Asia's Club of the 21st Century

Asia's Club of the 21st Century

In contrast to the manner in which the continental club of the century (1901-2000) was determined, national competitions have been held in almost all countries after the turn of the millennium. All these national club competitions are taken consideration as also the club competitions held by the continental confederations and by FIFA in the monthly Club World Rankings. In doing so, every single result of the aforementioned competitions is taken into consideration from the beginning to the end. Hence, the chances are the same for all the clubs within the same football continent.

The points scored annually by the clubs in the Club World Ranking at the end of the year are added starting with the year 2001. The result of which is the each continental club ranking and the each first-placed club is therefore the leading continental club of the 21st century. If a club was particularly successful for one or more years, the addition of the annual points results in a far more realistic picture than the use of a ranking based on the reciprocal positions of the annual Club World Ranking. In this way the continental clubs of the 21st century in all the six football continents can also be determined following the same principle.

After the move of the "Football Federation Australia" (FFA) to the "Asian Football Confederation" (AFC) at the beginning of the year 2006, completed with FIFA’s approval, also the Australian clubs are now affiliated with AFC. Therefore the points scored by the Australian clubs since 2006 are to be taken into consideration in the Asian club ranking of the 21st century. Likewise, Israeli clubs only appear in the European rankings for the 21st century, since Israel is affiliated with UEFA since 1994.


Two Saudi clubs lead !

After 11 years, the Asian club ranking for the 21st century is led by two clubs from Saudi Arabia. Al-Hilal FC Riyadh ranks before Al-Ittihad Club Jeddah, which however has the same number of points as Pakhtakor FK Tashkent. The order in the "Top 5" has not changed in comparison to the first ten years, however the 2nd and 6th positions are separated by only a few points. Thanks to a series of good performances in the year 2011, CB Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors has gained eight positions and managed therefore to reach the "Top 10", in which there are three Korean clubs and two clubs each from Saudi Arabia and Japan.

The three most spectacular improvement in the "Top 120" were achieved by Cesezo Osaka FC, Kashiwa Reysol (both from Japan) and FC Seoul (Republic of Korea), which gained 58, 57 resp. 52 positions in the Asian ranking of the 21st century, followed by Abril Sport Club (39 places) from Iraq, Chonburi FC (37) from Thailand, Sriwijaya FC Palembang (25) and Persipura Jayapura (23), both from Indonesia, Jeju United FC (20) from Japan, TCDK Sông Lam Nghe An Vinh (23) from Vietnam and Dempo Sports Club Goa (18) from India. The greatest loss of positions in the "Top 120" was suffered by clubs from China, Malaysia, Kirgizstan, India and Kuwait.



"Top 290" (2001-2011):


