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The Six Candidates For The AFC's Player Of The Year Award & Why They Should Win The Honour
Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa, Koo Ja-Cheol, Yeom Ki-Hun, Server Djeparov and Hadi Aghily are the six candidates for Asia's top individual award, but who will win?
22-Nov-2011 5:40:00 PM
DEBATE
By Ben Somerford | Asian Football Editor
Asia's top individual award for the past 12 months will be handed out at a grand ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, with six star footballers in the shortlist for the honour.
In a calendar year which included an Asian Cup, there's certainly an expectation that someone from the nation of the victor, Japan, will walk away with the region's top individual award, the AFC Player of the Year. However, candidates Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa will be in action in the Uefa Champions League in midweek and won't be able to attend the ceremony, meaning they are ineligible for the award. This odd scenario raises the question of who should win and who will win?
The other candidates include Wolfsburg and South Korea midfielder Koo Ja-Cheol who finished with the Golden Boot at the 2011 Asian Cup. Compatriot Yeom Ki-Hun is also nominated, along with former winner Server Djeparov of Uzbekistan and Iran's Hadi Aghily.
Here Goal.com makes a case for each of the candidates, by taking a look at their recent achievements.
The 30-year-old centre-half has emerged as Iran's best defender over the past few years following the legendary Yahya Golmohammadi's retirement. The Tehran-born man, who had been overlooked by capital giants Esteghlal and Persepolis as a youngster, played a key role in helping Sepahan claim the Iranian title during the 2010-11 season.
Aghily, who is not a fast defender but has fine anticipation and reads the play well, was integral to Sepahan's run to the AFC Champions League (ACL) last eight, scoring in their Round of 16 victory over Bunyodkor before moving to Al Arabi. Aghily also was a regular for his country during their run to the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup and also helped them into the fourth round of 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
-Pejman Rabhar
The 29-year-old Uzbekistan midfielder is the only candidate to be a former winner of the award, having taken it home in 2008. The consistent attacker was excellent for his nation at the Asian Cup, where they claimed their best ever finish by coming fourth. Djeparov scored in their opening two games, including a fine left-footed winner from the edge of the box against Kuwait which sealed their passage into the knockout stages.
The Uzbek skipper has also been vital to the White Wolves' progress to the fourth round of 2014 World Cup qualifiers, netting in the 1-1 group clash with Japan.
Djeparov's achievements aren't isolated to international level, having played a part in Seoul's K-League triumph late last year, before he, like Aghily, helped his club reach the ACL quarters only to then move on, joining Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab in July.
-Ben Somerford
Even if one is to ignore his seven goals in 18 matches for CSKA Moscow, Keisuke Honda is a force of nature in Asian football, both on and off the field.
When playing, he is one of Japan's most important assets; this showed in January's Asian Cup when his goal against Syria helped the Samurai Blue to advance and a penalty kick against South Korea helped to secure a berth in the final against Australia. He would go on to claim the tournament's MVP award.
When not playing (as he has this autumn due to injury), he has proven how much Japan need him; the national team has struggled to create a goal-scoring chance without Honda in the lineup. Until Japan manage to develop a flamboyant breed of attacker on a regular basis, Honda will continue to be a key element for the top national team in Asia.
-Dan Orlowitz
Many will argue that Honda was Japan's star at the Asian Cup, but Kagawa's performance in the knockout stages, where he almost single-handedly thwarted Qatar with a brace in a 3-2 win before a stunning performance in the thrilling semi-final victory over South Korea, will go down in folklore. Unfortunately for him, he injured his foot in the latter game, missing the next five months of football, which doesn't boost his case for Asia's top honour for the past year.
However, Kagawa burst on to the Bundesliga scene in incredible fashion during the start of the 2010-11 season. He became an instant legend at Borussia Dortmund, which at his age is unheard of for an Asian player. Since his return from a foot injury, he has not fully rediscovered his best form, but still played a key part in helping Japan cruise into the fourth round of World Cup qualifiers.
-Cesare Polenghi
It has been a rapid rise for the 22-year-old prospect whose stunning Asian Cup haul of five goals for his country stirred interest from Premier League club Blackburn Rovers before signing a deal with German Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg at the end of January. Previously he'd been with K-League club Jeju United, who surprisingly reached the domestic final but then lost 4-3 on aggregate to FC Seoul, following a season where Koo had provided a competition-best 11 assists.
Koo was deployed as an attacking forward on the left flank for South Korea at the Asian Cup, where his innate sense of positioning helped him become a major goal threat. He's since become a regular in the Taeguk Warriors side during 2014 World Cup qualifying.
-Young Kim
The 28-year-old winger was only used as a substitute during the 2011 Asian Cup and thus had a minimal impact, but his greatest achievements during the year have come at club level. He played a big role in Suwon Bluewings' run to the ACL semi-finals, along with leading the revival of the club in the K-League after taking over as captain midway through the season.
Yeom scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in 28 K-League games in 2011, whilst also contributing four strikes in their ACL run, which was controversially ended by eventual champions Al Sadd. Yeom, who will leave Suwon for his national service next year, still has hopes of winning the Korean title this term, with the Bluewings in the K-League Championship race. His side faces Ulsan Hyundai on the same day as the ceremony.
-Young Kim
By Ben Somerford | Asian Football Editor
Asia's top individual award for the past 12 months will be handed out at a grand ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, with six star footballers in the shortlist for the honour.
In a calendar year which included an Asian Cup, there's certainly an expectation that someone from the nation of the victor, Japan, will walk away with the region's top individual award, the AFC Player of the Year. However, candidates Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa will be in action in the Uefa Champions League in midweek and won't be able to attend the ceremony, meaning they are ineligible for the award. This odd scenario raises the question of who should win and who will win?
