Year in review: May to August

Exclusive interviews, features and coverage of the key moments and matches, join the-AFC.com as we recap May to August, 2020

May

May brought with it some fascinating features from football across the Continent and beyond as we looked at those who had left a mark in the European leagues.

There was also a redemption story from the AFC Champions League's storied past, while some of the best stadiums in Asia were given their time to shine.

Exclusive: Former Adelaide United defender Robbie Cornthwaite recounted the tale of how he went from villain to hero in the 2008 AFC Champions League

Feature: We looked at Asia's foreign-based stars in a series covering the Continent's best footballing exports

Most Popular: Fans voted in their hundreds of thousands for their favourite save in the AFC Champions League. Who won?

June

In June, there was plenty of exclusive content to savour as we heard from a history-making FIFA World Cup coach, two ASEAN stars, looked back at some of the stars from the recent AFC Champions League competitions and Australia being named co-hosts of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.

Exclusive: We joined legendary coach Philippe Troussier on a look back at Japan's historic 2002 FIFA World Cup campaign

Historic: Australia and New Zealand were named co-hosts FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in a landmark decision

Feature: Our "My Asian Home" series continued with Thailand international Tristan Do and his journey swapping France for Southeast Asia

Most Popular: The search for the Best XIs of the previous editions of the AFC Champions League invited fans to put together their best starting line-up

July

In July, the Chinese Super League was set to get underway and we heard one from one of those involved, Liu Dianzuo.

From looking forward, to looking back we spoke to Iraq legend Nashat Akram about the team's fairytale 2007 AFC Asian Cup story, while it was a case of goals, goals, goals as fans chose some of their best from the FIFA World Cup and AFC Cup.

Exclusive: We spoke to Guangzhou Evergrande goalkeeper Liu Dianzuo ahead of the 2020 Chinese Super League season restart. It meant more to him than most, with the tournament taking place in his hometown of Dalian.

Feature: The AFC Cup has boasted some memorable goals and we looked at some of the most impudent efforts in our 5 Of The Best series.

Most Popular: Asia's football fans came together to select the Continent's greatest FIFA World Cup goal. 10 candidates, 1 winner. Who was it?

August

August brought with it the kick-off of The-AFC.com's hugely popular Bracket Challenge to find the best goal from the AFC Asian Cup.

There was also an exclusive chat with Kyrgyz Republic international Aidana Otorbaeva, a different type of football hero; an account of Filipino side Ceres Negros' memorable 2017 AFC Cup campaign and we invited the fans to decide Indonesia's most popular team.

Exclusive: We meet Aidana Otorbaeva, the Kyrgyz Republic international who utilised her standing as a footballer to play a courageous role in the country’s fight against COVID-19.

Feature: Players from Ceres Negros recalled the historic 2017 AFC Cup ASEAN Zone Final when Filipino football rose to the fore

Most Popular: Home to among the most passionate supporters in Asia, it was no surprise that the search for the most popular club in Indonesia proved to be the most engaging of the month.