USA's Abby Wambach on shortlist for FIFA World Women's Player of Year
USA forward Abby Wambach was named one of 10 nominees on the shortlist for the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award, the organization announced Friday.
Wambach was the lone American among the nominees. No Americans were named to the shortlist for the women's World Coach of the Year award, also revealed Friday, though former U.S. national team coach Pia Sundhage was included.
Wambach, 34, previously won the award in 2012. She's scored 10 goals for the U.S. national team this season, including three in recently completed CONCACAF Women's World Cup qualifying group play, and scored six goals in 10 games for the Western New York Flash in the National Women's Soccer League.
The U.S. veteran has helped lead the national team to two Olympics gold medals, in 2004 and 2012, and a second-place finish at the 2011 World Cup. She's the all-time leading goalscorer for the national team.
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A notable snub from the shortlist was the Seattle Reign's Kim Little, who was named MVP of the NWSL after leading the league with 16 goals and finishing second in assists with seven.
The complete list of Player of the Year nominees, listed with their nationalities: Wambach, Nadine Angerer (Germany), Veronica Boquete (Spain), Nilla Fischer (Sweden), Nahomi Kawasumi (Japan), Nadine Kessler (Germany), Marta (Brazil), Aya Miyama (Japan), Louisa Necib (France), Lotta Schelin (Sweden).
The nominees for Coach of the Year are as follows: Philippe Bergeroo (France/France national team), Peter Dedevbo (Nigeria/Nigeria U-20 national team), Laura Harvey (England/Seattle Reign FC), Ralf Kellermann (Germany/VfL Wolfsburg), Maren Meinert (Germany/Germany U-20 national team), Norio Sasaki (Japan/Japan national team), Sundhage (Sweden/Sweden national team), Asako Takemoto Takakura (Japan/Japan U-17 national team), Jorge Vilda (Spain/Spain U-17 national team and U-19 national team), Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (Germany/Switzerland national team).
The three highest vote-getters for both awards will be announced by FIFA on Dec. 1, and the winners will be announced on Jan. 12.
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The men's shortlists for both awards will be announced Tuesday.
- Ben Estes
