The 2006 AFC Champions League was the 25th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament and the fourth edition under the current AFC Champions League title. Al-Ittihad automatically qualified for the quarter-finals as the title holders.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors won their first AFC Champions League title after beating Al-Karamah 3–2 on aggregate in the final. Jeonbuk also became the first team in history of Asia to have won the Champions League before the national league title (they won their first K League championship three years later, in 2009).
Format Group stage A total of 28 clubs were divided into seven groups of four, according to the region. Each club played double round-robin (home and away) against fellow three group members for a total of six matches. Clubs received three points for a win, one for a tie, and no points for a loss. The clubs were ranked according to points. If two or more teams were tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied: Points earned between the clubs in question Goal difference between the clubs in question Goals for between the clubs in question Points earned within the group Goal difference within the group Goals for within the group
The seven group winners along with the defending champion advanced to the quarter-finals.
Knockout round All 8 clubs were randomly matched; however, the only restriction was that the clubs from the same country could not face each other in the quarter-finals. The games were played over two legs, home and away, and the aggregate score decided the winner. If the aggregate score was level, the away goals rule was used. If still tied, clubs played extra time, where the away goals rule still applied. If still tied, the game went to penalties.
Teams West AsiaEast AsiaQuarter-finalsTeamQualifying methodTeamQualifying method Al-IttihadDefending championsGroup StageTeamQualifying methodTeamQualifying method Foolad2004–05 Iran Pro League champions Dalian Shide2005 Chinese Super League champions &2005 Chinese FA Cup winners Saba Battery2004–05 Hazfi Cup winners and 2005 Iranian Super Cup winners Shanghai Shenhua2005 Chinese Super League runners-up Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya2004–05 Iraqi Premier League champions 2005 Liga Indonesia Premier Division champions Al-Minaa2004–05 Iraqi Premier League runners-up 2005 Copa Indonesia winners Al Qadisiya2004–05 Kuwaiti Premier League champions Gamba Osaka2005 J.League Division 1 champions Al-Arabi2005 Kuwait Emir Cup winners Tokyo Verdy 19692004 Emperor's Cup winners Al-Gharafa2004–05 Qatar Stars League champions Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i2005 K League champions Al Sadd2004–05 Emir of Qatar Cup winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2005 Korean FA Cup winners Al Hilal2004–05 Saudi Premier League champions &2004–05 Saudi Crown Prince Cup winners 2004–05 Thai League champions Al Shabab2004–05 Saudi Premier League runners-up 2004–05 Thai League runners-up Al-Ittihad2004–05 Syrian Premier League champions &2004-05 Syrian Cup winners Đồng Tâm Long An2005 V-League champions &2005 Vietnamese Cup winners Al-Karamah 2004–05 Syrian Premier League runners-up Da Nang 2005 V-League runners-up Al Wahda2004–05 UAE Football League champions Al Ain2004–05 UAE President's Cup winners Pakhtakor2005 Uzbek League champions &2005 Uzbekistan Cup winners Mash'al2005 Uzbek League runners-up Notes
Group stage
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Knock-out stage Bracket
Quarter-finals
First leg
Second leg
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors won 4–3 on aggregate.
Al Qadisiya won 5–2 on aggregate.
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i won 7–0 on aggregate.
Al-Karamah won 4–2 on aggregate.
Semi-finals
First leg
Second leg
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors won 6–4 on aggregate.
Al-Karamah won 1–0 on aggregate.
Final
First leg
Second leg
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors won 3–2 on aggregate.
Top scorers
Rank Player Club Total 1 Magno Alves Gamba Osaka 1 4 2 1 82 Fernandinho Gamba Osaka 4 2 6 Nenad Jestrović Al Ain 2 1 2 1 4 Ali Daei Saba Battery 2 1 2 5 Gao Lin Shanghai Shenhua 3 1 1 A'ala Hubail Al-Gharafa 2 3 Kim Hyeung-bum Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2 1 2 Bader Al-Mutawa Al Qadisiya 1 1 1 2 Zé Carlos Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1 2 1 110 Godwin Attram Al-Shabab 2 1 1 4 Choi Sung-kuk Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 1 2 1 Mohannad Ibrahim Al-Karamah 1 2 1 Carlos Tenorio Al Sadd 1 1 2 Zou Jie Dalian Shide 1 1 1 1
See also 2006 FIFA Club World Cup
References
External links AFC Champions League 2006 Official Page (English)