When legends return: Igor Shkvyrin of Uzbekistan

Asia has had no shortage of these storylines, with a range of pioneering football exports and national team icons going back to where it all started to cap off their careers.

The-AFC.com looks at local heroes who returned, and thrived, after years abroad. One of them is Igor Shkvyrin of Uzbekistan

Igor Shkvyrin – Uzbekistan
Departure: Pakhtakor to Spartak Vladikavkaz, January 1992
Return: Maccabi Jaffa to Pakhtakor, January 1998

A true journeyman, former Uzbekistan striker Igor Shkvirin enjoyed a career which included spells in Russia, Ukraine, Malaysia, Israel and India, but it was his 1998 return to his homeland which earns him a place on this list.

At the age of 35, and six years after leaving the club for Russia, Shkvirin returned for a third spell at Pakhtakor and showed precisely why had been so sought after, bagging 22 goals in just 14 matches to help guide the club to the 1998 title.

The 1994 Asian Games gold medallist moved to India at the end of the season, and would eventually rack up five separate stints for Pakhtakor before finally hanging up his boots at the age of 38 in 2001.