MLS releases 2015 award finalists and schedule
On Tuesday, Major League Soccer announced the finalists for the 2015 awards. The finalists are selected by current MLS players, coaches and club representatives, and members of the media. Benny Feilhaber, Sebastian Giovinco, and Kei Kamara are up for league MVP. Giovinco is also a finalist for Newcomer of the Year.
2015 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists
(Listed in alphabetical order by last name within each award category)
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)
*Best player without previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2015.
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)
*Honors a player who has overcome injuries and/or adversity in order to achieve success during the 2015 regular season.
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)
*Best player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2015.
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)
*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, games & minutes played, as well as subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
MLS Fair Play Finalists – Teams*
LA Galaxy
Philadelphia Union
Seattle Sounders FC
*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fewest fouls committed, cards received, and on subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
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
Schedule subject to change
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
December 2: Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player
December 3: AT&T Goal of the Year, MLS Save of the Year
