As the MLS Cup Playoffs continue to roll on, the league has revealed the lists of players, officials, coaches and teams that are up for regular season honors.
MLS revealed the nominees for the league’s awards Tuesday, headlined by the nominations of Benny Feilhaber, Sebastian Giovinco and Kei Kamara for the league’s Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player award.
Feilhaber’s recognition stems from a 10-goal, 15-assists season, with the latter statistic good for second in the league. The Sporting KC playmaker was one of just four players to register double-digit goals and assists.
Giovinco joins Feilhaber on that list, leading the league with both 22 goals and 16 assists. The Italian, who is also a finalist for Newcomer of the Year, is the first player to register more than 20 goals and 10 assists in a single season.
Finally, Kamara, the only MVP candidate still remaining in postseason play, equaled Giovinco’s mark of 22 goals this season, seven of which were game-winners. The Columbus Crew forward has also been nominated for MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year.
Here’s a full list of nominees, as well as the schedule of award announcements:
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)
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)
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)
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)
MLS Fair Play Finalists – Teams*
LA Galaxy
Philadelphia Union
Seattle Sounders FC
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:
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
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What do you think of the nominees? Any surprises? Who do you see winning each award?
Share your thoughts below.
Is Landon responsible for presenting the actual MVP trophy? he should have to give they put his name on it! Pretty silly for a guy 1 year removed from the league.
Giovinco,…MVP and Newcomer. Robles, Pereja, Larin.
Giovinco, Larin, Hedges, Marsch, dont know but not Valeri, Ousted, Giovinco, don’t know, Nagbe (no player is nicer than Darlington)
Giovinco has MVP locked up, right? I know this is MLS, but there’s no way he doesn’t win it, right?
If only Feilhaber was eligible to suit up for the U.S.
Miazga?
Giovinco, Larin, Watson, ?, Marsch, Hamid, Drogba and whatever..