he Asian Football Confederation ( AFC) has recognized the achievements of the Socceroos and coach Ange Postecoglou by awarding them both prestigious honors at the AFC Annual Awards 2015 Ceremony in New Dehli, India last Sunday evening.

Postecoglou accepted the award for Coach of the Year, whilst the Socceroos received the award for National Team of the Year, following their AFC Asian Cup triumph in January, and their current top-place standing in their World Cup qualifying group.

Coach Postecoglou said after receiving the award, ” I am truly honored to accept the award as AFC Coach of the Year for 2015. As an Australian, coaching our national team is a truly humbling experience and to be recognized for what we have achieved in the last 12 months, is a nice recognition.”
He added, ” Australian football is taking significant steps forward and our coaches are a huge part of that. Coaching has played a significant role in the evolution of the way we play football and this award is also a positive reinforcement of the ability of Australian coaches to compete at the highest level.”
As well as paying tribute to the Socceroos and supporting staff, the coach said, ” I’d like to thank my family Georgia, James and Max as they have supported me every step of my soccer journey.”

FFA CEO David Gallop also attended the ceremony and commented afterwards, ” These two awards are a tremendous endorsement of the success of the Socceroos but also the growth of Australia as a football nation. For the Socceroos to claim the award for the AFC National Team of the Year, with an Australian Coach as dedicated and passionate as Ange Postecoglou, shows how far we have come as a nation and the foundations we are laying for the continued growth of Australian Football. We are having success on the International stage with a coach who believes in Australian football and like many of our Socceroos, flourished in the Hyundai A-League.”

Other major awards on the night went to Tottenham’s South Korean winger Son Heung-min, who won International Player of the Year ahead of Socceroo Massimo Luongo. UAE striker Ahmed Khalil won Asian Player of the Year.

Japan scooped seven awards including best National Womens team after finishing runners up in the recent World Cup.
Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande won club of the year after winning their domestic title for the fifth straight year and the Champions League Title.

Source: FFA.com