The following is a press release from MLS Communications.
NEW YORK, NY (Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015) – Major League Soccer announced today that Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco is the 2015 Landon Donovan Most Valuable Player. Giovinco was presented the Tiffany & Co. sterling silver trophy by Todd Durbin, MLS Executive Vice President – Player Relations and Competition, at a media event held at the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario.
Sebastian Giovinco Named 2015 MLS Most Valuable Player
The MLS MVP honor is the fourth postseason award for the Italian international, who set a new MLS single-season record for most combined goals and assists (38) and led TFC to its first ever playoff appearance in his historic debut campaign. Giovinco also captured the Audi Golden Boot, the MLS Newcomer of the Year Award, and was voted to the MLS Best XI team.
Standing only 5’4” but strong, quick and creative, Giovinco earned the nickname ‘Atomic Ant’ while at Juventus of Italy’s Serie A and with the Italian National Team. He joined Toronto FC in January of 2015 went on to play a part in 38 of the club’s 58 goals in his inaugural season, winning the Audi Golden Boot by scoring a league-tying best 22 goals and adding a league-leading 16 assists.
Giovinco was involved in two or more goals in 12 games during the 2015 regular season – the most of any player in MLS history. He is the first player in league history to reach 20+ goals and 10+ assists in a single season, and also set the MLS single-season record for total attempts at goal (181).
The 28-year-old was voted the Player of the Month in July and August, the MLS Player of the Week three times, and earned ten MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week selections.
In addition, Giovinco’s success with Toronto earned him call ups to four matches with the Italian National Team in 2015. Most recently, he assisted on Italy’s game-tying goal in a EUFA EURO 2016 Qualifying 2-1 win over Norway on October 13.
Giovinco has a shot a fifth award. His dazzling goal against the New York Red Bulls on October 14 – less than 24 hours after playing for Italy in Europe and having gone straight to the stadium upon landing in Toronto – is one of two remaining goals up for the AT&T Goal of the Year, which is voted on by fans on MLSsoccer.com and will be announced on December 3.
In January the MLS Most Valuable Player award was named after American soccer legend Landon Donovan, who retired last December after playing 14 seasons in the League. Since 1996, the MLS MVP award has been presented annually to the individual deemed most valuable to his club by players, management and the media. Below is a breakdown of the voting results for the top three finalists in 2015:
|
Player (Club)
|
% of Club Votes
|
% of Media Votes
|
% of Player Votes
|
Weighted Total
|
|
Sebastian Giovinco (TOR)
|
87.27
|
94.37
|
77.33
|
258.97
|
|
Kei Kamara (CLB)
|
1.85
|
4.23
|
6.98
|
13.06
|
|
Benny Feilhaber (SKC)
|
1.82
|
1.39
|
1.74
|
4.95
|
All-Time MLS Most Valuable Players
2015: Sebastian Giovinco – Toronto FC
2014: Robbie Keane – LA Galaxy
2013: Mike Magee – Chicago Fire
2012: Chris Wondolowski – San Jose Earthquakes
2011: Dwayne De Rosario – D.C. United
2010: David Ferreira – FC Dallas
2009: Landon Donovan – LA Galaxy
2008: Guillermo Barros Schelotto – Columbus Crew
2007: Luciano Emilio – D.C. United
2006: Christian Gómez – D.C. United
2005: Taylor Twellman – New England Revolution
2004: Amado Guevara – MetroStars
2003: Preki – Kansas City Wizards
2002: Carlos Ruiz – LA Galaxy
2001: Alex Pineda Chacón – Miami Fusion
2000: Tony Meola – Kansas City Wizards
1999: Jason Kreis – Dallas Burn
1998: Marco Etcheverry – D.C. United
1997: Preki – Kansas City Wizards
1996: Carlos Valderrama – Tampa Bay Mutiny
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