FC Dallas forward Tesho Akindele named MLS Rookie of the Year
FC Dallas forward Tesho Akindele has been named Major League Soccer's 2014 Rookie of the Year, the league announced Monday.
Akindele was followed in the voting by Chicago Fire midfielder Harry Shipp and D.C. United defender Steve Birnbaum. Akindele received the highest percentage of club, media and player votes.
The 22-year-old forward attended Colorado School of Mines, a Division II collegiate soccer program, before he was drafted by FC Dallas with the No. 6 pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. In his rookie year, Akindele tallied seven goals and three assists in 26 total appearances, including 18 starts.
Akindele scored for FC Dallas in its 2-1 knockout round victory over Vancouver. He played every minute of FC Dallas' three playoff matches before the club bowed out to Seattle Sounders on away goals in the Western Conference Semifinals.
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The forward was born in Canada but has lived in the United States since he was eight. He has not yet committed his national team future to either country.
Akindele is the first player in FC Dallas history to win Rookie of the Year.
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