NEW YORK -- As soon as NYCFC announced theyād have a āspecial announcementā on Tuesday morning, the proverbial cat pretty much leaped out of the bag. With only one MLS end-of-year award left to announce, it was clear ā the 2016 Landon Donovan MLS MVP nod would go, after all, to team megastar David Villa. It marked NYCFC's first MVP win, in just the team's second season in the league.
For sure, this provoked some grumbling. There was still the issue of MLS Cup contender, Toronto FCās Sebastian Giovinco, and his snub from the nominee shortlist in the first place. And, of course the other two remaining finalists ā Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sacha Kljestan ā came from NYCFCās archrivals, the New York Red Bulls. But few could say they were surprised at Villaās win, or that he didnāt deserve it.
But even in the awardās slick announcement space, a minimalist, glass-walled box in Manhattanās SoHo that mostly hosts fashion shoots, Villa himself couldnāt stay totally unruffled. MLS Commissioner Don Garber, in the presentation eventās opening remarks, remarked on how much Villaās passion has yielded both on and off the field. ā[The award] has to speak to what he is as a man, and what kind of character he has,ā Garber said of Villa, āand how heās represented himself as a professional.ā
Villa wore the impact of all of this on his face. A World Cup win and a host of other big-time international awards later, he remains as dedicated as ever to his club success ā to the benefit of both the team and the league.
āSome people thought maybe I came here to find a golden retirement,ā he said in his acceptance speech. āBut I came here to be strong, to be competitive, and to show everybody I want to grow in my career and make history.ā Thatās clear in his MLS productivity ā just one goal shy of this yearās Golden Boot (with that nod going to his MVP-race rival, the Red Bullsā Wright-Phillips).
But thereās another significant part of that quote that naturally reveals Villaās dedication. It came in English, the language in which he chose to begin his remarks, and which he barely spoke upon arriving in the US two-and-a-half years ago.
But the real emotion welled up a few minutes later, when NYCFC surprised him with a montage video of his peers, present and former, congratulating him on the award. Villaās face practically split from grinning as a succession of NYCFCers ā Jack Harrison, Khiry Shelton ā and Spanish stars ā Juan Mata, Xavi, Juanfran, Koke, Gerard Pique ā appeared on screen. A message from the legendary Raul even brought Villaās wife, Patricia Gonzalez, to tears.
But Villaās seriousness about his leadership returned, soon enough, over any celebration of his own glory. In a Facebook Live Q&A after the presentation, he continued to turn any questions back to he collective good. For instance, how had Patrick Vieira perhaps helped him towards the MVP nod, one fan asked on the platform? Villa pointed to how it had changed the teamās success as a whole. āOf course, the last year wasnāt good, and he changed this,ā he said of Vieira. āHe gave us a lot to be competitive, to be aggressive, to be winners.ā
And how would he hope the defense would improve, another fan asked? āWhen I talk about defense or offense, Iām talking about the 11 players out on the pitch,ā he said. āItās everything. Of course our goal this year is to be better on the defensive side, and the first player who can do that is the striker, me.ā
Beyond that, though, Villa stressed that heād continue to try to take his club to the top, and it was hard not to think of his chastened speech to NYCFC fans at the end of their 2015 season. āWe promise that next year weāll be here,ā he told a packed Yankee Stadium back then, āso that the season will be much better.ā
His message on Tuesday, a more triumphant day to be sure, continued on this same tack, with the MVP nod cementing Villaās spot as one of the best DPs and ambassadors for MLS to date. āI promise everyone,ā he said, āthat after the 21st of January, Iāll try again to fight for the trophy.ā