NEW YORK — Major League Soccer announced the finalists for its 2011 year-end awards on Monday.
The winners will be announced over the next 10 days during the lead up to the MLS Cup final on Nov. 20, beginning with Rookie of the Year and the Xbox Fair Play Individual & Team of the Year on Tuesday and culminating on Nov. 18 with the Volkswagen MVP and Commissioner’s Award.
FC Dallas players Kevin Hartman and Brek Shea have each been named as 2011 MLS Awards Finalists. Hartman is up for Goalkeeper of the Year along with Seattle’s Kasey Keller and Philadelphia’s Faryd Mondragon. The 2011 Goalkeeper of the Year winner will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Shea is up against Houston’s Brad Davis and D.C. United’s Dwayne De Rosario for the Volkswagen Most Valuable Player award. The winner of the 2011 Volkswagen MVP award will be announced on Friday, Nov. 18.
Hartman cemented his status as a league legend in 2011 as he surpassed the century mark in shutouts and finished with 13 clean sheets on the year and 106 career shutouts. After 15 seasons in MLS, the veteran ‘keeper owns virtually every goalkeeping record in the league including games played, games started, minutes, saves, wins and shutouts.
Shea led FC Dallas to a second consecutive postseason appearance in 2011 with 11 goals and four assists. The young Texas native also began establishing himself with the U.S. Men’s National Team this year, earning six caps and five starts ahead of this month’s pair of international friendlies. Following his time with the USMNT this month, Shea will spend a month training with the EPL’s Arsenal FC as he continues to develop his skills.
The finalists all of the year-end awards were determined by polls of MLS players, general managers, coaches, referees and members of the media.
THE FINALISTS
WATCH: Shea Highlights
Rookie of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 8
- Michael Farfan (Philadelphia Union)
- Perry Kitchen (D.C. United)
- C.J. Sapong (Sporting Kansas City)
Xbox 360 Individual Fair Play Finalists* – Winner to be announced Nov. 8
- Darrius Barnes (New England Revolution)
- Kosuke Kimura (Colorado Rapids)
- Sébastien Le Toux (Philadelphia Union)
Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, games and minutes played, as well as subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
Xbox 360 Team Fair Play Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 8
- Chivas USA
- Philadelphia Union
- Portland Timbers
*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fewest fouls committed, cards received, and on subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
Defender of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 9
- Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake)
- Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
- Jámison Olave (Real Salt Lake)
MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 9
- Zak Boggs (New England Revolution)
- Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo)
- Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Referee of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 9
- Mark Geiger
- Ricardo Salazar
- Kevin Stott
Assistant Referee of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 9
- Sean Hurd
- Corey Rockwell
- Adam Wienckowski
Coach of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 14
- Bruce Arena (LA Galaxy)
- Sigi Schmid (Seattle Sounders FC)
- Peter Vermes (Sporting Kansas City)
Comeback Player of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 14
- David Beckham (LA Galaxy)
- Charlie Davies (D.C. United)
- Dominic Oduro (Chicago Fire)
WATCH: Hartman Highlights
Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists –
Winner to be announced Nov. 15
- Kevin Hartman (FC Dallas)
- Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)
- Faryd Mondragón (Philadelphia Union)
Newcomer of the Year Finalists –
Winner to be announced Nov. 15
- Eric Hassli (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
- Luke Rodgers (New York Red Bulls)
- Mauro Rosales (Seattle Sounders FC)
Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 18
- Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo)
- Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)
- Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