The other candidates include Wolfsburg and South Korea midfielder Koo Ja-Cheol who finished with the Golden Boot at the 2011 Asian Cup. Compatriot Yeom Ki-Hun is also nominated, along with former winner Server Djeparov of Uzbekistan and Iran's Hadi Aghily.
Here Goal.com makes a case for each of the candidates, by taking a look at their recent achievements.
| HADI AGHILY | Iran & Sepahan/Al Arabi |
The 30-year-old centre-half has emerged as Iran's best defender over the past few years following the legendary Yahya Golmohammadi's retirement. The Tehran-born man, who had been overlooked by capital giants Esteghlal and Persepolis as a youngster, played a key role in helping Sepahan claim the Iranian title during the 2010-11 season.Aghily, who is not a fast defender but has fine anticipation and reads the play well, was integral to Sepahan's run to the AFC Champions League (ACL) last eight, scoring in their Round of 16 victory over Bunyodkor before moving to Al Arabi. Aghily also was a regular for his country during their run to the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup and also helped them into the fourth round of 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
-Pejman Rabhar
| SERVER DJEPAROV | Uzbekistan & FC Seoul/Al Shabab |
The 29-year-old Uzbekistan midfielder is the only candidate to be a former winner of the award, having taken it home in 2008. The consistent attacker was excellent for his nation at the Asian Cup, where they claimed their best ever finish by coming fourth. Djeparov scored in their opening two games, including a fine left-footed winner from the edge of the box against Kuwait which sealed their passage into the knockout stages.The Uzbek skipper has also been vital to the White Wolves' progress to the fourth round of 2014 World Cup qualifiers, netting in the 1-1 group clash with Japan.
Djeparov's achievements aren't isolated to international level, having played a part in Seoul's K-League triumph late last year, before he, like Aghily, helped his club reach the ACL quarters only to then move on, joining Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab in July.
-Ben Somerford
| KEISUKE HONDA | Japan & CSKA Moscow |
Even if one is to ignore his seven goals in 18 matches for CSKA Moscow, Keisuke Honda is a force of nature in Asian football, both on and off the field.When playing, he is one of Japan's most important assets; this showed in January's Asian Cup when his goal against Syria helped the Samurai Blue to advance and a penalty kick against South Korea helped to secure a berth in the final against Australia. He would go on to claim the tournament's MVP award.
When not playing (as he has this autumn due to injury), he has proven how much Japan need him; the national team has struggled to create a goal-scoring chance without Honda in the lineup. Until Japan manage to develop a flamboyant breed of attacker on a regular basis, Honda will continue to be a key element for the top national team in Asia.
-Dan Orlowitz
| SHINJI KAGAWA | Japan & Borussia Dortmund |
Many will argue that Honda was Japan's star at the Asian Cup, but Kagawa's performance in the knockout stages, where he almost single-handedly thwarted Qatar with a brace in a 3-2 win before a stunning performance in the thrilling semi-final victory over South Korea, will go down in folklore. Unfortunately for him, he injured his foot in the latter game, missing the next five months of football, which doesn't boost his case for Asia's top honour for the past year.However, Kagawa burst on to the Bundesliga scene in incredible fashion during the start of the 2010-11 season. He became an instant legend at Borussia Dortmund, which at his age is unheard of for an Asian player. Since his return from a foot injury, he has not fully rediscovered his best form, but still played a key part in helping Japan cruise into the fourth round of World Cup qualifiers.
-Cesare Polenghi
| KOO JA-CHEOL | South Korea & Jeju United/Wolfsburg |
It has been a rapid rise for the 22-year-old prospect whose stunning Asian Cup haul of five goals for his country stirred interest from Premier League club Blackburn Rovers before signing a deal with German Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg at the end of January. Previously he'd been with K-League club Jeju United, who surprisingly reached the domestic final but then lost 4-3 on aggregate to FC Seoul, following a season where Koo had provided a competition-best 11 assists.Koo was deployed as an attacking forward on the left flank for South Korea at the Asian Cup, where his innate sense of positioning helped him become a major goal threat. He's since become a regular in the Taeguk Warriors side during 2014 World Cup qualifying.
-Young Kim
| YEOM KI-HUN | South Korea & Suwon Bluewings |
The 28-year-old winger was only used as a substitute during the 2011 Asian Cup and thus had a minimal impact, but his greatest achievements during the year have come at club level. He played a big role in Suwon Bluewings' run to the ACL semi-finals, along with leading the revival of the club in the K-League after taking over as captain midway through the season.Yeom scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in 28 K-League games in 2011, whilst also contributing four strikes in their ACL run, which was controversially ended by eventual champions Al Sadd. Yeom, who will leave Suwon for his national service next year, still has hopes of winning the Korean title this term, with the Bluewings in the K-League Championship race. His side faces Ulsan Hyundai on the same day as the ceremony.
-Young Kim
| THE EXPERTS | Goal.com's predictions |
| Name | Role | Who should win? | Who will win? |
| Ben Somerford | Asian Editor | Keisuke Honda | Server Djeparov |
| Michel Nasrallah | Arabic Editor | Keisuke Honda | Hadi Aghily |
| Takashi Sugiyama | Japan Editor | Shinji Kagawa | Server Djeparov |
| Dan Orlowitz |
Intl's Japan Editor | Shinji Kagawa |
Server Djeparov |
| Young Kim |
Intl's Korea Correspondent |
Keisuke Honda |
Yeom Ki-Hun |
| Cesare Polenghi | Asian Managing Editor | Shinji Kagawa | Server Djeparov |
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