FRISCO, Texas (Tuesday, Nov. 3) – Major League Soccer today announced the finalists for its 2015 awards, which recognizes the top players, coaches and officials during the 2015 MLS Regular Season.
Oscar Pareja was named a finalist for Coach of the Year and FC Dallas captain Matt Hedges earned a nomination for Defender of the Year. FC Dallas earned a club-record, 60 points this season, tying the New York Red Bulls with 18 wins. The team’s defense tied another franchise record, equaling the 2011 team that recorded 13 shutouts. It also tied with Portland and Vancouver for the most in MLS this season.
The finalists earned the most votes in polling of three voting groups:
• Current MLS players
• MLS Clubs (Coaches, Technical Directors, Chief Business Officers and PR Directors)
• Media members who consistently covered the 2015 MLS Regular Season
All eight teams competing in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinals have at least one finalist. The head coaches of the top three teams in the overall standings – Jesse Marsch (New York Red Bulls), Oscar Pareja (FC Dallas) and Carl Robinson (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), respectively – are finalists for the MLS Coach of the Year award.
2015 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists
Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
- Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City)
- Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC)
- Kei Kamara (Columbus Crew SC)
AT&T Rookie of the Year Finalists
- Fatai Alashe (San Jose Earthquakes)
- Cyle Larin (Orlando City SC)
- Matt Polster (Chicago Fire)
Best player without previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2015.
Defender of the Year Finalists
- Laurent Ciman (Montreal Impact)
- Matt Hedges (FC Dallas)
- Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Coach of the Year Finalists
- Jesse Marsch (New York Red Bulls)
- Oscar Pareja (FC Dallas)
- Carl Robinson (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
- Tim Melia (Sporting Kansas City)
- Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)
- Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)
Honors a player who has overcome injuries and/or adversity in order to achieve success during the 2015 regular season.
Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
- Bill Hamid (D.C. United)
- David Ousted (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
- Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
Newcomer of the Year Finalists
- Didier Drogba (Montreal Impact)
- Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC)
- Mike Grella (New York Red Bulls)
Best player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2015.
MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, presented by Advocare, Finalists
- Jeb Brovsky (New York City FC)
- Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC)
- Kei Kamara (Columbus Crew SC)
MLS Fair Play Finalists – Individuals
- Nat Borchers (Portland Timbers)
- Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers)
- Marvell Wynne (San Jose Earthquakes)
Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, games & minutes played, as well as subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
MLS Fair Play Finalists - Teams
- LA Galaxy
- Philadelphia Union
- Seattle Sounders FC
*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fewest fouls committed, cards received, and on subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
Referee of the Year Finalists
- Alan Kelly
- Jair Marrufo
- Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referee of the Year Finalists
- George Gansner
- Peter Manikowski
- Corey Parker
Awards Announcements Schedule: (Schedule subject to change)
- November 5: MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, presented by Advocare
- November 6: MLS Referee/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
- November 18: MLS Comeback Player of the Year
- November 19: Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year
- November 23: Newcomer of the Year
- November 24: MLS Coach of the Year
- November 29: MLS Best XI
- December 2: Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player
- December 3: AT&T Goal of the Year, MLS Save of the Year