Wondolowski leads MVP candidates as MLS announces award finalists

11 years ago

Major League Soccer announced the finalists for the 2012 league awards on Thursday and there weren’t many major surprises.

Chris Wondolowski, Graham Zusi and Thierry Henry were selected as finalists for the MVP award, an honor Wondolowski is expected to run away with after tying the MLS record for goals in a season with 27.

Former Louisville teammates Austin Berry and Nick DeLeon, as well as Vancouver Whitecaps striker Darren Mattocks were chosen as finalists for MLS Rookie of the Year.

Here is the full list of finalists:

Rookie of the Year Finalists

Austin Berry (Chicago Fire)

Nick DeLeon (D.C. United)

Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

Xbox Individual Fair Play Finalists*

Ante Jazic (Chivas USA)

Logan Pause (Chicago Fire)

Heath Pearce (New York Red Bulls)

Xbox Team Fair Play Finalists*

Chicago Fire

Houston Dynamo

New England Revolution

Defender of the Year Finalists

Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes)

Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)

Aurelien Collin (Sporting Kansas City)

MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year Finalists

Kei Kamara (Sporting Kansas City)

Michael Lahoud (Philadelphia Union)

Chris Seitz (FC Dallas)

Referee of the Year Finalists

Silviu Petrescu

Baldomero Toledo

Armando Villarreal

Assistant Referee of the Year Finalists

Ian Anderson

Gregory Barkey

Corey Parker

Coach of the Year Finalists

Ben Olsen (D.C. United)

Peter Vermes (Sporting Kansas City)

Frank Yallop (San Jose Earthquakes)

Comeback Player of the Year Finalists

Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes)

Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC)

Chris Pontius (D.C. United)

Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists

Michael Gspurning (Seattle Sounders FC)

Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA)

Jimmy Nielsen (Sporting Kansas City)

Newcomer of the Year Finalists

Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes)

Michael Gspurning (Seattle Sounders FC)

Federico Higuain (Columbus Crew)

Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Finalists

Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)

Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

What do you think of these selections? Which were you most surprised by? What player do you think has the biggest gripe for being left out?

Share your thoughts below.