AFC Champions League

AFC Champions League

Founded	1967 (2002 in its current format)
Region	Asia (AFC)
Number of teams	32
Current champions	Al-Sadd SC (2nd title)
Most successful club	Pohang Steelers (3 titles)
Website	Official website
2012 AFC Champions League

The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs. The champions receive about US$2.25 million in prize money (specific amount depends on record from the group stage) and a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup at the end of the year.

Starting 2009 season, the defending champion no longer receives an automatic berth, forcing them to qualify through their respective domestic league or cup competitions. However, the 2008 champions, Gamba Osaka, and the 2009 champions, Pohang Steelers, both managed to qualify for the following season. In the 2010 edition though, the defending champions, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma became the first club to fail to secure a spot in the following year's Champions League.

The qualifying round starts in late February and the single-match final takes place in early November at a neutral venue. During the World Cup years, the qualifying rounds tends to start bit earlier.

Pohang Steelers is currently the most successful club in the competition's history, having won their third title in 2009. League-wise, the Korean K-League has 9 titles and is the most successful league competition followed by the Japanese J. League which has 5 previous winners. The last five editions (2006–2010) have seen K-League clubs win 3 titles (2006, 2009, 2010) and J.League with 2 titles (2007, 2008), showing the dominance by the Eastern clubs.

History

Asian Champion Club Tournament Era (1967–1972)

The competition started as the Asian Champion Club Tournament back in 1967. Eight domestic champions from eight Asian leagues competed in the inaugural season. With the exception of the 1968 season, the tournament was held annually until 1971. During the first four editions, two Israeli clubs, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv won three championships. In 1972, the tournament was canceled due to a lack of interest which eventually resulted in the withdrawal of all participants except for two. The tournament was not held for the next fourteen years; this was also because professionalism in Asian club football did not start till the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Asian Club Championship Era (1985/86–2001/02)

Using the old European Cup as a model, the tournament returned to Asia during the 1985/86 season with a new name, the Asian Club Championship. Entry was restricted to the domestic champions of certain Asian leagues. Even so, a few withdrawals were seen from year to year. From 1990, AFC introduced the Asian Cup Winners Cup which, as the name suggested, was also restricted to domestic cup winners. The winners of

AFC Champions League Era (2002/03–present)

2002/03 season

From 2002/03 season the three major Asian club competitions, Asian Champions Cup, Asian Cup Winners Cup, and Asian Super Cup were merged into one larger tournament and re-branded as the AFC Champions League. In the previous years, the domestic champions and cup winners were sorted into two different continental tournaments, but now both domestic champions and cup winners enter into this larger competition. In the first edition, after several qualifying rounds, a total of sixteen clubs participated in group stage. One club from each group hosted the group stage which were conducted with the single round-robin format in a week. Four group winners then qualified to the semifinals, which were the four hosts of the group stage. The semifinal and the final were contested in two-legged aggregate series.

2003/04 season

The 2003/04 season was cancelled due to the SARS virus outbreak.

2004–2008 seasons

The tournament was re-launched in 2004 season with 28 clubs from fourteen countries. Unlike the previous year, the tournament schedule was changed from March to November. In the group stage, the 28 clubs were divided into seven groups of four on a regional basis, separating East Asian and West Asian clubs to reduce traveling costs, and played double round-robin on a home and away basis. Then, the seven group winners along with the defending champions qualified to the quarterfinals. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals were two-legged series, with away goals, extra time, and penalties used as tie-breakers. The 2005 season saw Syrian clubs join the competition, thus increasing the number of participating countries to 15, and two years later, following their transfer into the AFC in 2006, Australian clubs were also included in the tournament. With lack of professionalism in Asian football, many problems still existed in the tournament, such as on field violence and late submission of the player registration. Many blamed the lack of prize money and expensive travel cost as the some of the reasons. However, with the introduction of the FIFA World Club Championship in 2005 (now known as FIFA Club World Cup), inclusion of English media via the A-League, and two consecutive wins by Japanese sides, allowed to set up a more competitive and more professional format in 2009.

2009–present

The Champions League expanded to 32 clubs and direct entry is limited to the top ten Asian leagues. Each country will receive up to 4 slots, though no more than one third of the number of teams in that country's top division, rounded downwards, depending on the strength of their league, league structure (professionalism), marketability, financial status, and other criteria set out by the AFC Pro-League committee. The assessment criteria and ranking for participating associations will be revised by AFC every two years, with the most recent ones being approved for 2011–2012 seasons.

