Cuauhtémoc Blanco Makes 2007 MLS Awards Finalists List

 

(Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007) – Major League Soccer announced Monday finalists for its 2007 year-end awards. Winners for each award will be announced in the coming weeks, beginning with the Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year and Fair Play winners on Wednesday, Oct. 31. The Honda MLS Most Valuable Player will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 15 at the ESPN Zone in Washington, D.C.

 

The 2007 awards announcements culminate on Saturday, Nov. 17 with the unveiling of the Best XI and MLS Newcomer of the Year, which will both be announced at the MLS Awards Gala.

 

The finalists, listed in alphabetical order below for each award, earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, referees and members of the media. The U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year will be determined by the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Major League Soccer and MLS club representatives and will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 1.

 

Awards Finalists

 

Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists

Brad Guzan – Chivas USA

Pat Onstad – Houston Dynamo

Matt Reis – New England Revolution

 

Fair Play Finalists - Individual

Cobi Jones – LA Galaxy

Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution

Eddie Pope – Real Salt Lake

 

MLS Comeback Player of the Year Finalists

Frankie Hejduk – Columbus Crew

Eddie Johnson – Kansas City Wizards

Pat Noonan – New England Revolution

 

Visa Defender of the Year Finalists

Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution

Eddie Robinson – Houston Dynamo

Claudio Suarez – Chivas USA

 

OSI Referee of the Year Finalists

Brian Hall

Jair Marrufo

Alex Prus

 

Gatorade Rookie of the Year Finalists

Adam Cristman – New England Revolution

Maurice Edu – Toronto FC

Dane Richards – New York Red Bulls

 

MLS Coach of the Year Finalists

Dominic Kinnear – Houston Dynamo

Preki – Chivas USA

Tom Soehn – D.C. United

 

Honda MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists

Juan Pablo Angel – New York Red Bulls

Cuauhtemoc Blanco – Chicago Fire

Luciano Emilio – D.C. United

 

Newcomer of the Year

Juan Pablo Angel – New York Red Bulls

Cuauhtemoc Blanco – Chicago Fire

Luciano Emilio – D.C. United

 

Schedule of Awards Announcements:

 

Wednesday, October 31

Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year

Fair Play Award Individual & Team

 

Thursday, November 1

U.S. Soccer Foundation & MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year

U.S. Soccer Foundation & MLS W.O.R.K.S. Team Humanitarian Award

Sierra Mist Goal of the Year Top Ten

 

Monday, November 5

Comeback Player of the Year

Visa Defender of the Year

OSI Referee of the Year

 

Wednesday, November 7

Gatorade Rookie of the Year

MLS Coach of the Year

 

Thursday, November 8

Sierra Mist Goal of the Year Five Finalists

 

Thursday, November 15

Honda MLS Most Valuable Player

 

Friday, November 16

Sierra Mist Goal of the Year

 

Saturday, November 17

Best XI

Newcomer of the Year