Uzbekistan's Server Djeparov was Tuesday named Asian Player of the Year while Gamba Osaka was voted Club of the Year and Japan the National Team of the Year at a glittering ceremony in Shanghai. Japan dominated the annual Asian Football Confederation awards, with Gamba's Akira Nishino winning coach of the year and late Japan Football Association president Ken Naganuma handed a lifetime achievement award. The country also won the fair play award while Homare Sawa won the women's Player of the Year at a separate ceremony last week. But it was Uzbek international Djeparov who won the top honor ahead of Japan's Gamba midfielder Yasuhito Endo, considered to be the frontrunner after being voted Most Valuable Player at this year's AFC Champions League. The influential midfielder, who played a key role in Kuruvchi's domestic double and its AFC Champions League campaign this year, said he was honored. “It is so surprising to receive this trophy,” he said. “I want to thank all Uzbeks. They told me to come home with this trophy and I am.” Nishino was named coach of the year for guiding Gamba to the AFC Champions League title, where they beat Adelaide United 5-0 on aggregate in the final and secured a place in the Club World Cup in Japan next month. “It is incredible,” he said. “Thank you to my team, they are wonderful players. “I'll continue to work to contribute to the development of Gamba Osaka, Japanese football and Asian football.” Naganuma was recognized with the special “Diamond of Asia” award for his services to football. Naganuma, who died of pneumonia in June aged 77, was a former coach of the Japanese national team who led them to their only Olympic medal (bronze in Mexico in 1968) and then headed the JFA from 1994-1998. He played a central role in the inauguration of the J-League in 1993 and as honorary president of the JFA was pivotal in bringing the 2002 World Cup to Japan, which co-hosted the event with South Korea. The United Arab Emirate's Ahmed Kalil was named Youth Player of the Year while Uzbekistan's Ravshan Irmatov was referee of the year. Bundesliga beats EPL Germany's Bundesliga has overtaken the English Premier League as Europe's top division for shirt sponsorship revenue, a report said on Tuesday. Total revenue from soccer shirt sponsorship deals in the six biggest European leagues has dropped for only the second time in 10 years but the finance and insurance sector remains the top sponsor despite the global economic crisis. The report by global sports marketing consultancy SPORT+MARKT showed the Bundesliga has generated 102.9 million euros ($132.5 million) from shirt sponsorship this season against the Premier League's 85.5 million euros.
