D.C. United's 17-year-old star midfielder Andy Najar has been named the 2010 Major League Soccer Rookie of the Year.
Najar is the second player in D.C. United history to capture Rookie of the Year honors. The young Honduran joins 1998 winner Ben Olsen in the United honors list. Olsen became United's interim coach midseason and guided the young Najar who scored five goals and an assist in 26 League matches (22 starts). In all competitions, Najar netted seven goals and registered two assists. Najar is the first rookie to win the MLS award after coming directly from a club's youth academy.
In other MLS news:
Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts earned the 2010 Goalkeeper of the Year award after posting a career high 11 shutouts and allowing just 26 goals through 29 games this season.
Sebastian Le Toux, who started 28 games for Philadelphia Union this year and recorded 14 goals and 11 assists won the MLS Fair Play Award.Through his 2,520 minutes this season, Le Toux committed only 10 fouls and received no cards, cautions, or action from the MLS Disciplinary Committee.
Goalkeeper of the Year Winners
2010: Donovan Ricketts – LA Galaxy
2009: Zach Thornton – Chivas USA
2008: Jon Busch – Chicago Fire
2007: Brad Guzan – Chivas USA
2006: Troy Perkins – D.C. United
2005: Pat Onstad – San Jose Earthquakes
2004: Joe Cannon – Colorado Rapids
2003: Pat Onstad – San Jose Earthquakes
2002: Joe Cannon – San Jose Earthquakes
2001: Tim Howard – MetroStars
2000: Tony Meola – Kansas City Wizards
1999: Kevin Hartman – LA Galaxy
1998: Zach Thornton – Chicago Fire
1997: Brad Friedel – Columbus Crew
1996: Mark Dodd – Dallas Burn
Rookie of the Year Winners
2010: Andy Najar – D.C. United
2009: Omar Gonzalez – LA Galaxy
2008: Sean Franklin – LA Galaxy
2007: Maurice Edu – Toronto FC
2006: Jonathan Bornstein – ChivasUSA
2005: Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
2004: Clint Dempsey – New England Revolution
2003: Damani Ralph – Chicago Fire
2002: Kyle Martino – Columbus Crew
2001: Rodrigo Faria - MetroStars
2000: Carlos Bocanegra – Chicago Fire
1999: Jay Heaps – Miami Fusion
1998: Ben Olsen – D.C. United
1997: Mike Duhaney – TampaBay Mutiny
1996: Steve Ralston – TampaBay Mutiny
MLS Individual Fair Play Award Winners
2010: Sebastien Le Toux – Philadelphia Union
2009: Steve Ralston – New England Revolution
2008: Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
2007: Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
2006: Chris Klein – RealSaltLake
2005: Ronald Cerritos – San Jose Earthquakes
2004: Eddie Pope - MetroStars
2003: Brian McBride – Columbus Crew
2002: Mark Chung – Colorado Rapids
2001: Alex Pineda Chacon – Miami Fusion
2000: Steve Ralston – TampaBay Mutiny
1999: Steve Ralston – TampaBay Mutiny
1998: Thomas Dooley – Columbus Crew
1997: Mark Chung – Kansas City Wizards
MLS Team Fair Play Award Winners
2010: San Jose Earthquakes
2009: Chicago Fire
2008: New England Revolution
2007: Columbus Crew
2006: Kansas City Wizards
2005: Kansas City Wizards
2004: Columbus Crew
2003: New England Revolution
2002: Kansas City Wizards
2001: San Jose Earthquakes
2000: TampaBay Mutiny
1999: Columbus Crew
1998: Kansas City Wizards
1997: Columbus Crew
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