GROUP E
Gamba Osaka
Key Player: Takashi Usami. This prodigious young talent will look to shake things up on the continent with his dribbling ability and has already attracted the attention of overseas suitors.
Manager: Akira Nishino. Has been manager of Gamba since 2002 and during his reign has won the Asian Champions League, Emperor’s Cup, J-League Cup and J-League.
Basics: A recent former winner of the competition, they are recognized as one of Japan’s most aesthetically pleasing sides. Set to embark on a new era with a relatively young squad.
Tianjin Teda
Key Player: Li Weifeng. An enigmatic figure who has made over 100 appearances for the Chinese national team, his defensive skills are varied and the centre-back’s performances will be crucial to Tianjin’s chances.
Manager: Arie Haan. Former Ajax and Netherlands legend, his managerial career has brought him to China, where he has suffered relegation with Chongqing Lifan but also been in charge of the national team.
Basics: Did superbly well to finish second in the Chinese Super League last season, the performance of their local stars will be important on the continent this season.
Jeju United
Key Player: Kim Eun-Jung. The Jeju captain is hugely experienced and will lead the line for the K-League runners-up.
Manager: Park Kyung-Hoon. Former manager of South Korea’s youth outfits, he was a decorated player who played in two World Cups for his country.
Basics: Did well to finish second last season and have only ever won one K-League title, all the way back in 1989. Will be pleased to simply be participating in this competition.
Melbourne Victory
Key Player: Carlos Hernandez. The Costa Rican midfielder is one of the best players in Australia at the moment and on his day, is virtually impossible to contain. Watch out for his long-range strikes in particular.
Manager: Ernie Merrick. Has been at the club since its inception and brought two A-League titles, though he has failed to impress leading them through Asia, where they have struggled.
Basics: Perhaps a lack of mobility afflicts them most on the continent, they certainly aren’t the same clinical side that has made such an impact in the short history of the A-League. Coming off the back of a slightly disappointing A-League campaign.
GROUP F
Hangzhou Greentown
Key Player: Du Wei. The China international endured a nightmare loan spell with Scottish giants Celtic but has since returned to his home country and rebuilt his reputation with Hangzhou, where he has been extremely influential.
Manager: Wu Jingui. Spent almost a decade at Shanghai Shenhua, leading them to a first league title in eight years back in 2003. Was also assistant to Dutch legend Arie Haan when he was in charge of the Chinese national team.
Basics: Arguably the weakest of the Chinese candidates in this year’s Asian Champions League, they finished fourth in the Super League last season and have been drawn in a tough-looking group alongside the Korean and Japanese champions.
FC Seoul
Key Player: Mauricio Molina. A big off-season buy, Molina inspired Seongnam to Asian Champions League glory last season and the Colombian has the talent to do the same with an already strong squad in Seoul.
Manager: Hwangbo Kwan. Has spent his entire coaching career with Japanese club Oita Trinita until this point.
Basics: Completed their first ever league and cup double last season and will have big expectations in the ACL, where quality-laden squad has a real chance to shine.
| Nick Carle will be Sydney's go-to man in the 2011 ACL. |
Key Player: Valentin Badea. The much-travelled Romanian striker has plenty of experience at the age of 28 years-old and it will be crucial against the big guns in Group F.
Manager: Alexandre Gallo. Has been in charge of some big clubs back home in Brazil and has been assistant to none other than former Real Madrid boss Vanderlei Luxemburgo in the past.
Basics: Beat Indonesian side Sriwijaya in a one-legged play-off to qualify for the group stages after finishing third in the UAE last season, they are one of their country’s biggest and most successful clubs.
Nagoya Grampus
Key Player: Tulio Tanaka. The combative centre-back missed Japan’s Asian Cup triumph but is one of the continent’s best players and offers a great deal to his side in defence and attack.
Manager: Dragan Stojkovic. A legend as a player with Yugoslavia, he made over 150 appearances for Nagoya and managed the club to its first ever J-League triumph last season.
