FC Dallas announced today that midfielder Juan Toja was named the team's 2007 Honda Most Valuable Player. Additionally, the team announced that Clarence Goodson was voted as the Defender of the Year and nine-year veteran Bobby Rhine was recognized as the U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year. Finally, the team also presented forward Carlos Ruiz his Budweiser Golden Boot, given to the player that leads the team in regular season goals scored. Ruiz scored seven regular season goals in 2007.
HONDA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER - JUAN TOJA
The 22-year old Toja was a unanimous winner of the 2007 team MVP. After arriving from famed Argentine club River Plate prior to the season, Toja immediately made his presence felt with his non-stop running and work-rate while playing various midfield positions. Playing as a holding midfielder, offensive midfielder, and on the left side, Toja finished second on the team with six regular season goals and one assist. His signature game came on July 14, when he scored the final two goals to tie 3-3 at D.C. United, becoming only the third team in MLS history to come back from a three goal deficit. The next week, Toja started for the MLS All-Stars and scored the second goal in a 2-0 win over Celtic FC in the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star game. His long hair and rock star look made him a quick fan favorite, and he was honored with a Juan Toja Wig Night, where 5,000 fans wore his trademark long-haired wig on Oct. 11.
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR - CLARENCE GOODSON
The fourth-year defender earns his first Defender of the Year honor. After starting just nine games in 2006, Goodson became a regular in the FCD backline, starting 27 games at center back. In a defense that had much change throughout the year due to injury, national team call-ups, and suspension, Goodson made more appearances in the same position than any other defender. With three goalkeepers each making at least six starts behind him, and two left backs each starting 10 games, Goodson also adapted well with the four different players that partnered with him at the other center back position. Goodson also was a threat on offense, scoring the game-winning goals in stoppage time of a 3-2 come-from-behind victory versus Columbus. As one of the team leaders, Goodson was rewarded with the captain's armband in the 3-1 win at Columbus which secured the team's place in the 2007 MLS Cup playoffs.
U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR - BOBBY RHINE
In his role as coach for a local youth boy's team, defender Bobby Rhine has become a role model and teacher to many area kids. One in particular, a boy from Iraq, helped Bobby extends his influence across the world. When the Iraq U-14 National Team participated in the 2006 Dallas Cup at Pizza Hut Park, the boy and his father met the team and kept in contact with many of the players and coaching staff. In June of 2007, Rhine offered the family a way to support the team from their homeland, working with the FC Dallas Foundation to collect and donate soccer balls, shirts, shorts and socks to outfit the entire Iraqi team. He has remained in contact with the team, receiving letters of thanks from the kids and parents alike. In addition, Rhine has made numerous appearances throughout the community, including speaking to at-risk and deserving youth in conjunction with Lift Up America; bowling with children at the Kicks for Kids bowling party, and participating in the Oscar Pareja Community Clinic Series.
