A record 40 teams split into 10 groups will take part in the 2021 AFC Champions League as the competition continues to go from strength to strength, showcasing Asia's finest teams and numerous world-renowned players.

Almost 20 years ago, Asian football moved into an exciting new era as the AFC Champions League saw the merger of the Asian Club Championship and Asian Cup Winners' Cup in 2002-03, and that's where we start our look back at the tournament through the years.

Fans from across the continent and beyond have had their say regarding the tournament’s greatest players, but the race to determine which the tournament’s greatest ever coach is only just beginning.

Hailing from Asia, Europe and South America, we’ve selected 10 of the competition’s outstanding coaches, all of whom achieved team success or historical firsts, now it’s up to you to study the shortlist and register your vote.

Next week: AFC Cup All-time XI revealed.

There were hat-tricks, heroics and heart-warming farewells, but which player was Asia’s best of the best in the March international window?

From matches in Dubai, Dushanbe, Debrecen and more, we’ve picked 10 of the week’s best performers. Study our shortlist and don’t forget to register your vote.

As the kick-off date for the historic 2021 edition approaches, the-AFC.com looks back at the 2020 tournament which turned out to be a thrilling affair despite the challenging circumstances.

We kicked off the series in style with fans voting Persepolis FC's Mehdi Abdi Qara as the winner of the Best Headers of 2020, Ramin Rezaeian of Al Duhail topped the Best Free-kicks, Al Nassr's Abdulrahman Al Obaid won the Best Long-Range Goals, Abderrazak Hamdallah's strike against Qatar's Al Saad on Matchday One was voted as the winner of the Best Team Goals, Persepolis' Qara topped the Best Last Minute Goals while his teammate Hamed Lak won the Best Saves.

Our next instalment looks at the goals scored by clinical finishes and invites you, the fan, to tell us which was your favourite.

The 32-year-old has returned to the Hong Kong Premier League champions for a third stint after he was released by Chinese Super League side Dalian Pro.

The Nigeria-born striker first signed for Kitchee from Eastern in 2009 and spent a season with the club before joining Tai Chung. He returned to Kitchee for a second spell in 2013 before signing for Chinese side Yanbian Funde in 2018.

Al Ahli announced that the “club administration signed a contract with the Romanian to coach the first time until the end of the current season.”

The 24-year-old, who has played three times for Korea Republic, has joined the reigning K-League champions from German second division side Darmstadt 96, where he has spent the last season-and-a-half.

Paik spent five years at Barcelona’s La Masia academy and played for Barcelona B before joining Peralada and then switching to Girona. He played six times for Girona, including three times in La Liga.