Okazaki Named Asian International Footballer Of 2016

- Shinji Okazaki named Asian Football Confederation Asian International Footballer of the Year

- The Leicester City striker helped the Club win the 2015/16 Premier League title with five goals

- Okazaki is the third all-time top goal-scorer in Japan's history with 49 goals for his country

- The Foxes man beat Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min to the prestigious 2016 prize

The Japan forward was an invaluable member of Claudio Ranieri’s squad, scoring five goals on his debut season at King Power Stadium, as the Foxes lifted the Premier League title at the end of the 2015/16 campaign. 

Okazaki, who joined the Club from Bundesliga outfit Mainz in June 2015, beat Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min, the 2015 winner of the prize, while Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa finished third in the standings. 

The third all-time top goal-scorer in Japan's history, the 30-year-old has also been pivotal for his country as edge ever-closer to securing qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. 

Okazaki was presented with the award by Asian Football Confederation technical director Andy Roxburgh at King Power Stadium before the brilliant Premier League victory over Manchester City on 10 December, 2016.

“It’s a huge honour to collect this award from the Asian Football Confederation,” the City forward said upon receiving the award, previously won by Aston Villa's Mile Jedinak and Inter Milan midfielder Yuto Nagatomo.

“There are some really talented players to have come from Asia who are playing their football for some of the world’s biggest teams, so I’m thrilled to be given this. 

“I know that Shinji Kagawa and Yuto Nagatomo have won this award in the past so I’m really happy and I hope I can continue to achieve things with Leicester City and Japan in 2017.”