SALT LAKE CITY - Real Salt Lake is pleased to announce that MF Chris Klein has been selected as the winner of the 2006 Kraft Fair Play Award, an honor that is bestowed upon the MLS player who most exemplifies fair play and sportsmanship on the field during the MLS regular season.
Klein epitomized sportsmanship throughout his first season with Real Salt Lake. The respected veteran midfielder started all 32 games playing 2,842 minutes and committed only 18 fouls and did not receive a single booking. Considered to be one of the hardest working and classiest players in the league, Klein has not received a caution in the past two years, a span of 63 games. Klein beat out Chicago Fire midfielder Justin Mapp and New England midfielder Steve Ralston for the award.
"I would like to thank everyone who is involved in the selection process for considering me for this award", said Klein. "An award like this truly reflects how I feel about the game of soccer in this country. When I am on the field I believe in respecting the game, respecting my teammates and respecting the officials. It is an honor to be recognized, especially by my peers, for something of this nature. Thanks again to the league and everyone who voted."
The Kraft Global Fair Play award is determined by equal voting from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers.
COMPLETE LIST OF MLS AWARDS: The following is a list of the awards handed out by Major League Soccer and the schedule of the award announcements:
2006 MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER AWARDS:
Kraft Global Fair Play Winner:
Chris Klein, Real Salt Lake
Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year Winner:
Troy Perkins, DC United
Gatorade Rookie of the Year Finalists:
Mehdi Ballouchy - Real Salt Lake
Jonathan Bornstein - Chivas USA
Sacha Kljestan - Chivas USA
MLS Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Chris Armas - Chicago Fire
Alecko Eskandarian - D.C. United
Richard Mulrooney - FC Dallas
MLS Coach of the Year Finalists
Bob Bradley - Chivas USA
Peter Nowak - D.C. United
Dave Sarachan - Chicago Fire
MLS Defender of the Year Finalists
Bobby Boswell - D.C. United
Jose Burciaga Jr. - Kansas City Wizards
Jimmy Conrad - Kansas City Wizards
Honda MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
Jeff Cunningham - Real Salt Lake
Dwayne De Rosario - Houston Dynamo
Christian Gomez - D.C. United
OSI Referee of the Year Finalists
Brian Hall
Michael Kennedy
Ricardo Salazar
Schedule of Awards Announcements:
Tuesday, October 24
MLS Defender of the Year
MLS Comeback Player of the Year
OSI Referee of the Year
U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year
U.S. Soccer Foundation Team Humanitarian of the Year
Tuesday, October 31
Gatorade Rookie of the Year
MLS Coach of the Year
Monday, November 6
Announcement of MLS Team Executive Awards
Thursday, November 9
Honda MLS Most Valuable Player
Friday, November 10
Sierra Mist Goal of the Year
Saturday, November 11
RadioShack Best XI
