1. Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) 2. Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) 3. Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) 4. Esteghlal (Iran) 5. Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) 6. Pohang Steelers (South Korea) 7. Persepolis (Iran) 8. Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) 9. Al Ain (United Arab Emirates) 10. Maccabi Haifa (Israel) 11. Seongnam (South Korea) 12. Al Sadd (Qatar) 13. Al Nasr (Saudi Arabia) 14. FC Seoul (South Korea) 15. Al Qadisiya (Kuwait) 16. Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia) 17. Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea) 18. Al Muharraq (Bahrain) 19. Al Shabab (Saudi Arabia) 20. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea) 21. Liaoning (China) 22. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) 23. Al Zawra'a (Iraq) 24. Al Arabi (Kuwait) 25. Beijing Guo'an (China) 26. Kashima Antlers (Japan) 27. Tokyo Verdy (Japan) 28. Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan) 29. Shanghai Shenhua (China) 30. Hapoel Petah Tikva (Israel) 31. Pakhtakor Tashkent (Uzbekistan) 32. South China (Hong kong) 33. Al Kuwait (Kuwait) 34. Júbilo Iwata (Japan) 35. Al Quwa Al Jawiya (Iraq) 36. April 25 (North Korea) 37. Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan) 38. Beitar Jerusalem (Israel) 39. Dalian Shide (China) 40. Busan IPark (South Korea) 41. Gamba Osaka (Japan) 42. Maccabi Netanya (Israel) 43. Pas (Iran) 44. Al Faisaly (Jordan) 45. Kashiwa Reysol (Japan) 46. Al Ahli (United Arab Emirates) 47. Sepahan (Iran) 48. Guangzhou Evergrande (China) 49. Cerezo Osaka (Japan) 50. Al Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) 51. JEF United Chiba (Japan) 52. Selangor (Malaysia) 53. Al Wasl (United Arab Emirates) 54. Al Talaba (Iraq) 55. Jeju United (South Korea) 56. Royal Thai Air Force (Thailand) 57. Neftchi Fergana (Uzbekistan) 58. Bangkok Bank (Thailand) 59. East Bengal (India) 60. Al Arabi (Qatar) 61. Al Karamah (Syria) 62. Al Rayyan (Qatar) 63. Shandong Luneng (China) 64. Mohun Bagan (India) 65. Hapoel Haifa (Israel) 66. Al Jaish (Syria) 67. Al Ansar (Lebanon) 68. Al Wahda (United Arab Emirates) 69. Bayi (China) 70. Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan) 71. Hapoel Be'er Sheva (Israel) 72. Al Nasr (United Arab Emirates) 73. Tianjin TEDA (China) 74. Kazma (Kuwait) 75. Zob Ahan (Iran) 76. Al Ittihad (Syria) 77. Al Shorta (Iraq) 78. Thai Farmers Bank (Thailand) 79. Al Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia) 80. Shonan Bellmare (Japan) 81. Bnei Yehuda (Israel) 82. Al Gharafa (Qatar) 83. Persebaya Surabaya (Indonesia) 84. Maccabi Petah Tikva (Israel) 85. Port (Thailand) 86. Persib Bandung (Indonesia) 87. Al Wehdat (Jordan) 88. Al Rasheed (Iraq) 89. Mohammedan (Bangladesh) 90. Al Shabab (United Arab Emirates) 91. Al Salmiya (Kuwait) 92. Irtysh Pavlodar (Kazakhstan) 93. Persija Jakarta (Indonesia) 94. Al Jazira (United Arab Emirates) 95. Nejmeh (Lebanon) 96. Nagoya Grampus (Japan) 97. Riffa (Bahrain) 98. Nasaf (Uzbekistan) 99. Saipa (Iran) 100. Fanja (Oman)
Top 10 Football Leagues (Asia), based on All-Time Performance in All AFC Club Competitions 1. South Korea (K League Classic) 2. Saudi Arabia (Saudi Professional League) 3. Japan (J1 League) 4. Iran (Persian Gulf Pro League) 5. China (Chinese Super League) 6. United Arab Emirates (UAE Arabian Gulf League) 7. Qatar (Qatar Stars League) 8. Thailand (Thai League 1) 9. Uzbekistan (Uzbek League) 10. Iraq (Iraqi Premier League)
Top 100 Football Clubs of All-Time (Asia) 1. Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) 2. Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) 3. Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) 4. Esteghlal (Iran) 5. Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) 6. Persepolis (Iran) 7. Pohang Steelers (South Korea) 8. Al Ain (United Arab Emirates) 9. Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) 10. Al Sadd (Qatar) 11. Maccabi Haifa (Israel) 12. Seongnam (South Korea) 13. Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia) 14. Al Qadisiya (Kuwait) 15. FC Seoul (South Korea) 16. Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia) 17. Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea) 18. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea) 19. Liaoning (China) 20. Kashima Antlers (Japan) 21. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) 22. Al Muharraq (Bahrain) 23. Al Shabab (Saudi Arabia) 24. Beijing Guo'an (China) 25. Shanghai Shenhua (China) 26. Al Zawra'a (Iraq) 27. Pakhtakor Tashkent (Uzbekistan) 28. Al Arabi (Kuwait) 29. Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan) 30. Tokyo Verdy (Japan) 31. Hapoel Petah Tikva (Israel) 32. Al Kuwait (Kuwait) 33. April 25 (North Korea) 34. Al Quwa Al Jawiya (Iraq) 35. South China (Hong kong) 36. Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan) 37. Jْbilo Iwata (Japan) 38. Beitar Jerusalem (Israel) 39. Dalian Shide (China) 40. Guangzhou Evergrande (China) 41. Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 42. Al Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) 43. Busan IPark (South Korea) 44. Maccabi Netanya (Israel) 45. Al Wasl (United Arab Emirates) 46. Gamba Osaka (Japan) 47. Cerezo Osaka (Japan) 48. PAS Tehran (Iran) 49. Kashiwa Reysol (Japan) 50. Al Faisaly (Jordan) 51. Air Force Central (Thailand) 52. Sepahan (Iran) 53. Shandong Luneng (China) 54. Neftchi Fergana (Uzbekistan) 55. Al Arabi (Qatar) 56. JEF United Chiba (Japan) 57. Selangor (Malaysia) 58. Al Rayyan (Qatar) 59. Jeju United (South Korea) 60. Bangkok Bank (Thailand) 61. Al Wahda (United Arab Emirates) 62. Al Talaba (Iraq) 63. East Bengal (India) 64. Al Karamah (Syria) 65. Al Nasr (United Arab Emirates) 66. Hapoel Haifa (Israel) 67. Bayi (China) 68. Al Jaish (Syria) 69. Mohun Bagan (India) 70. Tianjin TEDA (China) 71. Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan) 72. Hapoel Be'er Sheva (Israel) 73. Al Ansar (Lebanon) 74. Zob Ahan (Iran) 75. Kazma (Kuwait) 76. Al Ittihad (Syria) 77. Thai Farmers Bank (Thailand) 78. Al Shorta (Iraq) 79. Al Gharafa (Qatar) 80. Al Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia) 81. Port (Thailand) 82. Al Shabab (United Arab Emirates) 83. Shonan Bellmare (Japan) 84. Al Jazira (United Arab Emirates) 85. Bnei Yehuda (Israel) 86. Persebaya Surabaya (Indonesia) 87. Maccabi Petah Tikva (Israel) 88. Al Wehdat (Jordan) 89. Nasaf (Uzbekistan) 90. Al Salmiya (Kuwait) 91. Persib Bandung (Indonesia) 92. Al Rasheed (Iraq) 93. Mohammedan (Bangladesh) 94. Irtysh Pavlodar (Kazakhstan) 95. Persija Jakarta (Indonesia) 96. Nejmeh (Lebanon) 97. Kawasaki Frontale (Japan) 98. Nagoya Grampus (Japan) 99. Saipa (Iran) 100. Al Duhail (Qatar)
Top 10 Football Leagues of All-Time/AFC Club Competitions (Asia) 1. South Korea (K League 1) 2. Saudi Arabia (Saudi Professional League) 3. Japan (J1 League) 4. Iran (Persian Gulf Pro League) 5. China (Chinese Super League) 6. United Arab Emirates (UAE Pro-League) 7. Qatar (Qatar Stars League) 8. Thailand (Thai League 1) 9. Iraq (Iraqi Premier League) 10. Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan Super League)
Review the countries that had done well in the AFC Champions League. South Korea clearly like two steps above the rest, holds all-time record of trophies, most final/semi-final appearances with remarkable consistency, the best league in Asia.
Esteghlal Tehran should be #1 they had two ACL titles from 1990 and 1969 they have been finalists some 30 years ago, too.
Maccabi Tel Aviv are far more traditionally successful football club in Asia, though they did not compete in a regional Asian football tournaments afterwards. Esteghlal are the second most successful club in Asian Club Championship history also they are ranked second historically in the Persian Gulf Pro League.
Asian Club Championship/AFC Champions League (All-Time) 1. Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) 2. Esteghlal (Iran) 3. Seongnam (South Korea) 4. Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) 5. Al Ain (United Arab Emirates) 6. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) 7. Persepolis (Iran) 8. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea) 9. Pohang Steelers (South Korea) 10. Al Sadd (Qatar) Asian Cup Winners' Cup 1. Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) 2. Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan) 3. Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) 4. Persepolis (Iran) 5. Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia) Israel (Israeli Premier League) 1. Maccabi Tel Aviv 2. Hapoel Tel Aviv 3. Maccabi Haifa 4. Hapoel Petah Tikva 5. Beitar Jerusalem South Korea (K League 1) 1. Pohang Steelers 2. Ulsan Hyundai 3. FC Seoul 4. Suwon Samsung Bluewings 5. Seongnam Saudi Arabia (Saudi Professional League) 1. Al Hilal 2. Al Nassr 3. Al Ittihad 4. Al Ahli 5. Al Shabab Japan (J1 League) 1. Urawa Red Diamonds 2. Kashima Antlers 3. Yokohama F. Marinos 4. Sanfrecce Hiroshima 5. Cerezo Osaka Iran (Persian Gulf Pro League) 1. Persepolis 2. Esteghlal 3. PAS Tehran 1963-2007 4. Sepahan 5. Zob Ahan China (Chinese Super League) 1. Beijing Guo'an 2. Shanghai Shenhua 3. Liaoning 4. Bayi 5. Tianjin TEDA United Arab Emirates (UAE Pro-League) 1. Al Ain 2. Al Wasl 3. Al Sharjah 4. Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 5. Al Nasr Qatar (Qatar Stars League) 1. Al Sadd 2. Al Rayyan 3. Al Arabi 4. Al Gharafa 5. Qatar SC Thailand (Thai League 1) 1. Air Force Central 2. Bangkok Bank 3. Port 4. Buriram United 5. Muangthong United Iraq (Iraqi Premier League) 1. Al Zawra'a 2. Al Quwa Al Jawiya 3. Al Talaba 4. Al Shorta 5. Erbil Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan Super League) 1. Pakhtakor Tashkent 2. Neftchi Fergana 3. Bunyodkor 4. Nasaf 5. Navbahor Namangan
Just one small correction. Pas Tehran was moved by Iranian president to another city to appease his political supporter in 2008 but it is still kicking in lower Iranian leagues under name of Pas Hamedan.