the 2018 AFC Champions League.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The quest to land the biggest purse prize in Asian club football history will begin on Tuesday as the AFC Champions League – the Continent’s premier club competition – returns to action.
The AFC Champions League 2018 kicks off with four clubs gearing up to advance past the Preliminary Stage 1 qualifiers. Myanmar National League champions Shan United FC will play host to Ceres Negros FC from the Philippines at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon at 4pm local time.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Liga 1 2017 runners-up Bali United will kick start their maiden appearance in the AFC club competitions when they face Singapore’s Tampines Rovers at the Capt. I Wayan Dipta Stadium at 7.30pm local time.
The winners of this year’s AFC Champions League – which is already one of the richest continental club competitions in world football and is second only to Europe – will receive the competition’s largest-ever reward of US$4m, up from US$3m.
The 2018 runners-up will also get an extra US$500,000 taking the total purse to US$2m, while the AFC Cup winners will also bag a record US$1.5m this year.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dhaka: TC Sports Club edged Saif Sporting Club Limited 1-0 in their AFC Cup South Zone preliminary stage tie at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Tuesday.
Anatolli Vlasichev's strike in the 26th minute gave TC a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Saif could not, however, find a way back after the break as the Dhivehi Premier League outfit from the Maldives picked up a narrow win and a potentially crucial away goal.
The return leg will be played on January 30 in Male.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Brisbane: The 2017 PFL Top Scorer believes the Filipino side are reaping the rewards of years of hard work after stunning the A-League club 3-2 in Tuesday's AFC Champions League 2018 Preliminary Round 2 tie.
In one of the great Asian club football upsets of recent times, Ceres Negros - who only started as a club in 2012 - became the first team from the Philipines to reach the final stage of AFC Champions League qualifying after defeating Australia's Brisbane Roar 3-2 at Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.
the-AFC.com caught up with two-goal hero Bienvenido Marañón to get his reaction on a special night for football in the Southeast Asian nation.
Q: Hello Bienvenido, firstly congratulations on the incredible result against Brisbane Roar: Ceres Negros are the first Filipino side into the AFC Champions League Play-offs! How are you feeling today, and has it sunk in what the team achieved yet?
I feel very happy, personally and for the team, because it's a reflection of the work this club has put in over these last few years. It's a team that keeps growing and has now put Ceres Negros in the forefront of ASEAN football.
It hasn't really sunk in yet what we have achieved. I couldn't even sleep last night after this historic occasion for us and Filipino football.