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| Could Server Djeparov be heading to Europe?[EPA] |
Uzbek midfielder Server Djeparov was named the Asian Football Confederation's player of the year, beating out a talented field that included Japanese stars Yuji Nakazawa and Yasuhito Endo.
The Uzbekistan international was honoured for contributions that included playing a leading role in propelling Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor into the semi-finals of this year's AFC Champions League under famed Brazilian coach Zico.
The accolade is sure to further the buzz around the 26-year-old, tipped by some as having a future at top European clubs.
Gamba winners
This year's AFC Champions League winners Gamba Osaka won AFC club team of the year honours, with coach Akira Nishino winning coach of the year.
Japan, the 2002 and 2006 AFC Asian Cup winners, were named national team of the year.
United Arab Emirates striker Ahmed Khalil won AFC youth player of the year, the first Gulf player to do so since 1995, the awards' inaugural year.
"I want to present this award to all my family members particularly to my mother and brother," said the 17-year-old, whose older brother is UAE senior international Faisal Khalil.
Awards host China meanwhile continued a seven-year drought in player nominations amid continuing turmoil in the country's domestic league and national program.
China international Fan Zhiyi, then of Dundee, was the last Chinese player to receive the player of the year award, in 2001.
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