For the second straight season, Oscar Pareja and Matt Hedges are finalists for MLS End of Year Awards.
Pareja, fresh off back-to-back 60-point seasons, is one of three finalists up for MLS Coach of the Year along with Pablo Mastoeni (Colorado) and Patrick Vieira (NYCFC). In three full seasons as Dallas' head man, Pareja has amassed the most wins and most points of any coach over the last three years, leading FCD to the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the 2016 Supporters' Shield. He has the highest winning percentage of any coach in club history and was the first coach in the modern MLS era to hit 50 wins in his first 100 games with a club.
Hedges, 26, is up for MLS Defender of the Year after another stellar season anchoring the back line. FC Dallas averages less than a goal against per game when he's in the lineup (2.25 GAA when he is not). In each of his first five MLS seasons, Hedges has started at least 25 games and FCD has lost in just four of his 26 starts. He is up for the award against Axel Sjoberg (Colorado) and Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy).
The finalists in each category recieve the highest votes amongst three voting groups: current MLS players, MLS clubs (Coaches, Technical Directors, Chief Business Officers and PR Directors) and media members who consistently covered the 2016 MLS Regular Season.
Defender of the Year will be announced on Friday, Nov. 11 and Coach of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
2016 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists
Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
- Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls)
- David Villa (New York City FC)
- Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)
Defender of the Year Finalists
- Matt Hedges (FC Dallas)
- Axel Sjoberg (Colorado Rapids)
- Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)
Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
- Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)
- Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)
- Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
Newcomer of the Year Finalists
For this award, “newcomer” is defined as a player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2016
- Ola Kamara (Columbus Crew SC)
- Nico Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC)
- Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)
AT&T Rookie of the Year Finalists
For this award, “rookie” is defined as a player without previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2016
- Jack Harrison (New York City FC)
- Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC)
- Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union)
Coach of the Year Finalists
- Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)
- Oscar Pareja (FC Dallas)
- Patrick Vieira (New York City FC)
Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Honors an MLS player who has overcome injuries and/or adversity in order to achieve success during the 2016 regular season
- Frank Lampard (New York City FC)
- Kevin Molino (Orlando City SC)
- Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union)
MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, presented by Advocare, Finalists
- Matt Lampson (Chicago Fire)
- Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
- Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
MLS Fair Play Finalists – Individual
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.
- Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC)
- Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union)
- Chris Tierney (New England Revolution)
MLS Fair Play Finalists - Team
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
- Alan Kelly
- Jair Marrufo
- Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referee of the Year Finalists
- Frank Anderson
- Ian Anderson
- Eric Boria
Awards Announcements Schedule:
Schedule subject to change
November 3: MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, presented by Advocare
November 4: MLS Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year; Fair Play Award – Individual and Team
November 10: AT&T Rookie of the Year
November 11: MLS Defender of the Year; AT&T Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year
November 16: MLS Comeback Player of the Year
November 17: Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year
November 21: Newcomer of the Year
November 29: MLS Coach of the Year
December 6: Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player
TBD: MLS Best XI