The prize money has been significantly increased since 2009 season and the clubs can earn some prize money even at the group stage depending on their performance. The group stage is conducted in the same manner as the previous four tournaments; this time, however, now eight group winners and eight runners-up qualify to the Round of 16, in which group-winners play host to the runners-up in a single match format, matched regionally. The regional restriction is lifted from the further stages, though since 2010 season clubs from the same country cannot face each other in the quarterfinals unless that country has three or more representatives in the quarterfinals. The quarterfinals and the semifinals are played in two-legged series, with away goal, extra time, and penalties used as tie-breakers. The final is played as a single match at a pre-determined neutral venue.

Future Plans (2013–)

The Round of 16 will be a two-legged affair starting 2013. Also, currently venue for the final is debated. During the 2009–2010 seasons, the final was held at a pre-determined neutral venue; Tokyo, Japan in both seasons. However, for the 2011–2012 seasons, the final will be held at one of the finalists home stadium determined by the draw of lots. After studying these two cases, the venue for the finals for 2013 season and onward will be determined.

Current Regulations

Qualification

AFC Final Assessment Ranking for 2009–2012 seasons

The qualifications are based on AFC Final Assessment Rankings (see below). The assessments was conducted by AFC Pro-League committee during 2006–2008, and is based on the football competitiveness, professionalism, marketability, and financial status of the league and its clubs. Leagues can have up to four spots, but no more than one third of the number of teams in that country's top division, rounded downwards. However, some leagues may have to enter their clubs through qualifying playoffs. The previous year AFC Cup finalists may also enter qualifying play-offs given that their league meets the AFC Champions League criteria.

The new assessment ranking was expected to be published in November 2010, with an intention to it being updated every two years. However, after realizing that newly set criteria are hard to be implemented on time, AFC decided to maintain the existing allocation scheme for two more seasons and postpone the publishing of a new ranking for one year till November 2011. This ranking is expected to be applied for 2013 season onwards.

AFC Final Assessment Ranking for 2009–2012 seasons

West Asia

Pos	Member Association	Clubs	Spots
			Group stage	Play-off	AFC Cup
	Qatar	12	4	0	0
	UAE	12	3	1	0
	Saudi Arabia	14	3	1	0
	Uzbekistan	14	3	1	0
	Iran	18	2	2	0
	Syria	14	0	0	2
	India	14	0	0	2
	Kuwait	8	0	0	3
	Iraq	36	0	0	2
	Jordan	12	0	0	2
	Oman	12	0	0	2
	Yemen	14	0	0	2
	Lebanon	12	0	0	2
	Bahrain	10	0	0	1
	Tajikistan	10	0	0	0
	Pakistan	16	0	0	0
	Palestine	22	0	0	0

	Meet the criteria
	Do not meet the criteria

East Asia

Pos	Member Association	Clubs	Spots
			Group stage	Play-off	AFC Cup
	Japan	18	4	0	0
	Korea Republic	16*	3	1	0
	China PR	16	3	1	0
	Australia	9+1**	3	1	0
	Thailand	18	1	1	0
	Indonesia	18	0	1	1
	Vietnam	14	0	0	2
	Hong Kong	10	0	0	2
	Maldives	8	0	0	2
	Malaysia	14	0	0	2
	Singapore	12***	0	0	2
	Myanmar	12	0	0	2

^* One of the K-League clubs, Sangju Sangmu Phoenix, is unable to qualify for the ACL because the team is not a commercial entity and their players are not professionally contracted.

^** One of the A-League clubs, Wellington Phoenix, is based in New Zealand, an OFC member country. They are unable to qualify for the ACL.

^*** Two of the S.League clubs, Etoile FC and Albirex Niigata (S), are based in Singapore, but are foreign clubs. One other clubs from the S. League, the Young Lions, consists of players of the Singapore under-23 national team and is under direct control of the FAS. They are unable to qualify for the ACL.

The finalists of the AFC Cup of preceding season will also participate in the play-off, provided that they meet the Champions League criteria.

Tournament Format

Qualifying play-off

8 teams, 2 knock-out rounds, each 1 leg, on a regional basis, 2 winners qualify for the group stage.

