Chris Klein Nominated for Two MLS Awards, Wizards Earn MLS Fair Play Team Award
October 8, 2002 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Major League Soccer unveiled today the list of finalists for nine of the league's annual year-end awards and among those nominated was Kansas City Wizards midfielder Chris Klein. Klein was one of three finalists for the ACE Comeback Player of the Year Award as well as the MLS Individual Fair Play Award. The winners will be announced daily from October 14 - October 19 during the build-up to the League's seventh championship match, MLS Cup 2002 on Sunday, October 20 at Gillette Stadium (12:30 p.m. CT - ABC).
Chris Klein suffered a torn right ACL during a Copa Merconorte match in October of 2001 and underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments shortly after the incident. Klein missed five and a half months of training during his rehabilitation, including the Wizards preseason training in Argentina and in Kansas City. He missed the first game of the MLS season, but returned on April 13th to lead the Wizards to a 2-0 win over the defending MLS Cup Champion San Jose Earthquakes. Klein scored the game-winning goal in the 52nd minute then added an assist on the second goal. His efforts earned him MLS Player of the Week honors in his first competitive action since suffering the injury. Klein finished the season ranked second on the team in scoring with 19 points (7g, 5a). His seven goals in 2002 were a career high.
Klein's earned his nomination for the Individual Fair Play Award by committing just 11 fouls on the season and did not receive a caution or a red card through 25 games played. The Wizards were awarded the MLS Fair Play Team Award at the completion of the 2002 regular season. The Wizards committed just 362 fouls during the regular season, the fewest fouls in MLS and 83 fewer fouls than the next closest team, the MetroStars. The Wizards also received the fewest cautions in MLS with just 47 during the regular season. In addition to the honors listed below, Major League Soccer will also name its Pepsi Best 11 at the League's annual Gala Awards Ceremony on Saturday, October 19 in Providence, Rhode Island. In addition to the formal presentation of all the League's year-end awards for on-field performance, MLS will also formally present its 2002 Executive Award winners at this event.
Beginning tomorrow, fans and media members will have the opportunity to select the 2002 MLS Goal of the Year, an annual award given to the player whose goal is judged to be the best overall scoring play during the regular season. Based on nominations from each of the League's players and coaches, a collection of 10 different goals from the 2002 season will be available for download at www.MLSnet.com beginning at 3:00 p.m. CT tomorrow (October 9). Voting will conclude at midnight on Friday, October 11. The winner will be announced from a list of three finalists on Thursday, October 17.
• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...
Major League Soccer Stories from October 8, 2002
- Galaxy Trio Up for MLS Awards - LA Galaxy
- Mark Chung Named Finalist for Pair of Awards - Colorado Rapids
- Wizards Wrap Up Demanding 2002 Season, Experience Success On and Off the Field - Sporting Kansas City
- Earthquakes Forward Landon Donovan Wins 2002 Honda Player of The Year Award - San Jose Earthquakes
- Chris Klein Nominated for Two MLS Awards, Wizards Earn MLS Fair Play Team Award - Sporting Kansas City
- Fire's Bocanegra and Kelly Named Finalists for MLS Awards - Chicago Fire FC
- Martino Named Rookie of the Year Finalist - Columbus Crew SC
- Three MetroStars Among Finalists For MLS Postseason Awards - New York Red Bulls
- Pareja Undergoes Successful Surgery; Jeffries Finalist For MLS Coach of the Year - FC Dallas
- Year-End Awards Finalists Announced - MLS
- Show Us Your Gold, Columbus Continues Wednesday - Columbus Crew SC
- D.C. United in the Community - D.C. United
- MetroStars To Make Head Coaching Change - New York Red Bulls
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