Basics: A newly arrived power on the continent, they’ve got plenty of momentum after their historic title victory but don’t have a great deal of experience at this level.
GROUP G
Cerezo Osaka
Key Player: Ryuji Bando. Veteran striker and Japan international, he’s scored goals wherever he has gone and he’ll have to have his shooting boots on if Cerezo are to make an impact in the ACL.
Manager: Levir Cupli. In his second stint in charge of Cerezo, the Brazilian has set about winning promotion and then continental qualification with the club.
Basics: Only recently returned to Japan’s top-flight, they are the lesser-known of Japan’s Asian Champions League challengers.
Shandong Luneng
Key Player: Han Peng. Scored the goals that helped the club to the Chinese Super League title last season, has international experience and a big frame that will make life uncomfortable for defenders.
Manager: Branko Ivanković. Has had an immediate impact at Shandong, guiding the club to a title in his first season. Has been in charge of the Iranian national team in the past.
Basics: The Chinese champions have a strong squad and know how to win trophies, which should stand them in good stead for the tournament.
Jeonbuk
Key Player: Eninho. The Brazilian midfielder is a two-time member of the K-League Team of the Year and has an excellent goal-scoring record.
Manager: Choi Kang-Hee. Has done an outstanding job at the club since joining in 2005, guiding Jeonbuk to its maiden K-League title in 2009.
Basics: Knocked out of this competition at the quarter-final stage last time around, finished third in the defence of their crown last season domestically. Have come to the fore in recent years in Korea.
Arema FC
Key Player: Noh Alam Shah. Captain of the side and striker, the Singapore international has been with the club since 2009.
Manager: Miroslav Janu. The 51 year-old Czech manager is now in his second spell in charge of the club and has been an assistant manager and youth coach with native giants Slavia Prague in the past.
Basics: Relative unknowns and minnows of the competition, they are nonetheless Indonesian champions and will be hoping for a respectable performance.
GROUP H
Sydney FC
Key Player: Nick Carle. The Australia international is his side’s playmaker. A big-name signing this season, he failed to hit top form in the A-League and will want to do so now that he’s given the chance in Asia.
Manager: Vitezslav Lavicka. In his first season with the club led them to the A-League title but in his second season failed to secure a finals spot. His future rests on this ACL campaign.
Basics: A team lacking in confidence after a disastrous defence of their league title, they don’t seem to have the individual quality either to challenge the bigger sides in the competition.
Kashima Antlers
Key Player: Masahiko Inoha. Versatile defender who can also slot into midfield, he made his international debut at the 2011 Asian Cup and impressed for his country.
Manager: Oswaldo de Oliveira. The 50 year-old Brazilian has overseen one of the most successful periods in the club’s history since taking over as manager in 2007, winning five trophies (including three league titles) since then.
Basics: Perhaps the most successful J-League club of the past decade, they finished a disappointing fourth last season but will be expected to go far in the Champions League nonetheless.
Shanghai Shenhua
| Oliveira has led Kashima to three J-League title victories. |
Key Player: Duvier Riascos. Prolific striker from Colombia who has had his loan with Shanghai Shenhua extended by parent club Estudiantes de Mérida.
Manager: Xi Zhikang.
Basics: Their squad contains an interesting mix of foreign and local talent but much will depend on whether Riascos fires in front of goal.
Suwon Bluewings
Key Player: Jung Sung-Ryong. All eyes will be on South Korea’s goalkeeper after his high-profile move to the club, after winning the Asian Champions League with previous employers Seongnam Ilhwa.
Manager: Yoon Sung-Hyo. The former player won the FA Cup with the club in his debut season but will need to improve on their poor league finish.
Basics: One of the strongest sides in the competition on paper, they’ve got international quality and only just lost out to Seongnam in the quarter-finals of the ACL last season.
0 comments:
Post a Comment