The AFC champions league winners list – all-time most champions

The AFC Champions League is the highest men’s professional soccer competition played by teams within the Asian Football Confederation.

The competition upon its inception has produced numerous Champions in the past.

Saudi Arabia pro league side Al Hilal and South Korean outfit Pohang Steelers are the most successful clubs in the history of the competition with three titles each.

Saudi Arabian clubs have come out tops in recent competition with a high influx of foreigners into the league.

The Saudi League is one of the Asian domestic league with a high number of foreigners as seen in Australia, Qatar, China and India.

In the history of the competition, Israeli teams also had their share in the past before the county decided to join UEFA.

Hapoel Tel Aviv was the first club to win the AFC Champions League, followed by another Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv.

About the AFC Champions League

The competition is organized by the Asian Football Confederation, contested by clubs within the Asian Continent.

The competition is one of the top competitive continental soccer competitions behind the CONCACAF Champions League, Copa Libertadores and the UEFA Champions League.

Most successful teams

Al Hilal

The Saudi Arabian division One club is one of the most successful in the competition with three titles under its belt.

The multi-sports club based in Riyadh is one of the most respected sides in the country.

Years Won

1991, 1999–2000, 2019

Pohang Steelers

Steelers is a South Korean Professional Football Club and one of the most successful clubs in the country.

Its performance on the continent was crowned with three Champions League titles.

The club also finished third during the FIFA Club World Cup in 2009

Years Won

1996–97, 1997–98, 2009

1. 1967 Hapoel Tel Aviv Israel

2. 1969 Maccabi Tel Aviv Israel

3. 1970 Taj Tehran Iran

4. 1971 Maccabi Tel Aviv Israel

5. 1985–86 Daewoo Royals South Korea

6. 1986 Furukawa Electric Japan

7. 1987 Yomiuri FC Japan

8. 1988–89 Al-Sadd Qatar

9. 1989–90 – Liaoning China

10. 1990–91 Esteghlal Iran

11. 1991 Esteghlal Iran

12. 1992–93 – PAS Tehran Iran

13. 1993–94 Thai Farmers Bank Thailand

14. 1994–95 Thai Farmers Bank Thailand

15. 1995 Ilhwa Chunma South Korea

16. 1996–97 Pohang Steelers South Korea

17. 1997–98 Pohang Steelers South Korea

18. 1998–99 Júbilo Iwata Japan

19. 1999–2000 Al Hilal Saudi Arabia

20. 2000–01 Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea

21. 2001–02 Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea

22. 2002–03 Al Ain United Arab Emirates

23. 2004 Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia

24. 2005 Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia

25. 2006 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors South Korea

26. 2007 Urawa Red Diamonds Japan

27 2008 Gamba Osaka Japan

28. 2009 Pohang Steelers South Korea

29. 2010 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma South Korea

30. 2011 – Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors South Korea

31 2012 Ulsan Hyundai South Korea

32 2013 Guangzhou Evergrande China

33 2014 Western Sydney Wanderers Australia

34 2015 Guangzhou Evergrande China

35 2016 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors South Korea

36 2017 Urawa Red Diamonds Japan

37 2018 Kashima Antlers Japan

38 2019 Al Hilal Saudi Arabia

39 2020 – Ulsan Hyundai

This article outlines the Most AFC Champions League winners in the past since it’s inception.

Al Hilal and Pohang Steelers are the most successful Champions on the list.