Galaxy name 2007 team award winners

CARSON, Calif. - Forward Landon Donovan, defender Ty Harden, and midfielder Chris Klein were named recipients of the 2007 Los Angeles Galaxy team awards today. The awards will be presented to the winners prior to the Galaxy's final game of the 2007 MLS regular season against Toronto FC tonight at 7:30 p.m. at The Home Depot Center.

Klein was voted the Galaxy's Honda Most Valuable Player, Harden was selected as Galaxy's Visa Defender of the Year and Donovan, who leads the team with seven goals through Oct. 11, was awarded the club's Budweiser Golden Boot while also being named the U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year for his charitable efforts throughout the year.

A closer look at the Galaxy's team award winners follows:

HONDA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: In his ninth season in Major League Soccer and his first year in a Galaxy uniform, Chris Klein was chosen as the team's Honda Most Valuable Player by the Los Angeles media. Although Klein joined the Galaxy in late June, in a trade from Real Salt Lake, he made an immediate impact with the team, notching an assist in his first game for the club. Klein has played in 24 games, including SuperLiga and World Series of Football matches. As the team's schedule began to impact other players, Klein stepped in wherever he was needed, whether it be in the backline line or midfield. He scored twice during the Galaxy's SuperLiga campaign, the second one being the most critical. His stoppage time bicycle kick sent the SuperLiga Final into extratime. He only found the back of the net once during the regular season campaign, but again that goal came when the team needed it most and lifted the Galaxy to an all-important 2-1 come-from-behind win over FC Dallas. Throughout his career, Klein has played in 261 MLS matches, scoring 48 goals and contributing 56 assists.

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR: In his rookie season, Ty Harden was voted as the club's Visa Defender of the Year by the media members who have covered the Galaxy all season long. In addition to making 24 regular season starts for the Galaxy, the 23-year-old defender also started and played a full 90 minutes in nine additional matches in the U.S. Open Cup, World Series of Football and SuperLiga. In fact, Harden's only appearance off the bench this season came on May 23, during the friendly against Rangers. Harden has been the one constant point in the ever-changing injured Galaxy backline, only missing just four games due to a hip injury all season long. Having played 2,086 minutes during the MLS regular season, Harden has played more minutes than any non-first round draft pick in Galaxy history and is the only field player to have played more than 2,000 minutes so far this season. The former University of Washington star has helped the Galaxy to record five shutouts this season and is the first Galaxy rookie to be named Defender of the Year since Danny Califf in 2000.

BUDWEISER GOLDEN BOOT: Landon Donovan earned the club's 2007 Budweiser Golden Boot for the third consecutive season after scoring seven goals to this point of the MLS regular season. In addition to those seven goals, Donovan also scored four goals during SuperLiga and one during the Galaxy's U.S. Open Cup campaign for a team-best 12 goals in all competitions. Against the Chicago Fire on the Fourth of July, Donovan scored twice from the penalty spot, once on either side of halftime, leading LA to a 2-0 victory. With his seven goals, Donovan is tied for eighth in the 2007 MLS Budweiser Golden Boot race. The seven-year MLS veteran was voted MLS Player of the Week after recording a goal and two assists in the 3-1 over rivals Chivas USA April 29.

U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR: Landon Donovan has also been named the Galaxy's 2007 U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year. Donovan is actively involved with the team and Galaxy Foundation's off field community endeavors including the "Foundations' Feast," where Donovan, along with other members of the Galaxy, served Thanksgiving meals to 200 kids and families in need. In December 2006, Donovan was a part of the Galaxy Foundation's Build-A-Bear event and helped build and then deliver 100 Soccer Santa Bears to kids at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Also during the holiday season, Donovan participated in the Galaxy Foundation's 7th Annual Holiday Assist Program, where 50 underprivileged children were treated to a $100 shopping spree and holiday party. Donovan and teammate Quavas Kirk participated in FOX 11's "Wednesday's Child" segment with Christine Devine in May. Wednesday's Child profiles children looking for loving families to call their own, and Donovan and Kirk, spent time and taught a series of soccer skills to one such young boy who was awaiting adoption. In addition, Donovan demonstrated outstanding involvement during the 2007 MLS season in all Galaxy outreach, grassroots, and soccer programs as well as the charitable endeavors done in conjunction with the Galaxy Foundation. He has visited children in LA area hospitals and through clinics assisted in growing the sport of soccer by demonstrating not only skills, but also character and sportsmanship to thousands of kids.

The following are the Galaxy's past team award winners:

= Previous known as the Budweiser Scoring Champion 1996-2004.

The Galaxy play their final home match of the 2007 MLS regular season at The Home Depot Center on Thursday, October 18 when they host the New York Red Bulls at 7 p.m. For more information or to order tickets to this game, please call the Galaxy ticket office toll-free at 1-877-3GALAXY or visit www.lagalaxy.com.