ADELAIDE UNITED (Australia) - ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RUNNERS-UP

Manager: Aurelio Vidmar

Star player: Travis Dodd

A versatile attacking player who can be deployed as a striker, attacking midfielder or winger, Dodd took over the skipper's armband during the group stage of the Asian Champions League and played a key role in Adelaide's run to the final, driving his team forward with his strong runs down the right flank and chipping in with three goals.

Did you know?

Formed in 2003 following the demise of Adelaide City Force, Adelaide United competed in the final season of Australia's National Soccer League before becoming one of the eight original members of the A-League two years later.

Adelaide are the third Australian side after South Melbourne in 2000 and Sydney FC in 2005 to play in the FIFA Club World Cup.

AL AHLY (Egypt) - AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS

Manager: Manuel Jose

Star player: Mohamed Barakat

The 32-year-old playmaker has been a huge hit since joining Al Ahly in 2004, helping the Cairo giants to four consecutive Egyptian league titles, two Egypt Cups and three CAF Champions League in four seasons. Barakat is an excellent box-to-box midfielder with the ability to unlock opposition defences with his strong surging runs. He has formed a strong understanding in midfield at both club and international level with Mohamed Aboutrika.

Did you know?

Formed in 1907, the Cairo-based outfit are Africa's most successful club, winning 33 domestic championships and claiming the CAF Champions League and its forerunner, the African Champions' Cup a record six times. They captured the title for the third time in four years with a 4-2 aggregate win over Cameroon's Coton Sport last month.

GAMBA OSAKA (Japan) - ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS

Manager: Akira Nishino

Star player: Yasuhito Endo

The mercurial Japan midfielder was in sparkling form during Gamba Osaka's run to the Asian Champions League title, scoring important goals and setting up several more with his smart running, incisive passing and pin-point delivery in dead-ball situations.

Did you know?

Originally formed in 1980 as the company club of Matsushita Electric, the club was renamed Gamba Osaka when they became one of the 10 founder member of the J.League in 1992 and are one of only six teams to have played in the top flight in every season since its inception. Gamba claimed their first, and so far only, J.League title in dramatic fashion in 2005 when Cerezo Osaka, on the verge of clinching the championship, conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in their final match of the season to gift the title to their city rivals.

LDU QUITO (Ecuador) - SOUTH AMERICAN LIBERTADORES CUP WINNERS

Manager: Edgardo Bauza

Star player: Jose Cevallos

Veteran Ecuador goalkeeper Cevallos spent much of his career with LDU's arch-rivals Barcelona, winning three league titles with the Guayaquil side, before moving to Quito earlier this year. An excellent shot stopper, the 37-year-old excels in penalty shoot-outs and endeared himself to the LDU faithful by saving three of Fluminense's four spot-kicks in the Copa Libertadores final.

Did you know?

Formed in 1930, Liga Deportiva Universitaria Quito are one of Ecuador's biggest clubs with nine league titles but made history this year when they became the first team from their country to win the Copa Libertadores.

MANCHESTER UNITED (England) - EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson

Star player: Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese superstar has enjoyed a stellar year at Old Trafford, netting 42 goals in all competitions, helping his club to claim both the English and European titles and scooping a host of awards including the European Golden Boot and Ballon d'Or in the process.

Did you know?

United claimed the Intercontinental Cup with a 1-0 victory over Palmeiras in Tokyo in 1999, a month before their appearance in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in Brazil, where they bowed out during the group stage.

PACHUCA (Mexico) - CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS

Manager: Enrique Meza

Star player: Miguel Calero

Former Colombia goalkeeper Calero has played a key role in Pachuca's success since joining them from Atletico Nacional in 2000, making over 300 appearances for the Mexican club and helping them to four domestic titles, three CONCACAF Champions League crowns and the 2006 Copa Sudamericana.

Did you know?

Formed in 1901, Pachuca have become a force in Mexican football in the past decade with five national championships as well as three CONCACAF Champions League titles. They also made history by becoming the first non-South American side to win the Copa Sudamericana in 2006, beating Chile'sColo Colo in the final.

WAITAKERE UNITED (New Zealand) - OCEANIA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS

Manager: Chris Milicich

Star player: Danny Hay

After a professional career which included spells in England with Leeds and Walsall and A-League sides New Zealand Knights and Perth Glory, former New Zealand skipper Hay decided to quit international football in 2007 to focus on his career as a teacher in Auckland. The lanky central defender has continued to turn out as captain of Waitakere United in the New Zealand Football Championship and was inspirational in their victory over Kossa FC in the OFC Champions League final, playing for over an hour in the second leg despite an ankle injury.

Did you know?

Formed only in 2004, Waitakere United have firmly established themselves as one of New Zealand's top clubs, clinching this year's New Zealand Football Championship and back-to-back OFC Champions League crowns in their brief existence.