Major League Soccer announced Monday that Kansas City Wizards forward Eddie Johnson has been named 2007 MLS Comeback Player of the Year. After a 2006 season in which Johnson scored two goals and recorded one assist in 19 games due to national team duty and suspension, Johnson responded with a career year in 2007. The 23-year-old striker set career-highs in five statistical categories and was named team MVP after capturing the Wizards golden boot. Johnson credits his teammates and the Wizards coaching staff for his success this season.
"This is something that I'm overwhelmed by," Johnson said. "Anytime you get an award it's a good thing, but awards aren't achieved individually. It takes the support of an entire team and a great coaching staff, and I want to thank them for giving me a chance this season and working together on the field to make each other better every day. This season, I have felt settled and have made Kansas City my home. This coaching staff believed in me and their expectations for me were very high. I have been focused on playing soccer, working hard and trying to achieve our goals. Any time you do that, you will be successful at the end of the year."
Johnson recorded a team and career-high 15 goals in 2007 while also contributing a career high six assists. Johnson also set career-highs in shots (75), shots on goal (43) and fouls suffered (57). Johnson posted career second-best numbers in games played (24), games started (24) and minutes played (2,149). Johnson led an improved Wizards attack that propelled Kansas City into the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
"Eddie Johnson has worked extremely hard and has been in a positive frame of mind all year," Head Coach Curt Onalfo said. "This award is a tribute both to Eddie's efforts and the success of the team. I'm happy to see that all the hard work put in by Eddie did not go unnoticed."
Johnson became the first player in league history to record back-to-back hat tricks (May 26 at New England and June 2 vs. New York) and finished with a league-high six game-winning goals. Johnson proved remarkably durable though suffering a career-high 57 fouls. Johnson only missed games while representing the United States National Team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and Copa America competitions in June and July. He was one of only nine players to represent the U.S. in both competitions. Overall, he appeared in 10 games for Bob Bradley's side and scored two goals in 2007.
Johnson becomes the fourth Wizards player to win Comeback Player of the Year since the award was first presented in 2000. Goalkeeper Tony Meola captured the first-ever award and midfielder Chris Klein won the award twice (2002 and 2005). Johnson beat out finalists Pat Noonan of New England and Frankie Hejduk of Columbus for the award.
MLS Comeback Player of the Year Winners
2007: Eddie Johnson - Kansas City Wizards
2006: Richard Mulrooney - FC Dallas
2005: Chris Klein - Kansas City Wizards
2004: Brian Ching - San Jose Earthquakes
2003: Chris Armas - Chicago Fire
2002: Chris Klein - Kansas City Wizards
2001: Troy Dayak - San Jose Earthquakes
2000: Tony Meola - Kansas City Wizards
2007 Statistics
GP - 24
GS - 24
MIN - 2149
G - 15
A - 6
SHT - 75
SOG - 43
FC - 21
FS - 57
OFF - 50
CK - 0
C - 6
E - 0
Season Rankings
• Named 2007 Team MVP and Golden Boot Winner.
• Finished 1st on team and 1st in MLS with 6 game-winning goals.
• Finished 1st on team and 1st in MLS with 2 hat tricks.
• Finished 1st on team and 4th in MLS with career-high 15 goals.
• Finished 1st on team and t-3rd in MLS with 3 multi-goal games.
• Finished 1st on team and 7th in MLS with career-high 75 shots.
• Finished 1st on team and 5th in MLS with career-high 43 shots on goal.
• Finished 2nd on team and 7th in MLS with career-high 57 fouls suffered.
• Finished 3rd on team with career-high 6 assists.
