The AFC Professional Coaching Diploma, also known as the AFC Pro-Diploma, is the highest level of coaching accreditation issued by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The diploma was first awarded by the AFC in 2001. [1] The AFC considers the diploma the equivalent of the UEFA Pro Licence. [2]
Students are required to have completed the B coaching certificate. Study for the diploma involves undertaking at least 220 hours of coursework. [3] [4]
The AFC have proposed that coaches of all national professional leagues, AFC Champions League and AFC Cup teams must have the diploma. [3]
Ali Daei is an Iranian football manager and former player. A striker, he was the captain of the Iranian national team between 2000 and 2006. He played in the German Bundesliga for Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin. He is regarded as one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time.
Muhammad Ali Karimi is an Iranian football coach and former player. During his professional football career, he has played in the Iran Pro League, UAE Pro League, Qatar Stars League and Bundesliga. Karimi has scored 38 goals in 127 matches for the Iran national team. In 2004, he was recognized as the best scorer of the AFC Asian Cup and received the Asian Footballer of the Year award in the same year. He announced his retirement at the end of the 2013–14 season and, on 11 April 2014, played the final game of his 18-year career.
Football Australia is the governing body of soccer, futsal, and beach soccer within Australia, headquartered in Sydney. Although the first governing body of the sport was founded in 1911, Football Australia in its current form was only established in 1961 as the Australian Soccer Federation. It was later reconstituted in 2003 as the Australian Soccer Association before adopting the name of Football Federation Australia in 2005. In contemporary identification, a corporate decision was undertaken to institute that name to deliver a "more united football" in a deliberation from the current CEO, James Johnson. The name was changed to Football Australia in December 2020.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is the governing body of association football, beach football, and futsal in some countries/territories in Asia and Oceania. It has 47 member countries most of which are located in Asia. Australia, formerly in OFC, joined AFC in 2006. Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, both territories of the United States, are also AFC members that are geographically in Oceania. The Asian Ladies Football Confederation (ALFC) was the section of AFC who managed women's association football in Asia. The group was independently founded in April 1968 in a meeting involving Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. In 1986 ALFC merged with AFC by Pooria Putak.
The Japan national football team, nicknamed the Samurai Blue, represents Japan in men's international football. It is controlled by the Japan Football Association (JFA), the governing body for football in Japan.
The AFC Champions League is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation, and contested by Asia's top-division football clubs. It is the most prestigious club competition in Asian football, played by the national league champions of their national associations.
Nasser Hejazi, nicknamed "the legendary Iranian goalkeeper", was an Iranian football player and coach who most notably played for Esteghlal (Taj).
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is the governing body of association football in the Philippines. Established as the Philippine Amateur Football Association (PAFA) in 1907, the PFF is one of the oldest national football associations in Asia and is among the founding members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The PAFA reorganized as the Philippine Football Association (PFA), and later as the Philippine Football Federation.
The UEFA coaching licences are documents testifying credentials of coaches among members of UEFA. UEFA, the governing body for football in Europe, mandates several coaching licences for professional managers, each valid for coaching at a certain level for all members of the organization. These include the UEFA Pro Licence, the UEFA A Licence, and the UEFA B Licence. They are issued by each UEFA member state's football federation and are valid for three years.
The United Arab Emirates Football Association is the governing body of association football, beach soccer and futsal in the United Arab Emirates.
Sasa Ognenovski is an Australian soccer player who played as a central defender, who represented the Australia national team on 22 occasions, and who last played for Sydney FC in the A-League. He is currently the assistant coach of the NPL Victoria 2 team Preston Lions.
Seyyed Jalal Hosseini, commonly known as Seyyed Jalal or Jalal Hosseini, is a former Iranian professional footballer who played as a centre-back and was the Captain of Iranian club Persepolis.
The I-League, officially known as the Hero I-League for sponsorship reasons, is the men's second-tier of the Indian football league system. Currently contested by 16 clubs, the winners get promoted to the Indian Super League.
Stephan Markus Cabizares Schröck is a professional footballer and coach who last played as an attacking midfielder for the Azkals Development Team. Although primarily a midfielder, earlier in his career he played mostly as a winger.
Football Club Istiklol (Tajik: Клуби Футболи Истиқлол, romanized: Klubi futboli «Istiqlol»),, is a Tajik professional football club based in Dushanbe. Founded in 2007, the club competes in the Ligai Olii Tojikiston, the top flight of Tajik football league system. It was founded to commemorate the Independence of Tajikistan; Istiklol in Tajik means 'independence'.
The 2011 AFC Champions League was the 30th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 9th under the current AFC Champions League title. The winners, Al-Sadd qualified for the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
Alireza Safar Beiranvand is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Persian Gulf Pro League club Perspolis and the Iran national team. He is considered as one of the best Asian goalkeepers of all time.
The Indian Super League (ISL), officially known as the Hero Indian Super League for sponsorship reasons, is the men's highest level of the Indian football league system. Administrated by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and commercial partner Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the league currently comprises 12 clubs.
The 2022 AFC Champions League was the 41st edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 20th under the current AFC Champions League title.