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Four NYCFC Finalists for 2016 MLS Awards

Villa up for MVP

David Villa, Patrick Vieira, Jack Harrison and Frank Lampard have all been shortlisted for End of Year MLS Awards.


Villa is up for MVP, Vieira is in the frame for Coach of the Year, Harrison is in the running for Rookie of the Year and Lampard will be considered for Comeback Player of the Year.


No-one in MLS has more than NYCFC’s four nominations across all of the categories.


Each of our men are in three-person shortlists after they earned the most votes in polling of current MLS players, clubs and members of the media.


Villa is up alongside Red Bulls duo Sacha Kljestan and Bradley Wright-Phillips for the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player after he scored 23 goals in Regular Season play.


NYCFC Head Coach Vieira earned his nomination in his very first year in the league after leading his team to second place in the Eastern Conference and into the MLS Playoffs for the first time in Club history.


He will be considered alongside FC Dallas boss Oscar Pareja and Colorado Rapids manager Pablo Mastroeni.


Rookie of the Year, the award given to the best MLS debutant without professional experience in 2016, will be between Harrison, Jordan Morris of Seattle Sounders and Philadelphia Union’s Keegan Rosenberry.


Finally, the Comeback Player of the Year award recognizes the player who has overcome injuries and/or adversity to achieve success this season.


Lampard, who endured an injury-hit 2015, is in this category following his 12 goals in 19 appearances this campaign, taking on Kevin Molino of Orlando City SC and Chris Pontius of Philadelphia Union.

Four NYCFC Finalists for 2016 MLS Awards -

2016 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists


(Listed in alphabetical order by last name within each award category)


Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists

Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls)


David Villa (New York City FC)


Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)


Defender of the Year Finalists

Matt Hedges (FC Dallas)


Axel Sjoberg (Colorado Rapids)


Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)


Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists

Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)


Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)


Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)


Newcomer of the Year Finalists

For this award, “newcomer” is defined as a player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2016


Ola Kamara (Columbus Crew SC)


Nico Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC)


Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)


AT&T Rookie of the Year Finalists

For this award, “rookie” is defined as a player without previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2016


Jack Harrison (New York City FC)


Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC)


Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union)


Coach of the Year Finalists

Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)


Oscar Pareja (FC Dallas)


Patrick Vieira (New York City FC)


Comeback Player of the Year Finalists

Honors an MLS player who has overcome injuries and/or adversity in order to achieve success during the 2016 regular season


Frank Lampard (New York City FC)


Kevin Molino (Orlando City SC)


Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union)


MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, presented by Advocare, Finalists

Matt Lampson (Chicago Fire)


Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)


Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)


MLS Fair Play Finalists – Individual

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.


Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC)


Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union)


Chris Tierney (New England Revolution)


MLS Fair Play Finalists - Team

Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fewest fouls committed, cards received, and on subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.


Columbus Crew SC


Seattle Sounders FC


Toronto FC


Referee of the Year Finalists

Alan Kelly


Jair Marrufo


Baldomero Toledo


Assistant Referee of the Year Finalists

Frank Anderson


Ian Anderson


Eric Boria


Awards Announcements Schedule:

Schedule subject to change


November 10: AT&T Rookie of the Year


November 11: MLS Defender of the Year; AT&T Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year


November 16: MLS Comeback Player of the Year


November 17: Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year


November 21: Newcomer of the Year


November 29: MLS Coach of the Year


December 6: Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player


TBD: MLS Best XI