Major League Soccer today announced the finalists for its 2014 postseason awards, with Sounders FC nominated in four major categories. Head Coach Sigi Schmid, forward Obafemi Martins, defender Chad Marshall and goalkeeper Stefan Frei are among the final three finalists for individual awards, which are set to be announced in the coming weeks.
Schmid, a two-time MLS Coach of the Year recipient, led Sounders FC to a 20-10-4 record in his sixth season in Seattle, finishing atop the standings with 64 points and second in goals, assists, shots and shots on goal. Sounders FC captured the franchise’s first Supporters’ Shield, as well as the fourth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The club’s 20 wins this season are the most in league history in the post-shootout era. Schmid also became the first Head Coach in MLS history to record 200 wins after defeating Houston on August 10.
Martins set a club record with 17 goals (fifth in MLS) and matched club record with 13 assists (tied for fifth in MLS). His five multi-goal games were tied for second in MLS, and his four game-winning assists were tied for fourth. The forward started 29 of his 31 appearances in 2014 and accumulated 2,600 minutes, and Sounders FC was 12-0-0 in games in which Martins scored a goal.
Marshall made an immediate impact in his first year with Sounders FC, starting and playing 90 minutes in all 31 of his appearances this season. The 11-year MLS veteran led the league with 136 interceptions and recorded an impressive 126 headers won, 206 clearances and an 83% passing accuracy. Marshall previously won MLS Defender of the Year with the Columbus Crew in 2008 and 2009.
Also in his first season in Seattle, Frei returned to league stage between the posts for Sounders FC. The sixth-year pro played every minute of the 2014 season after making just one appearance in the last two seasons with Toronto FC due to bouts with injury. Frei set a league record for the post-shootout era with 20 wins, finishing third in MLS with nine shutouts and first with a 59% win percentage.
Sounders FC has previously seen four players earn MLS postseason awards. Fredy Montero was named Newcomer of the Year in 2009, Mauro Rosales Newcomer of the Year in 2011, Kasey Keller Goalkeeper of the Year in 2011, and Eddie Johnson Comeback Player of the Year in 2012.
2014 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists
(Listed in alphabetical order by last name within each award category)
Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Finalists
Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders FC)
Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution)
AT&T Rookie of the Year Finalists
Tesho Akindele (FC Dallas)
Steven Birnbaum (D.C. United)
Harrison Shipp (Chicago Fire)
Defender of the Year Finalists
Bobby Boswell (D.C. United)
Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC)
Coach of the Year Finalists
Gregg Berhalter (Columbus Crew SC)
Ben Olsen (D.C. United)
Sigi Schmid (Seattle Sounders FC)
Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Charlie Davies (New England Revolution)
Stefan Frei (Seattle Sounders FC)
Rodney Wallace (Portland Timbers)
Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
Steve Clark (Columbus Crew SC)
Bill Hamid (D.C. United)
Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Newcomer of the Year Finalists
Stefan Ishizaki (LA Galaxy)
Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution)
Pedro Morales (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year Finalists
Diego Chara (Portland Timbers)
AJ DeLaGarza (LA Galaxy)
Zach Loyd (FC Dallas)
Xbox Individual Fair Play Finalists
Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers)
Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew SC)
Harrison Shipp (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
LA Galaxy
Philadelphia Union
Real Salt Lake
Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fewest fouls committed, cards received and on subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
Referee of the Year Finalists
Mark Geiger
Jair Marrufo
Alan Kelly
Assistant Referee of the Year Finalists
Peter Manikowski
Paul Scott
Adam Wienckowski
Awards Announcements Schedule:
Schedule subject to change
November 24: AT&T Rookie of the Year, Xbox Fair Play Individual and Team of the Year
November 25: MLS Defender of the Year, MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, and Referee/Assistant Referee of the Year
December 2: MLS Coach of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year and MLS Best XI
December 3: Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Volkswagen MLS MVP
December 4: AT&T Goal of the Year, MLS Save of the Year