| It was a surprise for some pundits to see Saudi player Hamad Al Montashari claim the 2005 AFC Player of the Year award, but for others, the award has gone to the player who deserved it. The defender – who stands at 186cm tall – enhanced his growing reputation in 2005 after he helped his club Ittihad Jeddah win the AFC Champions League title for the second year running and also played a big part in his country’s progression to this year’s finals in Germany. During Saudi Arabia’s successful qualifying campaign, Al Montashari became a firm favourite with the press and the public for his defensive skills, backed up with strong running and a ‘never say die’ attitude. His presence on the pitch acts as a form of security for the fans and also an inspiration to his fellow team-mates and his developing skills have attracted the attentions of several of Europe's top clubs.
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