The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the nominees of its top four awards for the AFC Annual Awards 2012.

The AFC released the list of nominees for the AFC Player of the Year, AFC Women’s Player of the Year, AFC Asian International Player of the Year and AFC Foreign Player of the Year awards.

Seasoned Iranian international and 2004 Award winner Ali Karimi heads the list of nominees for the prestigious AFC Player of the Year award. Iran have two players while Japan, Korea Republic and China have a player each in the 2012 AFC Player of the Year award.

Lee Keun-ho, who helped Korea Republic side Ulsan Hyundai to win the AFC Champions League this year, Socceroo defender Lucas Neill, Iran national team centerback Mohsen Bengar and Guangzhou Evergrande’s defender Zheng Zhi have also found a place in the top five.

The AFC Women’s Player of the Year crown will be awarded to a Japanese international due to the fact that all the three nominees are from the Japan national team who won the silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

2011 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year Homare Sawa is among the nominees alongside her teammates Aya Miyama who won the 2011 AFC Women Player of the Year and Nadeshiko striker Yuki Ogimi.

The Asian Football Confederation has also named the nominees of two new categories. The AFC will give away awards in the categories AFC Asian International Player of the Year and AFC Foreign Player of the Year for the very first time.

The nominees for the AFC Asian International Player of the Year award are Fulham’s Socceroo goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, Manchester United’s Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa and Inter Milan’s defender Yuto Nagatomo.

The AFC Foreign Player of the Year will be claimed by a Brazilian player. Sepahan’s striker Bruno Correa, 2012 ACL top scorer Ricardo Oliveira (Al Jazira) and 2012 AFC Cup champions Kuwait SC’s midfielder Rogerio de Assis Silva Coutinho have been named in the three player list.

The AFC will give away a total of 22 Awards at the AFC Annual Awards Gala to be held at the Mandarin Oriental in Kuala Lumpur on November 29, 2012.

THE NOMINEES

LIST OF CONTENDERS FOR AFC PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2012
(in alphabetical order; list as of today)
Ali Karimi (Iran)
Lee Keun-ho (Korea Republic)
Lucas Neill (Australia)
Mohsen Bengar (Iran)
Zheng Zhi (China)

NOMINEES FOR AFC WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2012
(in alphabetical order)
Aya Miyama (Japan)
Homare Sawa (Japan)
Yuki Ogimi (Japan)

NOMINEES FOR AFC ASIAN INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
(in alphabetical order)
Mark Schwarzer (Australia) – Fulham, England
Shinji Kagawa (Japan) – Manchester United, England
Yuto Nagatomo (Japan) – Inter Milan, Italy

NOMINEES FOR AFC FOREIGN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
(in alphabetical order)
Bruno Correa (Brazil) – Foolad Sepahan (Iran)
Ricardo Oliveira (Brazil) – Al Jazira (UAE)
Rogerio De Assis Silva Coutinho (Brazil)- Kuwait SC (Kuwait)

All categories of the AFC Annual Awards 2012
AFC Diamond of Asia, AFC Dream Asia Award, AFC Association of the Year, AFC Fair Play Association of the Year, AFC Club Team of the Year, AFC Futsal Team of the Year, AFC Assistant Referee of the Year – Men, AFC Assistant Referee of the Year – Women, AFC Referee of the Year – Men, AFC Referee of the Year – Women, AFC National Team of the Year – Men, AFC National Team of the Year – Women, AFC Coach of the Year – Men, AFC Coach of the Year – Women, AFC Youth Player of the Year – Men, AFC Youth Player of the Year – Women, AFC Futsal Player of the Year, AFC Foreign Player of the Year (Male), AFC Asian International Player of the Year (Male),  AFC Woman Player of the Year, AFC Asian Player of the Year

(Written with inputs from an AFC Press Release)