Mo → Club → Nationality → Points
1. Al-Hilal FC Riyadh Saudi Arabia 921,0
2. Al-Ittihad Club Jeddah Saudi Arabia 869,5
3. Pakhtakor FK Tashkent Uzbekistan 869,5
4. FC Gamba Osaka Japan 847,0
5. Kashima Antlers FC Japan 845,5
6. Suwon Samsung Blue-Wings FC Republic of Korea 843,0
7. Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma FC Republic of Korea 808,5
8. FM Sepahan Isfahan Iran 794,0
9. Al-Sadd SC Doha Qatar 750,0
10. CB Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Republic of Korea 746,5
11. Al-Kuwait SC Kaifan Kuwait 711,0
12. Al-Ain Sports & Cultural Club UAE 701,5
13. Esteghlal FC Tehran Iran 687,0
14. Al-Shabab FC Riyadh Saudi Arabia 684,5
15. Al-Qadsia SC Kuwait-City Kuwait 672,5
16. Al-Faysali Club Amman Jordan 663,0
17. Shandong Luneng Taishan China 652,0
18. Urawa FC Red Diamonds Japan 650,0
19. Al-Karama Homs Syria 650,0
20. FC Pohang Steelers Republic of Korea 647,5
21. Shimizu FC S-Pulse Japan 643,5
22. Al-Wehdat Club Amman Jordan 643,5
23. Zobahan Isfahan Iran 632,0
24. Al-Wahda SCC Abu Dhabi UAE 625,5
25. Jubilo FC Iwata Japan 607,5
26. Dalian Shide FC China 606,5
27. Nagoya Grampus Japan 594,0
28. Al-Gharrafa Club Doha Qatar 577,5
29. Home United FC Singapore 576,5
30. Persepolis FC Tehran Iran 570,5
31. Al-Muharraq Manama Bahrain 568,0
32. Ulsan Hyundai Horangi FC Republic of Korea 560,5
33. FC Yokohama F. Marinos Japan 558,5
34. FC Neftchi Fergana Uzbekistan 546,5
35. Al-Ahli SC Jeddah Saudi Arabia 538,5
36. Shanghai Shenhua FC China 532,0
37. Beijing Guo'an FC China 526,0
38. Nasaf Qarshi FC Uzbekistan 525,0
39. Al-Nejmeh Beirut Lebanon 522,0
40. Singapore Armed Forces FC Singapore 517,5
41. FK Bunyodkor Tashkent Uzbekistan 504,0
42. Tampines Rovers FC Singapore 503,5
43. Al-Ittihad Aleppo Syria 501,0
44. Al-Rayyan SC Doha Qatar 497,5
45. Al-Arabi Kuwait-City Kuwait 487,0
46. Kawasaki Frontale Japan 483,0
47. Al-Ahly Club Dubai UAE 477,5
48. Chunnam Dragons Gwangyang Republic of Korea 473,5
49. Al-Jaish Damascus Syria 468,5
50. Mahindra United FC Mumbai India 464,0
51. East Bengal Kingfisher FC Kolkata India 459,5
52. Al-Jazeera Abu Dhabi UAE 453,0
53. Al-Ahed FC Beirut Lebanon 445,0
54. Tianjin Teda FC China 443,5
55. Qatar SC Doha Qatar 432,5
56. Al-Nasr Riyadh Saudi Arabia 427,0
57. Churchill Brothers SC Goa India 422,5
58. South China AA Hong Kong 421,0
59. Mohun Bagan AC Kolkata India 416,5
60. Al-Ansar Club Beirut Lebanon 416,0
61. Tokyo FC Japan 407,0
62. FC Seoul Republic of Korea 407,0
63. Kazma SC Kuwait-City Kuwait 402,0
64. Dempo Sports Club Goa India 398,0
65. Shabab Al-Ordon Al-Qadisiya Jordan 397,5
66. TCDK Sông Lam Nghe An Vinh Vietnam 397,5
67. FC Busan I'Park Republic of Korea 395,5
68. Perak FA Ipoh Malaysia 394,0
69. Bahrain Al-Riffa Club Bahrain 393,5
70. Dhofar SSC Salalah Oman 392,5
