If the list of MLS postseason award finalists is any indication, Sporting Kansas City and the San Jose Earthquakes will have plenty of individual awards to go along with their team accomplishments this year. Sporting KC, the top team in the East during the regular season, led the way with six finalists. The Earthquakes, who won the Supporters' Shield, were right behind with five finalists. No other team had more than three.
Sporting KC, San Jose Earthquakes dominate list of MLS award finalists
Sporting KC had the most finalists with six, while the Earthquakes were just one behind.
Victor Decolongon
The actual winners will start to be announced on Nov. 19, when the Rookie of the Year is announced along with the individual and team Fair Play award winners.
The three finalists in each category were the top three vote getters. Current players, the clubs (Coaches, Technical Directors, Chief Business Officers and PR/Community Relations) and media members all voted.
For a preview of how these may turn out, check out SB Nation’s MLS award winners.
2012 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists
(Listed in alphabetical order by last name within each award category)
Rookie of the Year Finalists
Xbox Individual Fair Play Finalists*
Logan Pause (Chicago Fire)
*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, games & minutes played, as well as subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
Xbox Team Fair Play Finalists*
Chicago Fire
*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fewest fouls committed, cards received, and on subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
Defender of the Year Finalists
Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes)
Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)
Aurelien Collin (Sporting Kansas City)
MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year Finalists
Kei Kamara (Sporting Kansas City)
Michael Lahoud (Philadelphia Union)
Referee of the Year Finalists
Silviu Petrescu
Baldomero Toledo
Armando Villarreal
Assistant Referee of the Year Finalists
Ian Anderson
Gregory Barkey
Corey Parker
Coach of the Year Finalists
Ben Olsen (D.C. United)
Peter Vermes (Sporting Kansas City)
Frank Yallop (San Jose Earthquakes)
Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes)
Chris Pontius (D.C. United)
Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
Michael Gspurning (Seattle Sounders FC)
Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA)
Jimmy Nielsen (Sporting Kansas City)
Newcomer of the Year Finalists
Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes)
Michael Gspurning (Seattle Sounders FC)
Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Finalists
Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Awards Announcements Schedule:
Schedule subject to change
November 19: MLS Rookie of the Year, Xbox Fair Play Individual & Team of the Year
November 20: MLS Defender of the Year, MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year, and Referee/Assistant Referee of the Year
November 26: 2012 MLS Best XI
November 27: MLS Coach of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year
November 28: Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year and Newcomer of the Year
November 29: AT&T Goal of the Year, MLS Save of the Year and Volkswagen MLS MVP
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