By IVES GALARCEP
As the final match of the 2013 MLS season approaches on Saturday, it is time to look back at the players who enjoyed the best seasons during a 2013 that will go down as a season to remember.
The SBI MLS Best XI has its share of familiar faces, but also has several players who donned new uniforms in 2013. Three MLS veterans made the list after being traded, while two newcomers to the league made Best XI in their first season in the league.
The group has a distinct international feel to it, with eight countries represented in the Best XI. A total of four Americans made the cut, including MLS MVP candidate Mike Magee.
Picking the Best XI is no easy task, and with so many quality players turning in strong years, SBI has put together not only a Best XI, but four more honorable mention squads to show the players who impressed us the most in 2013.
Here is the SBI MLS Best XI (as voted on by SBI staff):
SBI MLS BEST XI
Mike Magee———–Marco DiVaio———Robbie Keane
—————————–Diego Valeri—————————-
————–Will Johnson———-Tim Cahill——————
Chris Klute——————————————-Matt Besler
————-Jamison Olave—-Jose Goncalves—————–
————————–Nick Rimando—————————-
SECOND TEAM
Landon Donovan——Camilo Sanvezzo———Diego Fagundez
—————————–Javier Morales—————————-
—————Kyle Beckerman—-Osvaldo Alonso——————
Drew Moor—————————————Sheanon Williams
—————Aurelien Collin——Pa Modou Kah——————
————————–Donovan Ricketts————————–
THIRD TEAM
Federico Higuain——Thierry Henry————–Dominic Oduro
—————————Graham Zusi———————————
—————–Diego Chara————-Uri Rosell——————–
Seth Sinovic———————————————Kofi Sarkodie
————–Omar Gonzalez———–Nat Borchers—————-
——————————Clint Irwin——————————–
FOURTH TEAM
Eddie Johnson———-Conor Casey————-Darlington Nagbe
—————————-Kelyn Rowe———————————-
——————Juninho————–Ricardo Clark——————
Corey Ashe———————————————–Tony Beltran
————–Bobby Boswell—————Amobi Okugo————-
——————————-Luis Robles——————————
FIFTH TEAM
Rodney Wallace——Chris Wondolowski———-Deshorn Brown
—————–Brad Davis—————Dillon Powers—————
——————————Dax McCarty——————————-
Michael Harrington———————————-DeAndre Yedlin
——————–George John——–Marvell Wynne—————
—————————-Jimmy Nielsen——————————-
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What do you think of our selections? Who do you feel deserved more credit? Who are you surprised to see on the list? What player is missing from all five lists that you feel should have been included?
Share your thoughts below.