Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Islamic Republic of Iran striker Mehdi Taremi has joined Portuguese club Rio Ave FC.
Taremi, 27, has signed a two-year deal with the Primeira Liga side.
The striker, a mainstay in the Iran national side, joins Rio Ave after a season with Qatar Stars League side Al Gharafa.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: With the transfer window set to close soon, teams are bolstering their ranks with various national leagues kicking off over the coming days.
The-AFC.com highlights the ins and outs across the Continent.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ibaraki: Kashima Antlers will be targeting revenge when they face Guangzhou Evergrande in the quarter-finals of the 2019 AFC Champions League, with Shoma Doi determined to turn the tables on the Chinese side following elimination by the same opponents in the 2017 edition.
Doi played in both legs when Kashima slid out at the Round of 16 phase at the hands of the Chinese Super League club – and two-time AFC Champions League winners – as Antlers continued a dismal record of failing to advance to the last eight for the fourth time since 2009.
But, with their confidence since boosted by their first-ever title win last year, Doi is convinced he and his teammates can avenge that loss and keep alive their dream of claiming back-to-back AFC Champions League crowns.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Spain and Barcelona great Xavi has declared that he is looking to repeat the incredible success he enjoyed as a player in his new role as head coach of Qatar giants Al Sadd SC.
The two-time FIFA World Cup winner retired from competitive football in May following a stellar career which also saw him claim a plethora of Spanish La Liga and UEFA Champions League crowns.
Having bowed out on a high thanks to 2018-19 Qatar Stars League title success as a player with Al Sadd, the 39-year-old is adamant that his thirst for silverware remains the same as his charges prepare for a new domestic campaign and knockout stage action in the 2019 AFC Champions League.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Shanghai: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors coach Jose Morais will pay no attention to the history books as he prepares his team for the second leg of their 2019 AFC Champions League Round of 16 meeting after seeing them held to a 1-1 draw by Shanghai SIPG on Wednesday.
The two teams shared the spoils in the first leg in Shanghai in their previous meeting in the knockout rounds of the competition – then it was the quarter-finals – in 2016 before Jeonbuk went on to hand the Chinese Super League side a 5-0 thrashing before going on to eventually win the title.
But Morais, who replaced long-term coach Choi Hang-hee at the start of the season, was refusing to take any cues from the past after seeing SIPG’s Wang Shenchao cancel out Moon Seon-min’s first minute opener to leave the tie delicately poised.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: One of the striking things about the 2019 AFC Champions League knockout rounds is the number of former Continental champions still in with a chance of glory.
Ahead of the Round of 16, the quartet of Guangzhou Evergrande, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Kashima Antlers and Urawa Red Diamonds in the East Zone had all won the coveted trophy, while in the West, Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad and Al Sadd had done likewise.
With two-time winners Jeonbuk having now departed, there are five former AFC Champions League winners still in the mix. Three of those sides, meanwhile, will look to create history by becoming the first team to lift the trophy on three occasions – the-AFC.com takes a closer look at the trio.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Riyadh: Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal SFC have opted not to renew the contract of influential midfielder Omar Abdulrahman.
The United Arab Emirates international joined Al Hilal in a blaze of publicity from Al Ain last August, but was subsequently sidelined for most of the season after he damaged an anterior cruciate ligament just two months after signing for the two-time AFC Champions League runners-up.
Despite subsequently recovering from the injury, Abdulrahman is now set to leave Al Hilal after failing to agree a new contract.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Riyadh: Former Korea Republic international Jang Hyun-soo has set his sights on winning this season’s AFC Champions League after joining Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal SFC.
The 27-year-old central defender made the move from Japan’s FC Tokyo as Al Hilal continue to ready themselves for a new Saudi Pro League campaign and their 2019 AFC Champions League Round of 16 clash with domestic rivals Al Ahli Saudi FC.
After arriving in Austria for Al Hilal’s pre-season preparations, Jang was quick to pinpoint his targets for the upcoming months – plans which include success on the Continental front.