COLUMBUS, Ohio - Major League Soccer today announced the finalists for its 2007 year-end awards and Crew defender Frankie Hejduk is among them for MLS Comeback Player of the Year. Winners for each award will be announced in the coming weeks, beginning with the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and Fair Play winners on Wednesday, Oct. 31. The Comeback Player of the Year will be announced next Monday, Nov. 5, and Honda MLS Most Valuable Player will be revealed on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the ESPN Zone in Washington, D.C.
Hejduk's comeback from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered early in the 2006 season has been remarkable, even by his high standards. Long regarded as one of the most fit players in the league - with a prodigious work rate to match - Hejduk returned to action this year better than ever. One of the league's most recognizable and dynamic players, Hejduk tore the ACL in his right knee on April 29, 2006, in just the fourth game of the season, and was named to his third U.S. World Cup team days later, before the injury was diagnosed.
With his season and World Cup dream over, Hejduk set his sights on both returning for the beginning of the 2007 MLS campaign and to the national team picture. With his trademark tenacity and capacity, Hejduk accomplished both, surprising skeptics along the way. He was in the lineup on opening day and was a stalwart at right back for the Crew all season - except when he was with the national team. Hejduk was named to the U.S. roster for the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup and helped the red, white and blue to the confederation championship. He scored a goal vs. Canada in the semifinals and was named to the All-Tournament Team Best 11.
Hejduk started all 24 games in which he appeared for the Crew, while wearing the captain's armband, and tallied three assists, while anchoring the Crew's back line and tirelessly getting up and down the right flank. Now in his fifth season with the Crew, his impressive return to form was recognized in July, when he was named to the MLS inactive All-Star roster.
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
