The Best Asian Players Of All Time - John Duerden/ESPN

[aenima_8]

"Trying to select the 10 best players in Asian history is not easy with players from different eras making their marks in different ways for different teams in different leagues. Still, with the 2015 Asian Cup upon us, ESPN FC has had a go.

#8: Javad Nekounam - Iran

A few Asian players have tried their luck in Spain in recent years -- Shunsuke Nakamura and Lee Chun-soo to name two -- but none really made an impact until the "Prince of Persia" landed in La Liga back in 2006. His six years at Osasuna saw him make his mark as a fine midfield player in a league that was possibly the best in the world. He has been immense for Iran as well and could pass the 150 international appearance mark in the next few weeks, becoming his country's most-capped player in the process.

#5: Ali Daei - Iran

Nobody has scored as many in the international arena as the Iranian legend. Daei found the net for his country an amazing 109 times -- and who could forget the four he grabbed in the quarterfinal of the 1996 Asian Cup against South Korea? That performance is still talked about in Tehran and Seoul. Joined Bayern Munich and sat on the bench for the 1999 Champions League final. Perhaps damaged his legacy a little by hanging around too long but it's still a fine legacy to leave."

http://www.espnfc.com/blog/football-...rs-of-all-time

[KasraKhan]

Duerden is a zan zalil bad bakht since he's so scared of his Korean wife and he's always sucking off Koreans in his pieces.

[Adesor Vafaseya]

I totally disagree with John Duerden!!!
it seems he started to watch Asian football since mid 90ies!!!

where are:
PARVIZ GHLICHKHANI who lifted the Cup / trophy 3 times???
NASSER HEJAZI???


etc etc...

as usual John Duerden proves to be very uninformed...!

[Tehranto]

Where are Mehdi Mahdavikia, Ali Karimi?

Younis Mahmood???? What clubs has he played for? How many World Cups has he gone to?

The list is a joke.

[KasraKhan]

Lol@ Younes Mahmood. Same guy who missed the goal on a chipped PK and has been without a club for 2 years.

Top 10 player in Asian history, alright.

[Farhad-7]

Most ignorant "Asian football expert"

He should spend his time learning about Asian football including its history before acting like a know it all and writing articles like this.

Let's just not talk about Iranian legends for one second even though it's quite clear he was something against Iran last few years in his articles.

How the fuck do you miss Harry Kewell in that list?

Younis Mahmoud? Come on. He won one cup with Iraq and not like he outscored everyone in that tournament. I can easily name 3-4 players like Nakamura, Viduka, etc. These players had success every where they went.

I wonder if he has something against the Aussies as well.

However, I don't he has an agenda against Aussies or Iranians. It's just that John Duerden is highly biased every since he got close with Korean football (and his wife?) and is not informed therefore highly ignorant as this list and his other articles show that.

[Kiarash]

[babak_australia]

Relax guys. In all the countries of Asia and we have two in the list.

Most of the players in the list seemed like they belonged to be honest.

[webmaster]

Asian bullshit right here.. even though love the ones who are there.. :-) but many are not there! Azizi? Kia and what about Karimi? so this must be and IS bullshit of the first grade.

[Karimi 8]

This list is terrible and missing many Iranian legends.

[Zamboor]

he won the asian cup.

[Z Joon]

The Best Asian Players Of All Time - John Duerden/ESPN

Younes Mahmoud

[Kiarash]

he won the asian cup.

That doesn't make him an Asian legend. He never played in respectable leagues either.

[Zamboor]

That doesn't make him an Asian legend. He never played in respectable leagues either.

Well then please kiarash explain to me what makes you an asian legend? If winning the most prestigious cup in Asia doesn't count? One does not have to play in europe to be a legend and if you ask me Younis deserves a legend title.

[Kiarash]

Well then please kiarash explain to me what makes you an asian legend? If winning the most prestigious cup in Asia doesn't count? One does not have to play in europe to be a legend and if you ask me Younis deserves a legend title.

Younis Mahmoud, that legend who chipped the penalty vs Iran last week?

You know Ji-Sung Park? He is an Asian legend. He is the only Asian player so far who has played in a UEFA Champions League final. He had a successful career for big clubs like PSV and Manchester United, and is well known across the world. Younis Mahmoud is anonymous if you compare Ji-Sung to him. He only got some fame because Iraq luckily won the Asian Cup 2007 edition. Ali Karimi, Shunseke Nakamura and Tim Cahill are also examples of Asian legends.

Younis Mahmoud is clubless for a year now and he is only 31 years old. Reza Enayati is 38 and still plays in IPL