Endo snares Asian Player of the Year award

Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo has been named AFC Player of the Year, but it was South Korea's night at the Asian football awards in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

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Yasuhito Endo with his AFC Player of the Year award

South Korea won the National Team of the Year, Asian Champions League winners Pohang Steelers claimed the prize for top club side, national team boss Huh Jung-Moo picked up the Coach of the Year gong while Ki Sung-Yeung was named Youth Player of the Year in a stellar evening for the 2002 World Cup co-hosts.

Japan international Endo beat out strong competition from countryman Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Bahrain's Sayed Mohamed Adnan from Qatari club Al Khor, Iran's Hadi Aghily of Sepahan, and Syria captain Firas Al Khatib of Kuwait club Al Qadsia.

Endo had been a finalist last year but lost out to Uzbekistan's Server Djeparov, prompting Gamba's version of David Beckham to chase success this time around.

"It was my goal to win this year and I got it," he said. "I am honoured to win this award. Last year I was nominated but I did not win. I will continue to strive to play a better football."

The AFC awards favour players plying their trade in Asia, ruling out the likes of Park Ji-Sung of Manchester United and Australia's Premier League stars, including Mark Schwarzer and Tim Cahill.

Syria's General Farouk Bouzo won the AFC Diamond Award for lifetime contributions to football, recognising his refereeing career and further administration work including playing a part in the introduction of the back-pass law.

Japan won the Fair Play Association of the Year in both the Men and Women categories, while North Korea was named Association of the Year (Men) for its work in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in difficult operation conditions. Uzbekistan's Ravshan Irmatov snared the Referee of the Year award for a second year running.

In the Womens game, Mana Iwabuchi was Youth Player of the Year, her Japan U-19 team was National Team of the Year, and Hong Eun Ah of South Korea was Referee of the Year.