Group Stage

A total of 32 clubs are divided into 8 groups of four, based on region i.e. East Asian and South-east Asian clubs are drawn in Group E to H, while the rest are grouped in Group A to D. Each group is a double round robin, for a total of 6 matches for each team. Clubs receive 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. The clubs are ranked according to points and tie breakers are in following order:

• Points earned between the clubs in question
• Goal Difference between the clubs in question
• Goals For between the clubs in question
• Goal Difference within the group
• Goals For within the group

The eight group winners and eight runners-up qualify to the Knock-out Round.

Knock-out Round, Round-of-16

Group winners vs group runners-up, 1 leg, on a regional basis.

Knock-out Round, Quarterfinals & Semifinal

All 8 clubs are randomly matched; however, starting 2010 season, the clubs from same country cannot face each other in the quarter-finals. The games are conducted in 2 legs -home and away- where the aggregate goals decides the match winner. If the aggregate goals cannot produce a winner the away goals rule is used. If still tied the clubs play extra time, where the away goals rule still applies. If still tied after extra time, the game goes to penalties.

Final

One 90-min game at a neutral venue. If tied after regulation, extra-time, penalty kick will be used to produce a winner.

Sponsors

On 5 November 2008 it was announced that Qatar’s leading telecom company Qtel will sponsor the 2011 AFC Asian Cup and the AFC Champions League from 2009–2012.

On 8 January 2009 it was confirmed that Emirates Airline signed a four-year extension to its sponsorship deal with AFC.

In November 2009, the AFC signed a $1 billion 8-year deal with WSG starting 2013. Most of this money will be allocated to the AFC Champions League.

Prize money

The budget for the tournament has increased from US $4 million in 2008 to US $20 million in 2009, with the total prize pool now equalling US $14 million. The winner receives US $1.5 million in prize money plus additional winnings collected from the earlier rounds. Clubs receive a travel subsidy for each away match. Thus, for each round of 16 tie, only one club receives a travel subsidy.

Group stages

• Win: $40,000
• Draw: $20,000
• Loss: $0
• Travel subsidy: $30,000 x 3

Round of 16

• Participation: $50,000
• Travel subsidy: $40,000

Quarter-finals

• Participation: $80,000
• Travel subsidy: $50,000

Semi-finals

• Participation: $120,000
• Travel subsidy: $60,000

Final

• Champions: $1.5 million
• Runners-up: $750,000
• Travel subsidy: $60,000

Participating Associations

Associations	Spots
	2002/03	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
East Asia
Australia	–	–	–	–	2	2	2	2	2	3
China PR	2	2	2	2	2	2	4	4	4	3
Indonesia	0	2	2	0	2	0	1	1	1	0
Japan	2	2	2	2	2	3	4	4	4	4
Korea Republic	2	2	2	2	3	2	4	4	4	3
Singapore	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
Thailand	2	2	2	0	1	2	0	0	0	1
Vietnam	0	2	2	2	1	2	0	0	0	0
Total	8	12	12	8	13	13	16	16	15	?
West Asia
Bahrain	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
India	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Iran	2	2	2	2	1	2	4	4	4	2
Iraq	1	2	2	2	2	2	0	0	0	0
Kuwait	0	2	2	2	2	2	0	0	0	0
Qatar	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	4	4
Saudi Arabia	1	2	3	3	2	2	4	4	4	3
Syria	0	0	2	2	2	2	0	0	0	0
Turkmenistan	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
UAE	1	3	2	2	2	2	4	4	4	3
Uzbekistan	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	3
Total	8	17	17	17	15	16	16	16	17	?
Total
	16	29	29	25	28	29	32	32	32	32

Asian Champions League Finals

Asian Champion Club Tournament (1967–1972)

Season	Winner	Score	Runner-up	Venue
1967	Hapoel Tel Aviv	2 – 1	Selangor FA	Bangkok
1969	Maccabi Tel Aviv	1 – 0	Yangzee FC	Bangkok
1970	Taj	2 – 1	Hapoel Tel Aviv	Amjadieh Stadium, Tehran
1971	Maccabi Tel Aviv	2 – 01	Al-Shorta Club	Bangkok

¹ The final was scratched and Maccabi were awarded the championship after Al-Shorta refused to play in the final for political reasons.

