Saad Al-Suwaidi
Doha, Qatar - The 2018 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Annual Awards put on a glamourous display, as Asia’s finest football stars were in attendance to celebrate another great season. From coaching staff to players, all the way to the referees, many winners were acknowledged at this year’s award ceremony.
The evening kicked off by awarding the AFC Diamond of Asia Award - one of the most prestigious honours bestowed by the AFC. The award is given annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the development and promotion of football, on and off the field. The recipient was Zhang Jilong, the Senior Vice-President of the AFC.
The most anticipated award was none other than the AFC Player of the Year. There were three finalists, including Japanese stars Yuma Suzuki and Kento Misao, but ultimately Qatar’s very own Abdulkarim Hassan from Al Sadd Sports Club took home the coveted prize. The achievement is with great honour and prestige, as the last time a Qatari national took home the prize was in 2006, when Al Sadd’s Khalfan Ibrahim was given the honour.
This is the full list of awards and their respective recipients:
AFC Diamond Of Asia 2018
- Zhang Jilong (China)
AFC Member of of Association of the Year (Aspiring, Developing and Inspiring)
- Mongolian Football Federation (Aspiring)
- DPR Korea Football Association (Developing)
- Japan Football Association (Inspiring)
AFC President Recognition Award for Grassroots Football (Aspiring, Developing and Inspiring)
- Palestinian Football Association (Aspiring)
- Football Association of Singapore (Developing)
- Chinese Football Association (Inspiring)
AFC Coach of the Year (Women)
- Asako Takakura (Japan)
AFC Coach of the Year (Men)
- Go Oiwa (Japan)
AFC Futsal Player of the Year
- Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh (Iran)
AFC Referees Special Award
- Alireza Faghani
- Reza Sokhandan
- Mohammedreza Mansouri
AFC Asian International Player of the Year
- Makoto Hasabe (Japan)
AFC Youth Player of the Year (Women)
- Saori Takarada (Japan)
AFC Youth Player of the Year (Men)
- Turki Al Amar (Saudi Arabia)
AFC Player of the Year Award (Women)
- Wang Shuang (China)
AFC Player of the Year Award (Men)
- Abdulkarim Hassan (Qatar)