GOAL - The final player will be selected by
the coaches of the Asian Football Confederation’s 45 member association, 20
members of the organisation's Executive Committee and one vote from World
Sports Group, the AFC’s commercial partner.
The winner from the ten-strong list which includes three nominees from Saudi
Arabia, two each from Japan, South Korea and Iran and one from Uzbekistan,
will receive the award on November 30.
At the moment, Manchester United’s Park Ji-sung is considered to be the
front-runner after his sterling performances in the UEFA Champions League
with PSV Eindhoven and would be the first recipient from South Korea since
1991 when Kim Joo-sung won the last of his third titles.
Current holder Ali Karimi of Iran has made up ground however with an
impressive start to his Bayern Munich career.
Hidetoshi Nakata is the other past winner on the list and is looking to be
the second player to ‘get a hat-trick’ after receiving the award in 1997 and
1998.
Al JABER Sami Saudi Arabia/Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Al MONTASHARI Hamad Saudi Arabia/Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)
KARIMI Ali IR Iran/Bayern Munich (Germany)
LEE Young-Pyo Korea Republic/Tottenham (England)
NAKAMURA Shunsuke Japan/Celtic (Scotland)
NAKATA Hidetoshi Japan/Bolton Wanderers (England)
NEKOUNAM Javad IR Iran/Pas (Iran)
PARK Ji Sung Korea Republic /Man Utd (England)
SHATSKIKH Maksim Uzbekistan/Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine)
ZAYED Mabrouk Saudi Arabia/Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)
