Major League Soccer announced on Monday that Alan Kelly has been selected the 2015 MLS Referee of the Year, while Corey Parker has been named Assistant Referee of the Year.
Kelly, in his second season as an MLS referee, was the center official for 21 MLS regular season matches in 2015, which was second most among PRO referees. He brought an impressive resumé to his current position: A native of Ireland, Kelly moved through the ranks in his home country, notably winning the inaugural Players’ Football Association of Ireland’s Referee of the Year Award in 2006 (and four subsequent ones). He eventually served as a UEFA official, where he was a referee for Champions League and World Cup qualifiers, among other competitions.
Parker receives his first Assistant Referee of the Year Award after being named a finalist in 2012. In his fifth year running the sidelines, Parker was an assistant referee for 19 MLS regular season matches this year, also second-most among all assistant referees. Parker made his FIFA debut in January at the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in Jamaica.
These two awards were voted on by media, MLS players and MLS club management. The other two finalists for Referee of the Year were Baldomero Toledo and Jair Marrufo. The other two finalists for Assistant Referee of the Year were Peter Manikowski and George Gansner.
| Referee | % of Club Votes | % of Media Votes | % of Player Votes | Weighted Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Kelly | 58.19 | 54.93 | 48.86 | 161.98 |
Baldomero Toledo | 21.82 | 26.76 | 16.48 | 65.06 |
Jair Marrufo | 20.00 | 11.27 | 18.75 | 50.02 |
| Assistant Referees | % of Club Votes | % of Media Votes | % of Player Votes | Weighted Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corey Parker | 34.55 | 25.35 | 38.64 | 98.54 |
Peter Manikowski | 38.18 | 23.94 | 21.02 | 83.14 |
George Gansner | 23.64 | 32.39 | 18.75 | 74.78 |
Referee of the Year Winners:
2015: Alan Kelly
2014: Mark Geiger
2013: Hilario Grajeda
2012: Silviu Petrescu
2011: Mark Geiger
2010: Kevin Stott
2009: Alex Prus
2008: Jair Marrufo
2007: Brian Hall
2006: Brian Hall
2005: Brian Hall
2004: Abiodun ‘Abbey’ Okulaja
2003: Brian Hall
2002: Kevin Terry
2001: Paul Tamberino
2000: Paul Tamberino
1999: Paul Tamberino
1998: Paul Tamberino
1997: Esse Baharmast
Assistant Referee of the Year Winners:
2015: Corey Parker
2014: Paul Scott
2013: Kermit Quisenberry
2012: Ian Anderson
2011: Corey Rockwell
2010: Craig Lowry
2009: Greg Barkey
2008: Kermit Quisenberry
