MLS Announce Year-End Awards Finalists
The 2016 MLS year-end awards finalists have been announced with winners scheduled to be named in the coming weeks. Finalists were decided by voting from current MLS players, MLS club staff and media members.
MLS Soccer News: Major League Soccer has announced the finalists for the 2016 year-end awards, honoring the league’s top performers during the course of the 2016 MLS regular season.
The finalists earned the most votes in polling of three voting groups: current MLS players, MLS club staff (including coaches, technical directors, chief business officers and PR directors) and media members who consistently provided coverage of the 2016 regular season. The AT&T Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year will be decided by voting here from now through November 11th.
The finalists for each award are listed below, as well as the announcement schedule for the winner of each (schedule subject to change).
Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists – December 6
- Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls)
- David Villa (New York City FC)
- Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)
Kljestan recorded 6 goals and 20 assists during the regular season, while teammate Wright-Phillips finished with 24 goals and 5 assists. The duo led the Red Bulls to a first place finish in the Eastern Conference.
In his second MLS season, Villa recorded 23 goals and 4 assists. NYCFC finished in second place as both New York clubs have now been eliminated from the MLS Playoffs.
Defender of the Year Finalists – November 11
- Matt Hedges (FC Dallas)
- Axel Sjoberg (Colorado Rapids)
- Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)
Hedges concluded another stellar season anchoring the back line of FC Dallas that averaged less than a goal against per game when he was in the lineup (2.25 GAA when he is not). Sjoberg led a strong Colorado backline that recorded 13 clean sheets during the regular season – the most by any team.
Van Damme led a Galaxy defense that allowed just 39 goals on the season. L.A. was tied for the third-fewest in the MLS, which helped give the Galaxy the league’s second-best goal differential with +15.
Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists – November 17
- Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)
- Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)
- Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
Blake recorded 99 saves and led his side to its first playoff appearance since 2011. Following Howard’s return to the MLS, the U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper led the Colorado Rapids with 13 clean sheets and their first playoff berth since 2013.
Robles was one of two goalkeepers, and three players overall, to start and play every minute this year. Robles led the league in wins (16) and shutouts (11).
Newcomer of the Year Finalists – November 21
- Ola Kamara (Columbus Crew SC)
- Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC)
- Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)
*For this award, “newcomer” is defined as a player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2016
AT&T Rookie of the Year Finalists – November 10
- Jack Harrison (New York City FC)
- Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC)
- Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union)
*For this award, “rookie” is defined as a player without previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2016
Coach of the Year Finalists – November 29
- Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)
- Oscar Pareja (FC Dallas)
- Patrick Vieira (New York City FC)
Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
- Frank Lampard (New York City FC)
- Kevin Molino (Orlando City SC)
- Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union)
*Honors an MLS player who has overcome injuries and/or adversity in order to achieve success during the 2016 regular season
MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, presented by Advocare, Finalists – November 3
- Matt Lampson (Chicago Fire)
- Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
- Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
MLS Fair Play Finalists (Individual) – November 4
- Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC)
- Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union)
- Chris Tierney (New England Revolution)
*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, games and minutes played, as well as subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
MLS Fair Play Finalists (Team) – November 4
*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fewest fouls committed, cards received, and on subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
- Columbus Crew SC
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Toronto FC
Referee of the Year Finalists – November 4
- Alan Kelly
- Jair Marrufo
- Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referee of the Year Finalists – November 4
- Frank Anderson
- Ian Anderson
- Eric Boria
Photo Credit: Rudy Calderon/MLSsoccer.com
