Server Djeparov wins AFC Player of the Year

Uzbekistan midfielder Server Djeparov has won the Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year award for the second time.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter attended Wednesday's award ceremony in which Djeparov edged out Hadi Aghily of Iran, South Korea's Koo Ja-cheol and Yeom Ki-hun and Japan's Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa.

The 29-year-old Djeparov helped Uzbekistan reach the semi-finals of the 2011 Asian Cup in the team's best ever finish.

Djeparov, who also won the AFC award in 2008, joined Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab in July after playing well for FC Seoul in the Asian Champions League.

Other winners included Japan's Aya Miyama for Women's Player and Qatar's Al Sadd for Club of the Year.