It comes as no surprise to see three members of D.C. United announced as finalists for Major League Soccer’s year-end awards: Dwayne De Rosario is the presumed frontrunner for league MVP, Perry Kitchen is unlikely to catch Sporting Kansas City’s C.J. Sapong for rookie of the year, and Charlie Davies and Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham both have pretty compelling arguments for comeback player of the year. Rookie of the year will be announced on Tuesday, starting a parade of daily celebrations for MLS as it builds up to the L.A./Houston MLS Cup final on Nov. 20 at Home Depot Center:
2011 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists (Listed in alphabetical order by last name within each award category)
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)
Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia Union)
*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, games & 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)
Jamison 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)
Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 15
Kevin Hartman (FC Dallas)
Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)
Faryd Mondragon (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)
Awards Announcements Schedule:
November 8: MLS Rookie of the Year, Xbox Fair Play Individual & Team of the Year
November 9: Defender of the Year, MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year, and Referee/Assistant Referee of the Year
November 10: 2011 MLS Best XI
November 14: MLS Coach of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year
November 15: Goalkeeper of the Year and Newcomer of the Year
November 16: AT&T Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year
November 18: Volkswagen MVP and Commissioner’s Award
