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Goal.com Special: The Top Ten Asian Players Of 2009
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Dec 24, 2009 2:08:39 AM
It is never easy to name the ten best players of the year. Even in a year like this, one which hasn't been a vintage 12 months for Asian football, there are scores of candidates.
Asia Editor John Duerden has selected the ten Asian stars who have shone the brighest in 2009.
10. Jong Tae-se (Kawasaki Frontale, Japan, and North Korea)
The People’s Rooney didn’t score many goals in the final round of qualification but was a vital part of the North Korean team that booked a first World Cup spot for 44 years and never stopped running. He was more prolific with Kawasaki Frontale but despite his goals the team finished second once again and exited the Asian Champions League at the quarter-final stage.
9. Firas Al Khatib (Al Qadsia, Kuwait, and Syria)
One of the stories of the year was Syria clinching a place at the 2011 Asian Cup with two games in their group remaining. While the team really is just that, Al Khatib deserves special praise for leading the line, scoring vital goals at vital times and the hard work that he puts in for this improving team. His goals also helped Al Arabi to the knockout stage of the AFC Cup before he jumped ship. A good old-fashioned goalscorer.
8. Mahmoud Abdulrahman (Muharraq and Bahrain)
They call him ‘Ringo’ as his distinctive nose resembles that of a certain drummer but the midfielder has a sense of timing that the Beatles’ stickman would envy. More than once late in qualification matches for the 2010 World cup, Abdulrahman sent one of his trademark long shots into the opposition net to keep the Reds’ dreaming of South Africa.
The fact that he wasn’t able to conjure up the magic in the play-off against New Zealand shouldn’t obscure the fact that the 25 year-old put himself on the map in 2009.
7. Keisuke Honda (VVV Venlo, Netherlands, and Japan)
An exciting talent and one that is not short of confidence in his own aility. Honda helped Venlo to promotion and then really started showing what he can do when the team arrived in the top flight with five goals in his first nine games.
That strike rate and his all-round play generated reports of interest from the bigger Dutch clubs and then the big English ones such as Liverpool and Chelsea. He looks to be on his way to CSKA Moscow however.
He will also be in action at the World Cup – Japanese coach Takeshi Okada is a fan and he is far from the only one.
6.Ahmed Khalil (Al Ahli and UAE)
Still only 18 but getting better all the time and it is a pleasure to include a player in this list after naming him in the ten ones to watch back in January.
Khalil helped Al Ahli to the domestic title and was one of the best players of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. He is widely tipped to be one of the first Asian Arabian stars to head to the big leagues. Played some part, but not too much, in the failed World Cup qualification campaign. His time will come.
5. Park Chu-young (AS Monaco, France, and South Korea)
The young striker is starting to fulfill the obvious potential he had in 2004 when he burst on the scene. He is also starting to shake off the burden of expectation that came with the role.
As well as six league goals already this season for Monaco, it is Park’s all-round play that is earning him rave reviews in France and it is only a matter of time before he moves.
Just as impressive is the way in which he has returned to national team duty to become the main striker for South Korea. In the past 12 months, Park has become a vital player for the Taeguk Warriors.
4. Mark Schwarzer (Fulham, England, and Australia)
Another very good year for the veteran shotstopper. He was almost faultless as the Socceroos booked a second successive place at the World Cup for the first time in their history.
The hands are just as safe in England where he was perhaps the best goalkeeper in the Premier League last season, helping Fulham to a place in the Europa Cup. Has always had the talent but is now as consistent as they come.
3.Makoto Hasebe (VfL Wolfsburg, Germany, and Japan)
Held his own in a cosmopolitan squad that lifted the Bundesliga title, Hasebe is a player that rarely makes headlines but is missed when he is absent. Injuries caused him to miss a few games in the all-important season for Wolfsburg but still played a significant part in midfield.
No Asian player has looked so good in Germany since the heady days of Cha Boom! in the eighties. Hasebe was also a feature of the Japanese team that became the first to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. A very good year.
2. Mohammed Noor (Al Ittihad and Saudi Arabia)
It hasn’t been a great year for West Asian football but it was almost the year of Mohammed Noor. The all-action midfielder was in great form for Al Ittihad as they recaptured the domestic title in the summer and was one of the stars of the Asian Champions league, famously scoring a hat-trick against Nagoya Grampus in the semi-final first leg. He scored in the final too but ended on the losing side.
That, and the fact that Saudi Arabia failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup cost him a higher placing. And Noor wouldn’t be Noor if the year didn’t end in controversy and a falling out with his club.
1.Park Ji-sung (Manchester United and South Korea)
It has been a quiet season on the domestic front in the current season due to injury but Park did just enough in the first three-quarters of the year.
Becoming the first Asian to appear in the UEFA Champions League final was an impressive achievement, even if he did end up on the losing team. The 28 year-old played a big part in the English team’s march to the final and scored a crucial goal in the semi-final against Arsenal.
The fact that his Premier League winner’s medal was his third in three years shouldn’t obscure how rare it is for an Asian player to win major honours in the big leagues.
If that wasn’t enough, the ex-PSV man led a young South Korean team to a seventh successive World Cup through a tough group in impressive style.
John Duerden
Asia Editor
john.duerden@goal.com
Asia Editor John Duerden has selected the ten Asian stars who have shone the brighest in 2009.