71. Adelaide United FC Australia 391,0
72. Saipa Karaj FC Iran 385,0
73. BEC Tero Sasana Bangkok Thailand 385,0
74. Becamex Bình Duong FC Vietnam 384,5
75. Shenzhen Ruby FC China 383,0
76. FC Dordoy-Dinamo Naryn Kyrgyzstan 383,0
77. Al-Urooba Sur Oman 378,0
78. Jeju United FC Republic of Korea 378,0
79. Bangkok Glass FC Thanyaburi Thailand 376,0
80. Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Japan 375,0
81. Foulad Khuzestan FC Ahwaz Iran 373,0
82. Daejeon Citizen FC Republic of Korea 369,5
83. Al-Shabab Dubai UAE 369,0
84. Al-Salmiya SC Kuwait-City Kuwait 366,0
85. Cerezo Osaka FC Japan 362,0
86. Geylang United FC Singapore 361,5
87. Al-Ittifaq Dammam Saudi Arabia 360,0
88. Al-Ahli Sana'a Yemen 358,5
89. Shaanxi Zhongjian Chanba FC China 356,5
90. Al-Safa SC Lebanon 355,5
91. SHB Dà Nang FC Vietnam 355,0
92. Al-Wasl Dubai UAE 354,5
93. Sun Hei SC Hong Kong 354,0
94. Kashiwa Reysol Japan 349,5
95. Regar-Tad AZ Tursunzade Tajikistan 348,0
96. FC Balkan Balkanabat Turkmenistan 347,5
97. Saba Batry Club Tehran Iran 345,5
98. Chonburi FC Thailand 345,0
99. Al-Zawra'a SC Baghdad Iraq 342,0
100. Osotspha M 150 FC Bangkok Thailand 342,0
101. Selangor Bukit Jalil Sha Alam Malaysia 341,5
102. Sriwijaya FC Palembang Indonesia 341,0
103. JEF United Chiba Japan 341,0
104. Marshal Mubarek Uzbekistan 339,5
105. Basij Moghavemat Shahid Sapasi Fars Iran 339,0
106. Persipura Jayapura Indonesia 336,5
107. Al-Arabi Doha Qatar 332,5
108. Arbil Sport Club Iraq 329,5
109. Al-Ahli Manama Bahrain 328,5
110. Muscat FC Oman 325,5
111. Al-Sharjah Club UAE 325,0
112. Chongqing Lifan FC Xinganjue China 322,5
113. Melbourne Victory FC Australia 321,0
114. Liaoning FC Whowin China 321,0
115. Al-Wahda Damascus Syria 320,0
116. Al-Nasr Salalah Oman 315,0
117. Perlis FA Kangar Malaysia 314,0
118. Al-Majd Damascus Syria 314,0
119. Kedah DAFA Alor Setar Malaysia 313,5
120. Qingdao Jonoon FC China 313,0
121. Paas FC Tehran Iran 310,5
122. Gach Dong Tam Long An Tan-An Vietnam 310,5
123. Al-Wakra SC Qatar 309,5
124. Hoang Anh Gia Lai Plei-Ku Vietnam 308,5
125. Vissel Kobe Japan 305,5
126. Albirex Niigata FC Japan 304,5
127. Al-Sha'ab Ibb Yemen 304,5
128. Al-Nahda Club Muscat Oman 303,0
129. Thai Port FC Bangkok Thailand 301,0
130. Al-Talaba Baghdad Iraq 298,5
131. Sydney FC Australia 297,0
132. Malavan Bandar Anzali FC Iran 289,5
133. FC Aboumoslem Mashad Iran 288,0
134. Negeri Sembilan Naza Paroi Malaysia 286,5
135. Persija Jakarta Indonesia 286,0
136. Al-Nasr Dubai UAE 284,5
137. Al-Quwa Al Jawiya Baghdad Iraq 284,0
138. Al-Hilal Al-Saheli Sana'a Yemen 283,5
139. Esteghlal Ahvaz FC Iran 282,5
140. Al-Khor SC Qatar 278,0
141. Busaiteen Club Bahrain 277,5
142. FC Navbakhor Namangan Uzbekistan 276,0
143. Arema FC Malang Indonesia 275,0
144. A-Saqr Taizz Yemen 274,0
