The Asian Football world is made up of incredible football teams with amazing records and statistics. In this article, you will get to know the five most successful Asian football club ever.
This list is in no particular order and is based on their trophies, prestige, and success in the Asian continent.
Let’s get started.
1. Pohang Steelers
League: K League 1
Founded: 1973
Stadium Name and Capacity: Pohang Steel Yard (17,443).
Club honours:
- K League 1 – 5 [1986, 1988, 1992, 2007, 2013]
- Korea Football League/National League – 5 [ 1975 Spring, 1981 Fall, 1982, 1986 Fall, 1988 Fall]
- FA Cup – 4 [1996, 2008, 2012, 2013]
- League Cup – 2 [1993, 2009]
- AFC Champions League – 3 [1996/97, 1997/98, 2009]
- FIFA Club World Cup Third place (1) —— [2009].
Pohang Steelers are undoubtedly one of the most successful Asian football clubs. They play in the K League 1, South Korea.
The football club has won over 30 trophies since inception, ranging from Korean League 1 Cup, Korean F.A. Cup, and 3 AFC Champions League, – making them the most successful Asian team in the continental front.
The football club is based in Pohang, North Gyeongsang, and currently coached by their former player Kim Gi-Dong.
2. Kashima Antlers F.C.
League: J League [Japan]
Founded: 1947
Stadium Name and Capacity: Ground Kashima Soccer Stadium [40,728]
Club honours:
- AFC Champions League – 1 [2018]
- Japan Soccer League Division 2 – 2 [1984, 1986]
- J.League –8 [1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016]
- J.League Cup – 6 [1997, 2000, 2002, 2011, 2012, 2015]
- Japanese Super Cup – 6 [1997, 1998, 1999, 2009, 2010, 2017]
- Shakaijin Cup – 1 [1973]
- Emperor’s Cup – 5 [1997, 2000, 2007, 2010, 2016]
- A3 Champions Cup – 1 [2003]
- Suruga Bank Championship – 2 [2012, 2013]
Kashima Antlers is yet another successful team in Asia. This Japanese football team is financially supported by the Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal company. Kashima Antlers are one of the best clubs in Japan.
The club is indeed an achiever in the J League with eight distinctive J.League titles, 6 J.League Cup, 5 Emperor’s Cup, among other major trophies.
Worthy of mention again, is the fact that Kashima rarely finishes below the first 5 positions ever since the League was established and the club has also won more titles than most of its counterparts in the League.
3. Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Football Club
League: The Chinese Super League
Founded: June 1954
Stadium Name and Capacity: Ground Tianhe Stadium [54,856]
Club honours:
- AFC Champions League – 2 [2013, 2015]
- Chinese Super League – 7 [2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017]
- China League One – 2 [2007, 2010]
- Chinese F.A. Cup – 2 [2012, 2016]
- Chinese FA Super Cup – 4 [2012, 2016, 2017, 2018]
- Chinese Second Division / Jia-B League – 3 [1956, 1958, 1981]
Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Football Club is a dominant football club which plays good football in the Chinese Super League. The club lifted the league title for 7 consecutive seasons [2011 to 2017] before losing it to Shanghai SPIG in 2018.
More importantly, Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C. is the only Chinese team to lift the AFC Champions League multiple times [2013 and 2015], not forgetting that the club is also the first Chinese side to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup [2013 to be precise].
4. Al-Hilal
League: Saudi Professional League, Saudi Arabia
Founded: October 1957
Stadium Name and Capacity: Ground King Saud University Stadium [25,000]
Club honours:
Professional League – 29 [1976, 1978, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018
King Cup – 15 [1961, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2010, 2015, 2017]
AFC Champions League – 6 [1991, 2000, 1986, 1987, 2014, 2017]
Other Trophies: 21
Our list of the most successful Asian football teams would be too shallow if it fails to feature this amazing football club “Al-Hilal.”
To start with, Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia’s Professional League was the first team to win the League when it was launched in 1976, and it is also one of the 4 clubs to have ever played year in year out in the league since it was founded.
More importantly, this club is renowned for her intense hunger for trophies, such that it has won more than 60 trophies, including record 6 Asian Football Confederation titles.
Due to her outstanding performance, the team was also crowned “Best Asian Club of the 20th Century” by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics [IFFHS] in 2009.
5. Seongnam Football Club
League: K League 1, South Korea
Founded: March 1989
Stadium Name and Capacity: Ground Tancheon Stadium [16,146]
Club honours:
- K League 1 – 7 [1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006]
- FA Cup – 3 [1999, 2011, 2014]
- League Cup – 3 [1992, 2002, 2004]
- Super Cup – 1 [2002]
- President’s Cup – 1 [1999]
- AFC Champions League – 2 [2010, 2014]
- Asian Super Cup – 1 [1996]
- A3 Champions Cup – 1 [2004]
- FIFA Club World Cup- 4th place [2010]
- Afro-Asian Club Championship – 1 [1996]
Seongnam F.C. is a Seongnam-based football club which plays actively in the K League 1, South Korea.
The club has in its gallery series of trophies, including 7 K League titles, 3 F.A. Cups, 3 League Cups, 2 AFC Champions League titles.
Additionally, Seongnam F.C. was ranked fifth in the International Federation of Football History & Statistics [IFFHS] Asian Clubs of the 20th century.
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