It’s been a wonderful year for Sounders FC. From winning the Supporters’ Shield on Saturday against the LA Galaxy to September’s U.S. Open Cup title in Philadelphia back in September to a league-high 20 wins…things have gone pretty well for the club in 2014.
The success of the team was the culmination of some excellent individual seasons had by the Sounders, and because of this a number of players are up for MLS awards.
For your reading and #HellaGreedy pleasure, the reasons why each of these awards should go to a Sounders is listed below, starting with the big one - the 2014 Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player Award.
Volkswagen MLS MVP - Obafemi Martins, Clint Dempsey
Martins - The Sounders forward has been unstoppable this season, and with his dominance, the club has in turn performed extremely well. Not counting his 17 goals and 13 assists, the Sounders are a perfect 12-0-0 when he scores. His work rate and unwavering determination to the team’s cause have propelled the club to first place overall in the regular season. As they say, best player on the best team.
Dempsey - He may have pulled himself out of the running slightly by saying the award should definitely go to Martins, but the USMNT captain still has a solid case at being named the best player in the league. His 15 goals and 10 assists in only 26 matches is a solid starting point, but it’s been his combination with Martins that has really taken the league by storm in his second year. Arguably the best duo in MLS. Can they both win?
Defender of the Year - Chad Marshall
In his first season with the Sounders, Marshall has been immense in holding down the center of the defense. His presence in the back was felt from the first match of the year (a 1-0 victory of defending champion Sporting KC) and has continued throughout the season. Leading the league in interceptions with 136 and boasting impressive numbers in aerials won (126…#AirMarshall’ing, if you will), clearances (206) and passing accuracy (83%), Marshall has revitalized his career since joining Sounders FC.
Goalkeeper of the Year/Comeback Player of the Year - Stefan Frei
Our Swiss goalkeeper is up for two honors this year, one for his position and a second for his stellar return to prominence after a number of tough seasons with Toronto FC. In 2014, Frei set a league record for the post-shootout era with 20 wins after returning to a starting role for the first time in three years. He also finished the season third in shutouts with nine and a 59% win percentage, good for tops in the league among regular starters.
Newcomer of the Year - Gonzalo Pineda
Pineda has proven to be a perfect foil for Ozzie Alonso in the center of the Sounders midfield and has chipped in three goals and seven assists. His presence and veteran savvy in the middle have been huge this season. After thinking his career may be over before joining the club due to a lingering sports hernia injury, the World Cup veteran has revitalized his career and become fully engrained in the Sounders community since signing in preseason.
Coach of the Year - Sigi Schmid
Often hindered in the running for this award due to his overwhelming experience and familiarity with Major League Soccer, Schmid has a legitimate case in 2014. Entering the year with 14 new players, Schmid was asked to craft Sounders FC into a winning unit once more, but with the same lofty expectations that come with being the head coach of the club. He did just that and led the team to a league-record 20 wins, which included an 8-1-2 spell that helped strengthen the bid for the MLS Supporters’ Shield. Eventually winning the Shield and the U.S. Open Cup, the Sounders enter the playoffs following the club’s best ever regular season.
Humanitarian of the Year - Dylan Remick
While Remick struggled with injuries for part of the season and was still the understudy to the always reliable Leo Gonzalez, he surely made a massive impact off the pitch. Remick, a second-year defender, was given the club Humanitarian of the Year award for his work at Hope Place, a shelter for homeless women and children as well as the numerous visits to Seattle Children’s and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospitals. In total, Remick had 18 unpaid community appearances this season and is a perfect example of the community values that the club holds dear.
The cases have been made. Vote Sounders in 2014!