145. PBS Kuala Terengganu T-FC Malaysia 273,5
146. JCT Mills Phagwara Punjab India 272,5
147. Al-Seeb SC Oman 272,0
148. Al-Hussein Irbid Jordan 270,5
149. ITTU Oguz Aşgabat Turkmenistan 270,0
150. Provincial Electronic Authority Buriram Thailand 269,5
151. Central Coast Mariners FC Gosford Australia 268,5
152. Salgaocar Sports Club Goa India 268,5
153. Incheon United FC Republic of Korea 268,0
154. Vaksh Qurghonteppa Tajikistan 268,0
155. FC Zarafshan Qizilqum Uzbekistan 266,5
156. Pahang Kuantan Malaysia 264,0
157. Al-Najma Manama Bahrain 262,5
158. Al-Buqa'a Amman Jordan 260,0
159. Sur Sport Club Oman 259,0
160. TTM Phichit FC Thailand 258,5
161. Al-Najaf FC Iraq 256,5
162. Omiya Ardija Saitama Japan 256,5
163. FK Merw Mery Turkmenistan 255,5
164. Al-Shorta Baghdad Iraq 255,0
165. Kitchee SC Hong Kong 254,5
166. Changchun Yatai FC China 253,5
167. FK Samarkand Dinamo Uzbekistan 253,0
168. Megastar Nam Dinh Vietnam 253,0
169. Brisbane Roar FC Australia 252,0
170. Al-Mabarrah Lebanon 251,0
171. Changsha Ginde FC China 246,5
172. Muang Thong United FC Thailand 246,5
173. Newcastle United Jets FC Australia 246,0
174. Daegu FC Republic of Korea 243,5
175. Šagadam Türkmenbaşy Turkmenistan 241,5
176. Al-Wahdah Mekka Saudi Arabia 241,0
177. Al-Sha'ab Hadramaut Mukalla Yemen 238,0
178. Tishreen SC Latakia Syria 238,0
179. Duhok Sport Club Iraq 236,0
180. Al-Ahli Doha Qatar 236,0
181. Barg Shiraz FC Iran 227,5
182. Boss Bin Dinh Qui-Nhon Vietnam 227,5
183. Shurtan Guzor Uzbekistan 227,0
184. FK Andijon Uzbekistan 226,5
185. Sanat MeS Kerman FC Iran 225,0
186. FK Hujand Tajikistan 224,5
187. PSM Makassar Indonesia 224,0
188. Bukhoro FC Uzbekistan 223,5
189. Khatoco Khánh Hoá Nha Trang Vietnam 223,0
190. Al-Taliya Oman Oman 221,0
191. Persik Kediri Indonesia 220,5
192. Woodlands Wellington FC Singapore 220,5
193. LS Thanh Hóa FC Vietnam 220,0
194. Persib PSI Bandung Indonesia 219,5
195. Paykan Qazvin FC Iran 218,5
196. Al-Nasr Jleeb Al-Shyookh Kuwait 217,5
197. PFK Metallurg Bekabad Uzbekistan 216,0
198. Haywards Sporting Clube Goa India 213,5
199. Al-Telal Aden Yemen 210,5
200. Umm SC Salal Qatar 209,5
201. Gyeong Nam FC Changwon Republic of Korea 208,5
202. Al-Taliya Hama Syria 208,0
203. Al-Sha'ab Sharjah UAE 206,5
204. Al-Qadisiya Khobar Saudi Arabia 205,5
205. Kelantan FA Kota Bahru Malaysia 203,5
206. isa Asgabat FK Turkmenistan 203,5
207. Jashtyk AK Altyn Kara-Suu Kyrgyzstan 203,0
208. Albirex Niigata FC Singapore 202,0
209. Shabab Al-Sahel Lebanon 200,5
210. Rah-Ahan FC Tehran Iran 200,0
211. Gwangju Sangmu FC Republic of Korea 199,5
212. FC Oita Trinita Japan 198,5
213. Happy Valley AA Hong Kong 197,5
214. Al-Ramtha SC Irbid Jordan 197,5
215. Bangkok United Thailand 197,5
216. Huteen SC Latakia Syria 197,0
