David Villa, Sacha Kljestan, Bradley Wright-Phillips are finalists for MLS MVP
One way or another, the MLS MVP award will head to one of the league's two New York teams.
New York Red Bulls stars Sacha Kljestan and Bradley Wright-Phillips and New York City FC forward David Villa are the finalists for the league's MVP honors–the Landon Donovan MVP Award–the league confirmed on Tuesday.
Wright-Phillips won the league's Golden Boot with 24 goals, while Villa was one off the pace at 23. Kljestan notched a league-high 20 assists. Both of their clubs trail in the Eastern Conference semifinals prior to hosting the second legs, with the Red Bulls falling 1-0 to the Montreal Impact and NYCFC losing 2-0 to Toronto FC in their respective first legs. TFC's Sebastian Giovinco, last year's winner, was omitted from the finalists following a season in which he had 17 goals and 15 assists despite missing six games.
MLS Golden Boot contenders Villa, Wright-Phillips take wildly contrasting paths
Seattle Sounders and U.S. men's national team forward Jordan Morris is a finalist for the league's Rookie of the Year honors, joined by NYCFC's Jack Harrison and the Philadelphia Union's Keegan Rosenberry.
Colorado Rapids midseason addition Tim Howard is a finalist for Goalkeeper of the Year, along with Philadelphia's Andre Blake and reigning winner and Red Bulls backstop Luis Robles.
GALLERY: 20 years of MLS Cup champions
MLS Cup Winners Through The Years
1996 — D.C. United
Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated
1997 — D.C. United
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1998 — Chicago Fire
Robert Beck for Sports Illustrated
1999 — D.C. United
Al Bello/Getty Images
2000 — Kansas City Wizards
Stephen J. Boitano/AP
2001 — San Jose Earthquakes
David Bergman for Sports Illustrated
2002 — LA Galaxy
Winslow Townson for Sports Illustrated
2003 — San Jose Earthquakes
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
2004 — D.C. United
Robert Beck for Sports Illustrated
2005 — Los Angeles Galaxy
Wade Jackson/Icon Sportswire
2006 — Houston Dynamo
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
2007 — Houston Dynamo
Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated
2008 — Columbus Crew
Robert Beck for Sports Illustrated
2009 — Real Salt Lake
Harry How/Getty Images
2010 — Colorado Rapids
Lou Capozzola for Sports Illustrated
2011 — LA Galaxy
John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated
2012 — LA Galaxy
Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire
2013 — Sporting Kansas City
Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire
2014 — LA Galaxy
Jae C. Hong/AP
2015 – Portland Timbers
Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
2016 – Seattle Sounders
Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press/AP
2017 – Toronto FC
Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press/AP
2018 - Atlanta United
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The Defender of the Year will be a center back from the Western Conference, as FC Dallas's Matt Hedges, LA Galaxy's Jelle Van Damme and Colorado's Axel Sjoberg make up the finalists.
Van Damme is also a finalist for Newcomer of the Year, along with Columbus Crew SC's Ola Kamara and Seattle's Nicolas Lodeiro.
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Coach of the Year will come down to Colorado's Pablo Mastroeni, FC Dallas's Oscar Pareja and NYCFC's Patrick Vieira.
The Comeback Player of the Year will be either NYCFC's Frank Lampard, Orlando City's Kevin Molino or Philadelphia's Chris Pontius.
The MVP award will be the last one handed out, with the league announcing its winner on Dec. 6. Rookie of the Year will be announced Nov. 10, followed by Comeback Player (Nov. 16), Goalkeeper (Nov. 17), Newcomer (Nov. 21) and Coach (Nov. 29).