Asian Club Championship (1985–2002)

Season	Winner	Score	Runner-up	Venue
1985–86	Daewoo Royals	3 – 1	Al-Ahli SC	Jeddah
1986–87	Furukawa Electric	1	Al-Hilal FC	Riyadh
1987–88	Yomiuri FC	w/o2	Al-Hilal FC	Two-leg finals
1988–89	Al-Sadd SC	3 – 3 (aggregate, away goals win)	Al-Rasheed SC	Two-leg finals
1989–90	Liaoning FC	3 – 2 (aggregate)	Nissan FC	Two-leg finals
1990–91	Esteghlal FC	2 – 1	Liaoning FC	Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka
1991–92	Al-Hilal FC	1 – 1 (4–3 PSO)	Esteghlal FC	Doha
1992–93	PAS Tehran FC	1 – 0	Al-Shabab Club	Bahrain
1993–94	Thai Farmers Bank FC	2 – 1	Oman Club	Bangkok
1994–95	Thai Farmers Bank FC	1 – 0	Al-Arabi SC	Bangkok
1995–96	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	1 – 0	Al-Nassr FC	King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh
1996–97	Pohang Steelers	2 – 1	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	Kuala Lumpur
1997–98	Pohang Steelers	0 – 0 (6–5 PSO)	Dalian Wanda	Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
1998–99	Júbilo Iwata	2 – 1	Esteghlal FC	Azadi Stadium, Tehran
1999-00	Al-Hilal FC	3 – 2	Júbilo Iwata	King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh
2000–01	Suwon Samsung Bluewings	1 – 0	Júbilo Iwata	Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon
2001–02	Suwon Samsung Bluewings	0 – 0 (4–2 PSO)	Anyang LG Cheetahs	Azadi Stadium, Tehran

¹ The championship was decided in a final pool of four teams.
² The final was scratched and Yomiuri FC were awarded the championship after Al-Hilal objected to the match officials that were chosen for the first leg and refused to participate in the final.

AFC Champions League (2002/03-present)

Two-leg finals (2002/03–2008)

Year	Home team	Score	Away team	Venue	Attendance
2002/03	Al-Ain FC	2–0	BEC Tero Sasana	Tahnoun Bin Mohamed Stadium
	BEC Tero Sasana	1–0	Al-Ain FC	Rajamangala Stadium
	Al-Ain FC won 2 – 1 on aggregate
2004	Al-Ittihad FC	1–3	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	Prince Abdullah al-Faisal stadium
	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	0–5	Al-Ittihad FC	Tancheon Sports Complex
	Al-Ittihad FC won 6 – 3 on aggregate
2005	Al-Ain FC	1–1	Al-Ittihad FC	Tahnoun Bin Mohamed Stadium
	Al-Ittihad FC	4–2	Al-Ain FC	Prince Abdullah al-Faisal stadium
	Al-Ittihad FC won 5 – 3 on aggregate
2006	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors	2–0	Al-Karamah SC	Jeonju World Cup Stadium	25,830
	Al-Karamah SC	2–1	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors	Khaled bin Walid Stadium	40,000
	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors won 3 – 2 on aggregate
2007	Sepahan FC	1–1	Urawa Red Diamonds	Foolad Shahr Stadium	30,000
	Urawa Red Diamonds	2–0	Sepahan FC	Saitama Stadium 2002	59,034
	Urawa Red Diamonds won 3 – 1 on aggregate
2008	Gamba Osaka	3–0	Adelaide United	Osaka Expo '70 Stadium	20,639
	Adelaide United	0–2	Gamba Osaka	Hindmarsh Stadium	17,000
	Gamba Osaka won 5 – 0 on aggregate

One leg finals (2009–present)

Season	Winner	Score	Runner-up	Venue	Attendance
2009	Pohang Steelers	2–1	Al-Ittihad FC	National Stadium, Tokyo	25,743
2010	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	3–1	Zob Ahan FC	National Stadium, Tokyo	27,308
2011	Al-Sadd SC	2 – 2 (4–2 PSO)	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors	Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju	41,805

Participating Associations by Debut

Asian Club Championship (included qualifying round)

Italics are withdrawn associations.

