A3 Champions Cup (also known as East Asian Champions Cup) was an annual football (soccer) tournament jointly organized by the China PR, Japan and Korea Republic football Association. It began in 2003, involving the league champions of China, Japan and South Korea. The host nation also invited an additional team, making this a four team tournament. South Korea was the most successful country in this tournament. Their representatives won the tournament three times.
It had been suggested that the league champion from Australia be added to the cup in the future. However, financial problems with the sponsor placed the tournament into question. It was reported that Japan's champion may not participate in the 2008 edition, since Urawa were not paid their appearance fee in 2007. The tournament was canceled on 23 September 2008 due to the sponsor's bankruptcy.
Past results SeasonVenueChampionsRunners-up3rd4th2003 Tokyo Kashima Antlers † Dalian Shide Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma Júbilo Iwata2004 Shanghai Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma Yokohama F. Marinos Shanghai Shenhua Inter Shanghai †2005 Jeju Suwon Samsung Bluewings Pohang Steelers † Yokohama F. Marinos Shenzhen Kingway2006 Tokyo Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i Gamba Osaka JEF United Chiba † Dalian Shide2007 Jinan Shanghai Shenhua † Shandong Luneng Taishan Urawa Red Diamonds Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
† = did not qualify as league champions.
Records Top Scorer: 2005: Nadson (6 goals)2006: Lee Chun-soo (6 goals)
References
External links A3 Champions Cup (Official site: Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages) Soccer World Info history of the A3 cup