China's Zheng Zhi wins AFC Player of the Year award

Zheng Zhi (R) receives the award from the AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa

China national team and Guangzhou Evergrande captain Zheng Zhi won the 2013 AFC Player of the Year award at a glittering ceremony on Tuesday night in Kuala Lumpur.

Zheng Zhi became the first Chinese player to win this accolade since Fan Zhiyi claimed Asian football’s highest individual accolade in 2001. Guanzhou Evergrande’s Brazilian striker Muriqui (Luiz Guilherme Da Conceicao Silva) won the AFC Foreign Player of the Year while Inter Milan winger Yuto Nagatomo clinched the AFC Asian International Player of the Year.

Asian football’s highest individual accolade – the Diamond of Asia – was presented to former Korea Football Association President and honorary FIFA Vice-President Dr. Chung Mong-joon.

FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS

AFC DIAMOND OF ASIA: Dr. Chung Mong-Joon

AFC DREAM ASIA AWARD: Myanmar Football Association

AFC FAIR PLAY ASSOCIATION OF THE YEAR: China Football Association

AFC FUTSAL TEAM OF THE YEAR: Chonburi Bluewave (Thailand)

AFC FUTSAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Suphawut Thueanklang (Chonburi Bluewave: Thailand)

AFC FOREIGN PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Luiz Guilherme Da Conceicao Silva (Guangzhou Evergrande; Brazil)

AFC ASIAN INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Yuto Nagatomo (Japan; Inter Milan)

AFC ASSISTANT REFEREE OF THE YEAR WOMEN: Flynn Allyson Clare (Australia); MEN: Nagi Toshiyuki (Japan)

AFC REFEREE OF THE YEAR WOMEN: Yamagishi Sachiko (Japan); MEN: Benjamin Williams (Australia)

AFC CLUB OF THE YEAR: Guangzhou Evergrande (China)

AFC INSPIRING MEMBER ASSOCIATION OF THE YEAR: China Football Association

AFC DEVELOPING MEMBER ASSOCIATION OF THE YEAR: Jordan Football Association

AFC ASPIRING MEMBER ASSOCIATION OF THE YEAR: Pakistan Football Federation

AFC MA OF THE YEAR FOR GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL Japan Football Association

AFC NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR WOMEN: Korea Republic U-19 National Team; MEN: Iraq U-20 National Team

AFC COACH OF THE YEAR WOMEN: Asako Takemoto (Japan); MEN: Choi Yong-Soo (FC Seoul; Korea Republic)

AFC YOUTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR WOMEN: Jang Sel-Gi (Korea Republic); MEN: Ali Adnan Kadhim (Iraq)

AFC PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Zheng Zhi (Guangzhou Evergrande: China)