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

[jahandoost]

Im sorry but John Duerden is a joke, the only reason he has achieved some so called journalistic acclaim is because there very very few journalists who call themselves asian football specialist.

So he has spot a gap and is using it well to his advantage, but his footballing knowledge about Asia is not deep at all.

[ramingeles2000]

Hossein Kalani, Homayoun Behzadi, Behtash Fariba, Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh.. I can go on for ever, this guy dosen't know jack about asia.

Come. ON. No offense dude, but I'm tired of old-timers on this website hyping obscure TM playrs from the 70s, 80s and early 90s. It honestly seems like you're just trying to show off that you've been a TM fan for a long time. Outside of Abedzadeh, none of the players you mention would even be on a top-20 all-time Asia list. Even Abedzadeh doesn't belong.

As for Duerden, like it or not he's probably the most informed western journalist on Asian football. His list is good, just has 3 errors:
1) Shunsuke Nakamura should have been included over Younis Mahmoud (he was best player in Scotland, amazing club career)
2) The philipino player should have been #1
3) Mahdavikia should have taken Nekounam's spot.

Sorry guys, but Karimi doesn't belong on that list, maybe a top-15 list. A guy who played 2 seasons in Europe and didn't accomplish anything that scores of Japanese and Korean players haven't. 2 Iranians belong in the top 10: Mahdavikia and Daei, and MAYBE Nekounam/Karimi. Let's be realistic. Duerden has been more than complimentary of Iranian football over the years. He's fair. Frankly this attitude of thinking there's a constant conspiracy against us (by the refs, by the arabs, by western media, etc) is getting tiresome. Let's stop playing the victim and actually earn some silverware at this asian cup so that we earn people's respect.

[babak_australia]

Obviously he is not going to put 5-6 iranians in the top ten even if they deserve to be. He clearly wants to satisfy his easy asian audience putting a filipino at 2 is ridiculous. Ali daei should be in the top 3 no doubt and kia/karimj/abedzadeh should be there instead of nekounam.
Apparently the guy is Norwegian you have to be pretty weird to be a norwegian so interested in asian football. I doubt there are any koreans who are experts in norwegian football.

Did you read the bio on the Filipino guy?? Im suprised he wasnt first.

He held the Barcelona goal scoring record until Messi took it from him.

Daei sat on the bench for a champions league final. How is that better than the Filipino?
I also think Nek deserves over Kia as Nek was first to go to Spain and also captained a La Liga team. That is a phenomenal achievement.

[ali alipour]

Obviously he is not going to put 5-6 iranians in the top ten even if they deserve to be. He clearly wants to satisfy his easy asian audience putting a filipino at 2 is ridiculous. Ali daei should be in the top 3 no doubt and kia/karimj/abedzadeh should be there instead of nekounam.
Apparently the guy is Norwegian you have to be pretty weird to be a norwegian so interested in asian football. I doubt there are any koreans who are experts in norwegian football.

[arash123]

GTFO if you don't have Kia in the top 10 of Asian greats of all time. Ali Daei got robbed, too.

[Zamboor]

Yeah, he cracks the top 10 Arab AFC list - we can agree on that

But continental wise? Nahhh

Top 10 nope top 100 yes

[Tehranto]

Nah man I never said this list was solid or not but you can't deny that he is a legend in his own way. I agree all those players that you mentioned got a higher legend status than Younis Mahmoud.

Yeah, he cracks the top 10 Arab AFC list - we can agree on that

But continental wise? Nahhh

[Zamboor]

Bro, I know we both like Iraqi/ brown girls but Younis is not even in the top 25 lol

Harry Kewell is also a big absentee here. As is Viduka. These people played in the EPL and were very successful. Compared to the worst Asian title win ever (Iraq in 2007). It's incomparable. How is Mahdavikia, Karimi, Azizi, Bagheri not there ... Bagheri lead world one year in WCQ goals.

Going to World Cup is much, much more prestigious than Asian Cup win bro.

Nah man I never said this list was solid or not but you can't deny that he is a legend in his own way. I agree all those players that you mentioned got a higher legend status than Younis Mahmoud.

[Tehranto]

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.

Bro, I know we both like Iraqi/ brown girls but Younis is not even in the top 25 lol

Harry Kewell is also a big absentee here. As is Viduka. These people played in the EPL and were very successful. Compared to the worst Asian title win ever (Iraq in 2007). It's incomparable. How is Mahdavikia, Karimi, Azizi, Bagheri not there ... Bagheri lead world one year in WCQ goals.

Going to World Cup is much, much more prestigious than Asian Cup win bro.

[persiangodfather]

Cha Bum-kun (South Korea)

1) Daei
2) Hejazi
3) mahdavikia

[Jiggy]

this 4 players are must :

1:ali daei
2. Javad nekounam
3.ali karimi
4. Mehdi madahvikia

[irani8perspolis]

Where is Hejazi, Karimi, Mahdavkia (one of the best ever players for hamburg!!)? this guy never ceases to amaze me...

[BacheLot]

The MODERN game of football has advanced SOO MUCH in recent years & it now gravely challenges the pure Max Capabilities of human beings FAR more than it did 3-4 decades ago..!!

Frankly I'm not nearly as impressed as i should be with spactacular stats of a player that played his trade any more than 25-30 years ago..!!

i'd bet that#1 ka boom Koon dude, couldn't replicate even 30% of his career stats playing in today's top level football..!!

[Ali.Karimi79]

What's the fuss about? It is impossible to satisfy anyone with a list of only 10 players.
Even if the list would be:

Ali Daei
Khodadad Azizi
Karim Bagheri
Ali Karimi
Mehdi Mahdavikia
Vahid Hashemian
Nasser Hejari
Ahmadrez Abedzadeh
Parviz Ghlichkani
Ali Parvin

You guys would jump why he didn't list Ali Moussavi, Dinmohammadi, Yazdi, Enayati