For a region brimming with age-old rivalries between geographical neighbours, it almost seems a given that a club competition would thrive in Southeast Asia.
Yet, for the last 20 years, that has failed to materialise for a variety of reasons.
But all that will change starting this week when the ASEAN Club Championship -- officially known as the Shopee Cup due to sponsorship reasons -- kicks off on Wednesday.
Wondering what there is to look forward to? Here is all you need to know.
Is this the first time such a tournament is being held?
Not exactly. The inaugural ASEAN Club Championship -- organised by the ASEAN Football Federation -- was held in 2003 as was originally planned as a biennial competition.
A second edition took place in 2005 before the tournament was indefinitely removed from the Southeast Asian football calendar.
Why was the tournament cancelled originally?
Several factors were in play but, primarily, this was a time when was still a lack of synergy in the schedules of the various domestic leagues -- as well as within the larger footballing ecosystem in Asia.
The Asian Football Confederation's club competitions remains the highest-level tournaments in the continent, and there were conflicting calendars.
This was also a time when several nations were revamping their own leagues and focus was on finding stable footing domestically, rather than commit to additional competition.
One example came in 2005 when Indonesia opted against sending representatives while developing nations such as Philippines and Laos also pulled out presumably due to financial reasons.
A failure to gain traction -- and a subsequent inability to attract a viable number of sponsors -- led to the tournament's demise.
Who has won the ASEAN Club Championship previously?
While the competition is meant to be contested by clubs from Southeast Asia, it was an invited team who were the inaugural champions as India's East Bengal claimed the title in 2003 on the back of an inspired nine-goal haul from national hero Baichung Bhutia.
Although they finished second in their group, East Bengal would account for Indonesian duo Persita Tangerang and the now-defunct Petrokimia Putra come the knockout round before exacting revenge on BEC Tero Sasana (now Police Tero) in a rematch in the final.
Two years later, Singapore's BG Tampines Rovers -- during one of the club's more successful eras -- claimed the crown after coming from behind to record a thrilling 4-2 win over Sri Pahang in the final.
Why is the ASEAN Club Championship returning -- and only now?
Plans for the return of an ASEAN club competition were mooted as early as 2012 but, originally, the concept was a breakaway tournament -- the ASEAN Super League -- that did not receive unanimous support in fear it would have a negative impact on domestic leagues that were already faring well.
But in 2019, after receiving endorsement from both the AFC and FIFA, it was announced that the ASEAN Club Championship would return in 2020.
Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic meant that tournament had to be put on hiatus before it was ultimately given the green light to go ahead this year.
What will the schedule be like?
As with continental club football, the ASEAN Club Championship will take place in midweek with weekends usually reserved for domestic games.
With many leagues in the region now shifting to an August-to-May season, the ASEAN Club Championship will likewise take place across two calendar years.
Two match days of the group stage will be played in 2024 before competition resumes next year.
Only the top two from each group advance to the semifinals, before play culminates in a two-legged final to be held next May.
Will every nation be represented?
Almost every Southeast Asian nation will compete in some shape or form although the current format saw four lower-ranked AFF member associations vie for one spot in the qualifying playoffs -- which saw Young Elephants (Laos) and Kasuka (Brunei Darussalam) eliminated.
Timor-Leste opted not to enter, as was the case with Australia -- who have been part of the AFF since 2013 after becoming a member of the AFC in 2006.
While the idea is each nation to be represented by their top teams, some clubs like Malaysia Super League giants Johor Darul Ta'zim, current Singapore Premier League champions Albirex Niigata (S) and Liga 1 runners-up Persija Jakarta either declined to participated or were ineligible.
The 2024-25 ASEAN Club Championship will thus feature PSM Makassar and Borneo Samarinda (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur City and Terengganu (Malaysia), Buriram United and BG Pathum United (Thailand), Cong An Ha Noi and Dong A Thanh Hoa (Vietnam), Lion City Sailors (Singapore), Kaya FC-Iloilo (Philippines), Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng (Cambodia) and Shan United (Myanmar).
Can the tournament succeed where it previously failed?
Football in Southeast Asia has evolved drastically since 2005.
Domestic competitions are now stable, with some even thriving, and nations such as Thailand and Malaysia have also achieved impressive results on the bigger stage that is the AFC Champions League.
The constant buzz generated when the international ASEAN Championship comes around every two years also suggests that there is an appetite for further regional rivalries -- although only time will tell if this can be replicated at club level.
Most importantly is the fact that the ASEAN Club Championship has managed to fit seamlessly into the calendar, without clashing with either the domestic or AFC competitions.
For teams like Buriram, Lion City Sailors and Kaya who will be competing in the also newly-revamped AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League Two, it will be intriguing to see how they juggle multiple competitions involving travel -- especially at a time when there is increased attention on the increasing workload of footballers.
If the new season of the ASEAN Club Championship proves it can be complementary -- and not conflicting -- subsequently gaining the buy-in of teams such as JDT will only help the long-term sustainability of the competition.
In any case, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic -- and be excited -- about the international club competition in Southeast Asia.