217. Hangzhou Greentown FC China 196,0
218. Kyoto Sanga FC Japan 195,5
219. Gombak United FC Singapore 194,0
220. Jableh Sporting Club Syria 189,5
221. FC Alga Bishkek Kyrgyzstan 186,5
222. Kopetdag Aşgabat Turkmenistan 186,5
223. LG-ACB Hanoi Vietnam 185,5
224. Al-Shabab Bahrain Bahrain 185,0
225. Pelita Jaya Karawang Indonesia 181,0
226. Al-Wahda Aden Yemen 181,0
227. Telephone Organisation of Thailand Thailand 177,0
228. East Riffa Club Bahrain 176,0
229. FK Lokomotiv Tashkent Uzbekistan 175,5
230. Balestier Khalsa FC Singapore 175,0
231. Hòa Phát Hànoi Vietnam 174,5
232. Wellington Phoenix FC Australia 174,0
233. Tokyo FC II Japan 173,0
234. Al-Jazeera Club Amman Jordan 170,0
235. Al-Suwaiq Batna Oman 169,0
236. Al-Tadamon Tyre Lebanon 166,5
237. FC Air India Mumbai India 165,0
238. Hassan Abyan Yemen 164,5
239. Perth Glory FC Australia 163,5
240. Al-Minaa Basra Iraq 163,5
241. Henan Construction China 163,0
242. Young Lions FC Singapore 163,0
243. Anyang LG Cheetahs FC Republic of Korea 163,0
244. Tractor Tashkent Uzbekistan 162,0
245. FC Abdysh-Ata Kant Kyrgyzstan 159,5
246. Vegalta Sendai Japan 158,5
247. Johor FC Pasir Gudang Malaysia 158,5
248. TWS Pegasus FC Hong Kong 157,5
249. Al-Wahda Sana'a Yemen 156,5
250. The Citizen AA Hong Kong Hong Kong 156,0
251. Al-Wathba Homs Syria 156,0
252. NTR WF Tai Po Hong Kong 155,0
253. Al-Khaboora Oman 155,0
254. Bangkok Bank FC Thailand 154,0
255. Al-Shula Aden Yemen 153,5
256. Yarmuk Al-Rawda Sana'a Yemen 152,5
257. PSMS Medan Indonesia 152,0
258. Teraktor Sazie Tabriz FC Iran 150,5
259. Vasco Sport Club Goa India 150,0
260. Shabab Al-Baydaa Yemen 150,0
261. Al-Shorta Damascus Syria 149,5
262. Oman Club Muscat Oman 149,0
263. Royal Thai Army Bangkok Thailand 148,0
264. Sichuan Guancheng FC China 147,0
265. Parvoz Bobojon Ghafurov Tajikistan 144,5
266. Al-Emirates CSC Ras Al-Khaimah UAE 144,5
267. Al-Ittihad Ibb Yemen 144,0
268. Al-Taee Hael Saudi Arabia 144,0
269. PAS Hamadan FC Iran 142,5
270. Al-Tadamon Farwaniya Kuwait 142,5
271. Al-Nafit Janob Iraq 142,0
272. Xi Mang Hai Phòng Vietnam 142,0
273. Persela Lamongan Indonesia 140,5
274. FC Daşoguz Turkmenistan 140,5
275. FK Aşgabat Turkmenistan 140,0
276. PS Semen Padang Indonesia 139,0
277. Al-Jahra FC Kuwait 137,0
278. Sogdiana Jizzah FC Uzbekistan 136,5
279. TD CS Dong Thàp FC Cao Lanh Vietnam 136,0
280. Al-Arabi Irbid Jordan 135,5
281. Al-Saham Club Oman 134,0
282. Wuhan Optics Valley FC China 131,0
283. Al-Horriya Aleppo Syria 131,0
284. Alay Osh Kyrgyzstan 130,5
285. PSPS Pekanbaru Indonesia 130,0
286. Al-Hala Muharraq Bahrain 129,5
287. Al-Sahel Abu Hlaifa Kuwait 129,0
288. Al-Dhafra Sport & Culture Club Abu Dhabi UAE 128,5
289. Etoile FC Queenstown Singapore 128,0
290. Deltas Putra Sidoarjo Indonesia 126,0
300. Al-Ittihad Sharjah Kalba'a UAE 126,0