Al Shabab midfielder Azizbek Haydarov hailed “the best group I have seen in my life” after reflecting on the club’s magnificent 2014/15 campaign.

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The Hawks lost the second of two domestic semi-finals on Saturday when Al Nasr prevailed on penalties in the President’s Cup to wind up their season.

But this does not detract from a exemplary spell, continuing to punch above their weight with victory in the GCC Club Cup and a third-placed Arabian Gulf League finish which puts them into the AFC Champions League qualifiers.

Haydarov, 29, said: “We lost against Al Nasr but we are happy about a good job and good season. We got to the semi-finals of the President’s Cup and Arabian Gulf Cup, got the third position in the Arabian Gulf League and got the GCC Club Cup.”

He added: “We start our preparations for the new season on July 22. Everything we didn’t do this season, we try for next season. “I am very happy with Al Shabab. This is the best group I have seen in my life.”

The club endured near misses under former coach Marcos Paqueta between 2012 and 2014, finishing one place outside the ACL spots in both seasons and defeated 4-3 in the 2012/13 President’s Cup final by Al Ahli.

This has all changed under Caio Junior. Haydarov paid Caio compliments by comparing him to Brazil World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

He said: “I think it has been an amazing job. Before, I worked with Luiz Felipe Scolari and Zico [at Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor].

“But this coach is very good. For me, he is the best. Every time he speaks easily, no shouting. He has very good respect, I like this.”