Photo by Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
By DAN KARELL
DeAndre Yedlin’s precipitous rise in U.S. Soccer has earned him more personal recognition.
After making the U.S. Men’s National Team squad for the 2014 World Cup and impressing in two substitute appearances down in Brazil, in addition to solidifying his place in the Seattle Sounders lineup, Yedlin has been named U.S. Soccer’s Young Male Athlete of the Year.
“It’s an absolute honor to win this award,” Yedlin said in a statement. “I would like to thank my teammates, my family, and most of all the fans for the amazing support for our team. It was a tremendous year for a lot of young players, and we all share the dream of continuing to have the opportunity to represent our country.”
Joining Yedlin with a year-end award is 21-year-old midfielder Morgan Brian, who was named the U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year. Brian, a senior for the Virginia Cavailiers who is set to play in the NCAA College Cup, has made 13 appearances for the U.S. Women’s National Team and is expected to play a role for the U.S. as they head to the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
“The group of players who have won this award have gone on to do some great things and to be listed among them is a true honor and very humbling,” Brian said in a statement. “The last two years playing with the National Team have been amazing. I’ve been fortunate to have so many talented people around me and I’ve learned so much from all of my teammates and coaches.”
In addition, U.S. Soccer named Gavin Sibayan the 2014 Disabled Athlete of the Year. Sibayan, a retired U.S. Army staff sergeant, helped lead the U.S. Paralympic National Team to a bronze medal at the 2014 Americas Cup in Canada. Sibayan also led the U.S. to an unbeaten run in a seven-a-side tournament in Barcelona.
“I’m honored,” Sibayan said in a statement. “I have a lot of pride for the U.S. and it’s a big honor to just play on the team. The group we have assembled is a great bunch of guys. We’re getting better and making some great progress on our team right now.”
Yedlin beat out Mukwelle Akale, Emerson Hyndman, and U.S. U-17 stars Christian Pulisic and Haji Wright. Brian beat out Rose Lavelle, Samantha Mewis, Mallory Pugh, and Katelyn Roweland.
USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard was named the U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year, and the U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year will be announced on Saturday.
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What do you think of this news? Do you agree with the selections? Who would you have had as young player of the year?
Share your thoughts below.
Yedlin’s skyrocketing career is in large part due to his performance at the World Cup… which is due to JKs controversial decision to include him in the team… which we all called a colossally stupid decision.
No, the colossally stupid decision was leaving Donovan at home
seaoctopus,
What makes you say that?
-Donovan’s form before and after the WC.
-The lack of legitimate attacking options the squad had in Brazil
-Brad Davis
LD’s form for the Galaxy AFTER the World Cup is irrelevant. It’s too late then.
LD’s form for the USMNT before the World Cup was lackadasical to tentative.
I did not attend the camp but according to LD himself Wondo was outstanding there which brings me to the Brad Davis point. Wondo took LD’s spot in the 23 not Davis.
Even LD’s fans did not see him as a starter in Brazil rather as a offensive sub. You could argue that Yedln who provided a lot of attacking down the wing as a sub and Brooks and Green, who both scored vital goals late as subs, took over that role.
I wanted LD in Brazil but there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Oh, where in the world is Carmen Juan Agudelo?
‘Training.’
If you are going to show a picture of only one of the recipients could you show the one that is actually pleasing to the eye.
You are making the assumption that only straight males frequent this site.
Regardless of your orientation it is a weird, unflattering picture. DeAndre looks compressed or squashed down.
Good for DeAndre. A really exceptional year for him. I’d never really noticed how good he was until the u-20 WC in the previous summer, and it was remarkable to see how well he did in the year plus that followed. I hope he can keep his head in check and continue working hard during his European travels. I hope he isn’t too surprised if he never actually pulls on a Spurs shirt at all, and is instead sent right back out the door to Roma… but that is another story.