AFC Champions League Elite: List of all winners in history
Al-Ahli are recent winners of the competition.
Similar to the UEFA Champions League for Europe, the AFC Champions League Elite (ACL) is the top club football competition in Asia.
The AFC Champions League Elite was first played in 1967 and is organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which is Asia’s football regulatory body.
The tournament was known as the Asian Champion Club Tournament from 1967 to 1971. Following the cancellation of the 1972 edition for a variety of reasons, the competition was suspended for a few years before resuming in 1985 under the new name Asian Club Championship.
The tournament, which evolved into the AFC Champions League in 2002, features the top teams (local league or Cup winners) from leading Asian nations competing annually for the coveted continental honour. The competition was renamed the AFC Champions League Elite from the 2024–25 season.
Israeli team Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Malaysia’s Selangor FA to become the first AFC Champions League victors in the 1967 inaugural tournament, which featured six teams.
The prized trophy has been captured by 25 different clubs from 10 different countries. Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia have won four AFC Champions League Elite titles, the most of any team (1991, 1999–2000, 2019, 2021).
With nine title phases, Al-Hilal also hold the record for the most ACL final appearances.
Despite winning three titles (1996–97, 1997–98, and 2009), the Republic of Korea’s Pohang Steelers lost to Al-Hilal in the 2021 championship game. With five different teams taking home 12 crowns, Korean teams actually have the best record in the ACL.
List of winners: AFC Champions League Elite
| Year | Winners |
|---|---|
| 1967 | Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) |
| 1969 | Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) |
| 1970 | Taj Tehran (Iran) |
| 1971 | Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) |
| 1985–86 | Daewoo Royals (South Korea) |
| 1986 | Furukawa Electric (Japan) |
| 1987 | Yomiuri FC (Japan) |
| 1988–89 | Al-Sadd (Qatar) |
| 1989–90 | Liaoning (China) |
| 1990–91 | Esteghlal (Iran) |
| 1991 | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) |
| 1992–93 | PAS Tehran (Iran) |
| 1993–94 | Thai Farmers Bank (Thailand) |
| 1994–95 | Thai Farmers Bank (Thailand) |
| 1995 | Ilhwa Chunma (South Korea) |
| 1996–97 | Pohang Steelers (South Korea) |
| 1997–98 | Pohang Steelers (South Korea) |
| 1998–99 | Jubilo Iwata (Japan) |
| 1999–2000 | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) |
| 2000–01 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea) |
| 2001–02 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea) |
| 2002–03 | Al-Ain (UAE) |
| 2004 | Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) |
| 2005 | Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) |
| 2006 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) |
| 2007 | Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) |
| 2008 | Gamba Osaka (Japan) |
| 2009 | Pohang Steelers (South Korea) |
| 2010 | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (South Korea) |
| 2011 | Al-Sadd (Qatar) |
| 2012 | Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea) |
| 2013 | Guangzhou Evergrande (China) |
| 2014 | Western Sydney Wanderers (Australia) |
| 2015 | Guangzhou Evergrande (China) |
| 2016 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) |
| 2017 | Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) |
| 2018 | Kashima Antlers (Japan) |
| 2019 | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) |
| 2020 | Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea) |
| 2021 | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) |
| 2022 | Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) |
| 2023-24 | Al Ain (UAE) |
| 2024-25 | Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia) |
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.
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