Trophy-bearer Al Shalhoub set to inspire defending champions Al Hilal

Fri, 28 Apr, 2023

Trophy-bearer Al Shalhoub set to inspire defending champions Al Hilal

Riyadh: The AFC Champions League™ 2022 final first leg encounter between Al Hilal SFC and Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan is set to light up the stage on Saturday.

One former player who will play a crucial role for reigning champions is Mohammed Al Shalhoub, with the former Al Hilal midfielder having the honour of escorting the teams with the coveted trophy during the march-in at the King Fadh International Stadium.

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#ACL2022 Final: Facts & Figures

Fri, 28 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022 Final: Facts & Figures

Riyadh: Al Hilal SFC and Urawa Red Diamonds are in their last lap of preparations for the AFC Champions League™ 2022 final.  

Both will be bidding to become the first three-time winners in the AFC Champions League™ era and ahead of the two-leg final, the-AFC.com takes a look at some interesting facts and figures of the teams.

#ACL2022 Final: Al Hilal SFC - Ones to Watch

Wed, 26 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022 Final: Al Hilal SFC - Ones to Watch

Riyadh: The most successful side in the history of the AFC Champions League™, Al Hilal SFC's pursuit of a record-extending fifth continental title faces the final hurdle of a third rematch against Urawa Red Diamonds, the side they exchanged wins with in 2017 and 2019.

Having appeared in the finals of 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2021 - winning the latter two - Al Hilal have a wealth of experienced heads in their ranks, with as many as four players gearing for a fifth appearance in the showpiece event, but they also boast several top class imports and ambitious youngsters who complement the core of the Saudi veterans in the squad.
 
Ahead of the first leg of the final in Riyadh on Saturday, the-AFC.com highlights three players who could make the difference for the home team.

#ACL2022 Final: Urawa Red Diamonds - Ones to Watch

Wed, 26 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022 Final: Urawa Red Diamonds - Ones to Watch

Saitama: Five years after winning their second AFC Champions League™ title by defeating Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC 2-1 on aggregate in the 2017 final, Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds are gunning for more continental glory as they look to become Asian champions for the third time.

Standing in their way once again is the same opposition who they defeated in 2017 but lost out to two years later in the 2019 final — reigning champions Al Hilal, who have won two of the last three editions of the competition and boast some of the biggest names in Asian club football in their squad. 
 
But, as they have a habit of doing, Urawa have saved their best for the cup competitions and have shone yet again on the continental stage. Ahead of the first leg of the final in Riyadh on Saturday, the-AFC.com shines the spotlight on three players who could make the difference in the showpiece event. 

#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.

#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.