TEHRAN - Marziyeh Jafari made history as the first Iranian to win the AFC Women’s Coach of the Year award, while fellow countryman Salar Aghapour claimed the continent’s top futsal honor at the 2025 AFC Awards ceremony in Riyadh.
The 29th edition of the AFC Annual Awards took place on Thursday, celebrating Asia’s finest players, coaches, and teams across all levels of the game.
Jafari was honored for her achievements with Bam Khatoon Women’s FC and the Iran women’s national team, which qualified for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 under her guidance.
Bam Khatoon, based in Kerman, is the most successful women’s football club in Iran and the country’s first-ever participant in the AFC Women’s Club Championship. Under Jafari, the club has dominated the domestic league and contributed many players to the national squad.
Iran’s women’s team, which earned its second-ever Asian Cup qualification earlier this year after defeating Jordan, continues to gain ground in continental competitions.
In the men’s futsal category, Salar Aghapour was named AFC Futsal Player of the Year, becoming the seventh Iranian to claim the award.
The 25-year-old forward shone at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024, scoring six goals and providing three assists in four matches. Iran, a 13-time Asian champion, advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament before exiting against Morocco.
In a video message after receiving his award, Aghapour said, “I hope I could bring a moment of joy to your hearts. I received this on behalf of all my teammates and the coaching staff.”