Year	New Entry Team(s)
1967	Hong Kong, Israel, Malaysia, South Korea, South Vietnam, Thailand
1969	India, Iran, Japan, Philippines
1970	Indonesia, Lebanon
1971	Iraq, Kuwait
1986	Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Jordan, Macau, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, North Yemen, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Yemen, Sri Lanka, Syria, United Arab Emirates,
1987	South Yemen
1988	None
1989	North Yemen
1990	Yemen
1991	None
1992	None
1993	Vietnam
1994	None
1995	Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
1996	Guam
1997	None
1998	None
1999	Palestinian territories
2000	Cambodia
2001	None
2002	None

AFC Champions League

Year	New Entry Team(s)
2003	Brunei, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Macau, Maldives, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
2004	Bahrain
2005	None
2006	None
2007	Australia
2008	None
2009	Singapore
2010	None
2011	None

Non Participating Associations

• Laos
• Timor-Leste
• Afghanistan
• Bhutan
• Mongolia
• Chinese Taipei

AFC Champions League records and statistics

Main article: AFC Champions League records and statistics

By Nation

The following table lists countries by number of winners and runner-up in AFC Champions League (Asian Club Championship also included).

South Korea is the current leader with 9 titles.

Nation	Winners	Runners-up
South Korea	9	6
Japan	5	3
Saudi Arabia	4	6
Iran	3	4
Israel	3	1
Thailand	2	1
Qatar	2	1
China	1	2
United Arab Emirates	1	1
Iraq	0	2
Australia	0	1
Malaysia	0	1
Oman	0	1
Syria	0	1

By Club

The following table lists Clubs by number of winners and runner-up in AFC Champions League (Asian Club Championship also included).

Team	Winners	Runners-Up	Years Won	Years Lost
Pohang Steelers	3	0	1996–97, 1997–98, 2009	-
Esteghlal FC	2	2	1970, 1990–91	1991–92, 1998–99
Al-Hilal FC	2	2	1991–92, 1999–2000	1986–87, 1987–88
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	2	2	1995–96, 2010	1996–97, 2004
Al-Ittihad FC	2	1	2004, 2005	2009
Al-Sadd SC	2	0	1988–89, 2011	-
Suwon Samsung Bluewings	2	0	2000–01, 2001–02	-
Thai Farmers Bank FC	2	0	1993–94, 1994–95	-
Maccabi Tel Aviv	2	0	1969, 1971	-
Jubilo Iwata	1	2	1998–99	1999–2000, 2000–2001
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors	1	1	2006	2011
Al-Ain FC	1	1	2002–03	2005
Liaoning FC	1	1	1989–90	1990–91
Hapoel Tel Aviv	1	1	1967	1970
Gamba Osaka	1	0	2008	-
Urawa Red Diamonds	1	0	2007	-
PAS Tehran FC	1	0	1992–93	-
Tokyo Verdy	1	0	1987–88	-
JEF United Chiba	1	0	1986–87	-
Busan I'Park	1	0	1985–86	-
Zob Ahan Isfahan FC	0	1	-	2010
Adelaide United	0	1	-	2008
Sepahan FC	0	1	-	2007
Al-Karamah SC	0	1	-	2006
BEC Tero Sasana	0	1	-	2002–03
FC Seoul	0	1	-	2001–02
Dalian Wanda	0	1	-	1997–98
Al-Nassr FC	0	1	-	1995–96
Al-Arabi SC	0	1	-	1994–95
Oman Club	0	1	-	1993–94
Al-Shabab Club	0	1	-	1992–93
Yokohama F. Marinos	0	1	-	1989–90
Al-Rasheed SC	0	1	-	1988–89
Al-Ahli SC	0	1	-	1985–86
Al-Shorta Club	0	1	-	1972
Yangzee FC	0	1	-	1969
Selangor FA	0	1	-	1967

By Club Statistics

• Australian clubs in the AFC Champions League
• Chinese clubs in the AFC Champions League
• Iraqi clubs in the AFC Champions League
• Japanese clubs in the AFC Champions League
• Qatari clubs in the AFC Champions League
• South Korean clubs in the AFC Champions League
• Thai clubs in the AFC Champions League

Top scorers

Year	Footballer	Club	Goals
2002–03	Hao Haidong	Dalian Shide	9
2004	Kim Do-Hoon	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	9
2005	Mohamed Kallon	Al-Ittihad	6
2006	Magno Alves	Gamba Osaka	9
2007	Mota	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	7
2008	Nantawat Thansopa	Krung Thai Bank	9
2009	Leandro	Gamba Osaka	10
2010	Jose Mota	Suwon Samsung Bluewings	9
2011	Lee Dong-Gook	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors	9

Fair Play Award

Year	Club
2008	Gamba Osaka
2009	Pohang Steelers
2010	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
2011	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

See also

• International club competition records
• List of Asian Cup and AFC Champions League winning managers

External links

• AFC Champions League Official Website