10. Jong Tae-se (Kawasaki Frontale, Japan, and North Korea)
The People’s Rooney didn’t score many goals in the final round of qualification but was a vital part of the North Korean team that booked a first World Cup spot for 44 years and never stopped running. He was more prolific with Kawasaki Frontale but despite his goals the team finished second once again and exited the Asian Champions League at the quarter-final stage.
Jong In Familiar Pose
9. Firas Al Khatib (Al Qadsia, Kuwait, and Syria)
One of the stories of the year was Syria clinching a place at the 2011 Asian Cup with two games in their group remaining. While the team really is just that, Al Khatib deserves special praise for leading the line, scoring vital goals at vital times and the hard work that he puts in for this improving team. His goals also helped Al Arabi to the knockout stage of the AFC Cup before he jumped ship. A good old-fashioned goalscorer.
Another Goal Celebration...
8. Mahmoud Abdulrahman (Muharraq and Bahrain)
They call him ‘Ringo’ as his distinctive nose resembles that of a certain drummer but the midfielder has a sense of timing that the Beatles’ stickman would envy. More than once late in qualification matches for the 2010 World cup, Abdulrahman sent one of his trademark long shots into the opposition net to keep the Reds’ dreaming of South Africa.
The fact that he wasn’t able to conjure up the magic in the play-off against New Zealand shouldn’t obscure the fact that the 25 year-old put himself on the map in 2009.
Ringo Found His Rhythm In 2009
7. Keisuke Honda (VVV Venlo, Netherlands, and Japan)
An exciting talent and one that is not short of confidence in his own aility. Honda helped Venlo to promotion and then really started showing what he can do when the team arrived in the top flight with five goals in his first nine games.
That strike rate and his all-round play generated reports of interest from the bigger Dutch clubs and then the big English ones such as Liverpool and Chelsea. He looks to be on his way to CSKA Moscow however.
He will also be in action at the World Cup – Japanese coach Takeshi Okada is a fan and he is far from the only one.
Honda In Top Gear
6.Ahmed Khalil (Al Ahli and UAE)
Still only 18 but getting better all the time and it is a pleasure to include a player in this list after naming him in the ten ones to watch back in January.
Khalil helped Al Ahli to the domestic title and was one of the best players of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. He is widely tipped to be one of the first Asian Arabian stars to head to the big leagues. Played some part, but not too much, in the failed World Cup qualification campaign. His time will come.
A Smart Player
5. Park Chu-young (AS Monaco, France, and South Korea)
The young striker is starting to fulfill the obvious potential he had in 2004 when he burst on the scene. He is also starting to shake off the burden of expectation that came with the role.
As well as six league goals already this season for Monaco, it is Park’s all-round play that is earning him rave reviews in France and it is only a matter of time before he moves.
Just as impressive is the way in which he has returned to national team duty to become the main striker for South Korea. In the past 12 months, Park has become a vital player for the Taeguk Warriors.
Park Heading For Glory
4. Mark Schwarzer (Fulham, England, and Australia)
Another very good year for the veteran shotstopper. He was almost faultless as the Socceroos booked a second successive place at the World Cup for the first time in their history.
The hands are just as safe in England where he was perhaps the best goalkeeper in the Premier League last season, helping Fulham to a place in the Europa Cup. Has always had the talent but is now as consistent as they come.
No Worries For Schwarzer In 2009
3.Makoto Hasebe (VfL Wolfsburg, Germany, and Japan)
Held his own in a cosmopolitan squad that lifted the Bundesliga title, Hasebe is a player that rarely makes headlines but is missed when he is absent. Injuries caused him to miss a few games in the all-important season for Wolfsburg but still played a significant part in midfield.
No Asian player has looked so good in Germany since the heady days of Cha Boom! in the eighties. Hasebe was also a feature of the Japanese team that became the first to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. A very good year.
German Cheer For Hasebe
2. Mohammed Noor (Al Ittihad and Saudi Arabia)
It hasn’t been a great year for West Asian football but it was almost the year of Mohammed Noor. The all-action midfielder was in great form for Al Ittihad as they recaptured the domestic title in the summer and was one of the stars of the Asian Champions league, famously scoring a hat-trick against Nagoya Grampus in the semi-final first leg. He scored in the final too but ended on the losing side.
That, and the fact that Saudi Arabia failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup cost him a higher placing. And Noor wouldn’t be Noor if the year didn’t end in controversy and a falling out with his club.
Saudi Arabia's Patrick Vieira...
1.Park Ji-sung (Manchester United and South Korea)
It has been a quiet season on the domestic front in the current season due to injury but Park did just enough in the first three-quarters of the year.
Becoming the first Asian to appear in the UEFA Champions League final was an impressive achievement, even if he did end up on the losing team. The 28 year-old played a big part in the English team’s march to the final and scored a crucial goal in the semi-final against Arsenal.
The fact that his Premier League winner’s medal was his third in three years shouldn’t obscure how rare it is for an Asian player to win major honours in the big leagues.
If that wasn’t enough, the ex-PSV man led a young South Korean team to a seventh successive World Cup through a tough group in impressive style.
Park Ends Arsenal's European Dreams
John Duerden
Asia Editor
john.duerden@goal.com
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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