FRISCO, Texas - Major League Soccer announced Thursday that FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper has been voted to the MLS All-Star First XI. Cooper, who leads FCD with eight goals in 16 games, and is ranked fourth on the MLS goal-scoring chart, will appear in his first MLS All-Star game.
The MLS All-Stars will take on historic English Premier League club West Ham United in the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game on Thursday, July 24 at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada. The game will be televised live on ESPN, Telefutura, and CBC Sports at 6 p.m. CT.
"I'm so taken aback to have been selected to the All-Star First XI," said Cooper. "I feel so honored and so grateful to those who voted for me, and I hope that I can represent my teammates, coaches, and everyone at FC Dallas and the League well."
In his third season with FC Dallas, Cooper has scored eight goals in 16 regular season games. Seven of those goals have either given FC Dallas the lead in a game or drawn FCD even after trailing. Two of the goals have also been game-winners, and he's also added one assist.
The First XI received the most votes at their respective positions from four groups - fans, players, media and coaches/general managers. Online fan balloting comprising 25 percent of the combined First XI vote, with MLS coaches and GMs (25 percent), media (25 percent), and players (25 percent) accounting for the remainder. Players and coaches/general managers could not register votes for players on their own teams.
Cooper, 23, was on the ballot of 7.4 percent of all online fan votes, on 30.6 percent of votes from MLS players, on 33.3 of the media's ballots, and on 40.9 percent of the votes from MLS Coaches and General Managers. He finished second to Landon Donovan among all forwards in MLS.
On July 15, New England Revolution head coach Steve Nicol will select five additional All-Stars and MLS Commissioner Don Garber will make two selections to complete 18-man game-day MLS roster. Nicol earned the honor of coaching the MLS side by leading his team to the highest points per game average in the League through games on June 29.
The First XI is not necessarily the starting lineup. Nicol will select the starters based on player availability and tactical considerations. If First XI selections are unavailable due to injury, international duty or other commitments, Nicol will select alternates for the game day roster, but all First XI players are All-Stars. The First XI selections are below:
2008 MLS All-Star First XI
Goalkeeper: Matt Reis (New England Revolution)
Defenders: Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution).
Midfielders: David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Chicago Fire), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew).
Forwards: Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy).
PREVIOUS DALLAS ALL-STARS:
* = Selected to start
# = selected to start but could not participate.
2007:
Juan Toja - MID
2006:
Ronnie O'Brien - MID
Richard Mulrooney - MID (Commissioner's Pick)
Dario Sala (Alternate)
Carlos Ruiz (Alternate)
Greg Vanney (Alternate)
2005:
Ronnie O'Brien - MID (Also chosen for MLS Select XI vs. Real Madrid)
Greg Vanney - DEF
#Carlos Ruiz - FOR
#Eddie Johnson - FOR
Scott Garlick - GK
Simo Valakari - MID
2004:
Cory Gibbs - DEF
Jason Kreis - FOR (Commissioner's Pick)
Ronnie O'Brien - MID
2003:
Jason Kreis - FOR (Alternate)
2002:
Chad Deering - MID
Jason Kreis - FOR
Ryan Suarez - DEF
Joselito Vaca - MID (Commissioner's Pick)
2001:
Chad Deering - MID
Ariel Graziani - FOR
#Jason Kreis - FOR
#Lubos Kubik - DEF
2000:
Jason Kreis - FOR
Ariel Graziani - FOR
1999:
Matt Jordan - GK
Jason Kreis - FOR
1998:
Leonel Alvarez - MID
1997:
Damian - FOR
Mark Dodd - GK
Mark Santel - MID
Diego Sonora - DEF
Alain Sutter - MID
Dante Washington - FOR
1996:
Leonel Alvarez - MID
Mark Dodd - GK
*Jason Kreis - FOR
Mark Santel - MID
Diego Sonora - DEF
