Best of MLS to be crowned as 2017 End of Year Award Finalists are revealed
FRISCO – Major League Soccer today announced the finalists for the 2017 End of Year Awards, honoring the league’s top performers during the 2017 MLS regular season.
Among the finalists for MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, presented by AdvoCare, is FC Dallas’ Ryan Hollingshead. The Chicago Fire’s Matt Lampson and New York Red Bulls’ Luis Robles are also finalists for the award, which is set to be announced this Thursday, November 2.
Hollingshead, 26, risked not just his career but his life to save a stranger on January 7, 2017. En route to help a friend during an icy, DFW winter weather event the midfielder stopped to render aid to vehicles involved in a separate incident. This accident had left the passenger stranded in the fast lane at dusk without headlights. While assisting the motorist, Hollingshead was struck by an automobile and thrown 30 feet down the highway, breaking three vertebrae in his neck. Amazingly, he sustained no spinal cord damage and no surgery was required, though he had to wear a neck brace for several weeks.
Hollingshead returned to the field four-months later, in a 1-1 draw against New York City FC on May 14. Just one more example of Hollingshead’s selflessness Hollingshead previously decided to forego his first season as a professional soccer player to establish a church in his hometown of Sacramento, California in 2013.
The finalists for each award are listed in alphabetical order below, as well as the announcement schedule for the winner of each.
The finalists earned the most votes in polling of three voting groups:
• Current MLS players
• MLS Clubs (Coaches, Technical Directors/General Managers)
• Media members who consistently covered the 2017 MLS Regular Season
The AT&T Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year will be decided by online voting at www.MLSsoccer.com or the free MLS app from now through November 14.
2017 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists
Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United)
Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC)
Nemanja Nikolić (Chicago Fire)
Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)
David Villa (New York City FC)
Defender of the Year Finalists
Justin Morrow (Toronto FC)
Ike Opara (Sporting Kansas City)
Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)
Stefan Frei (Seattle Sounders FC)
Tim Melia (Sporting Kansas City)
Newcomer of the Year Finalists (“Newcomer” is defined as a player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2017)
Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United)
Josef Martínez (Atlanta United)
Nemanja Nikolić (Chicago Fire)
AT&T Rookie of the Year Finalists (“Rookie” is defined as a player without previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2017)
Abu Danladi (Minnesota United FC)
Jack Elliott (Philadelphia Union)
Julian Gressel (Atlanta United)
Coach of the Year Finalists
Gerardo "Tata" Martino (Atlanta United)
Veljko Paunović (Chicago Fire)
Greg Vanney (Toronto FC)
Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC)
Federico Higuaín (Columbus Crew SC)
Erick Torres (Houston Dynamo)
MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, presented by AdvoCare, Finalists
Ryan Hollingshead (FC Dallas)
Matt Lampson (Chicago Fire)
Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
MLS Fair Play Finalists – Individual
DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo)
Jahmir Hyka (San Jose Earthquakes)
Dave Romney (LA Galaxy)
MLS Fair Play Finalists – Team
Chicago Fire
Seattle Sounders FC
Toronto FC
Referee of the Year Finalists
Allen Chapman
Ismail Elfath
Mark Geiger
Assistant Referee of the Year Finalists
Jeremy Hanson
Corey Parker
Adam Wienckowski
Awards Announcement Schedule:
November 2: MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, presented by AdvoCare
November 7: MLS Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year; Fair Play Award – Individual and Team
November 8: AT&T Rookie of the Year
November 9: MLS Defender of the Year
November 14: AT&T Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year
November 15: MLS Comeback Player of the Year
November 16: Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year
November 20: Newcomer of the Year
November 27: MLS Coach of the Year
November 28: MLS Best XI
December 4: Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player
