NEW YORK - Major League Soccer today named Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein the 2006 Gatorade Rookie of the Year and Chivas USA head coach Bob Bradley received the 2006 MLS Coach of the Year award.
Bradley and Bornstein helped lead their club to a third place finish in the Western Conference standings and a berth in the 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs in the team's second year of existence. Chivas USA finished last in the Western Conference in 2005 with a record of 4-22-6. Bradley, with the help of young stars such as Bornstein and veteran leader Ante Razov (14 regular season goals), guided the team to a 10-9-13 record in 2006.
Bornstein, 21, a fourth round pick (37th overall) in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft, was the resounding choice for Rookie of the Year. He started every game in his rookie season and logged 2,878 minutes, the most of any rookie and the most of any field player in the League. Playing several different positions during the season, Bornstein recorded four assists and led all rookies with six goals. He was named MLS Player of the Week for Week 17 and MLS Player of the Month for July. Bornstein beat out teammate Sacha Kljestan and Real Salt Lake's Mehdi Ballouchy for the award.
Bradley, in his first year with Chivas USA, orchestrated the club's turnaround from having the league's worst record in 2005. His teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season of his nine-year MLS head-coaching career. Bradley, the winningest coach in MLS history, also won Coach of the Year honors in 1998 when he led the Chicago Fire to the MLS Cup championship in its inaugural season. He becomes the first two-time winner of the award. Bradley led the voting ahead of D.C. United head coach Peter Nowak and Chicago Fire head coach Dave Sarachan.
The MLS Coach of the Year and the Gatorade Rookie of the Year winners were determined by equal voting from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers. All first year players in MLS without previous professional experience are eligible for the Gatorade Rookie of the Year award.
Gatorade Rookie of the Year Winners
2006: Jonathan Bornstein - Chivas USA
2005: Michael Parkhurst - New England Revolution
2004: Clint Dempsey - New England Revolution
2003: Damani Ralph - Chicago Fire
2002: Kyle Martino - Columbus Crew
2001: Rodrigo Faria - MetroStars
2000: Carlos Bocanegra - Chicago Fire
1999: Jay Heaps - Miami Fusion
1998: Ben Olsen - D.C. United
1997: Mike Duhaney - Tampa Bay Mutiny
1996: Steve Ralston - Tampa Bay Mutiny
MLS Coach of the Year Winners:
2006: Bob Bradley - Chivas USA
2005: Dominic Kinnear - San Jose Earthquakes
2004: Greg Andrulis - Columbus Crew
2003: Dave Sarachan - Chicago Fire
2002: Steve Nicol - New England Revolution
2001: Frank Yallop - San Jose Earthquakes
2000: Bob Gansler - Kansas City Wizards
1999: Sigi Schmid - Los Angeles Galaxy
1998: Bob Bradley - Chicago Fire
1997: Bruce Arena - D.C. United
1996: Thomas Rongen - Tampa Bay Mutiny
