San Jose Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop helped turn the Earthquakes from pretenders to Supporters Shield winners in one season and he was rewarded for that achievement on Tuesday when he was named MLS Coach of the Year.
Yallop was the runaway winner, beating out the field by a wide margin. Sporting KC’s Peter Vermes and D.C. United’s Ben Olsen finished second and third respectively.
Seattle forward Eddie Johnson enjoyed an outstanding return to MLS in 2012, and his efforts helped earn him the 2012 MLS Comeback Player of the Year award. He edged out Chris Pontius for the honor, with Alan Gordon finishing third.
A quick thought- Johnson didn’t play in MLS last year, and didn’t overcome a major injury or illness, so his selection as Comeback Player is an odd one. Based on criteria, Pontius deserves it after overcoming a nasty leg break late in 2011 and playing his way onto the MLS Best XI in 2012.
Ultimately though, the Comeback Player Award remains a convoluted award that seems to always go to a candidate who just seems like a bit of an odd choice. As I have lobbied for a while now, MLS needs to drop the award and give an MLS Most Improved Player Award.
What do you think of these selections? Who would you have voted for?
Share your thoughts below.