MLS FC Dallas

Cooper and Gbandi Named Team MVP and Defender of the Year

Published on October 25, 2006 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, Texas (Wednesday, October 25, 2006) - FC Dallas announced today that forward Kenny Cooper has been named the team's Honda Most Valuable Player and Chris Gbandi has been selected as the Defender of the Year. In his first year with the club, Cooper finished second on the team in scoring with 11 goals, including six game-winners, which tied for the MLS lead. Gbandi was an ever-present force along the Dallas backline this season, holding down the left back role in 28 games. Each of these awards were voted upon by local media members.

Additionally, midfielder Richard Mulrooney was selected as the team's U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year by the FC Dallas Foundation. These three players, along with forward Carlos Ruiz, who won the Budweiser Golden Boot for leading FC Dallas in scoring with 13 goals during the regular season, will be recognized prior to FCD's playoff game versus the Colorado Rapids at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday, Oct. 28 (7:30 p.m.). Dallas has a 2-1 advantage heading into Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals this weekend.

HONDA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER - Kenny Cooper, Forward

Kenny Cooper, who signed with his hometown team from Manchester United in February, had a breakout first season with FC Dallas. The 22 year-old was second on the team with 11 goals and finished tied for sixth in MLS while appearing in 31 of FCD's 32 games in 2006. His versatility and incredible work-rate allowed the coaching staff to utilize his talents at forward as well as an outside midfielder. The Hoops were 10-0-1 in the 11 regular season games in which he scored a goal. Six of his goals were game-winners, which tied him for the MLS-lead in that category. Cooper also provided his team with one of the highlights of the season, tallying his first career hat trick (the fifth in team history) and then converting his penalty kick in FCD's shootout win over the Charleston Battery in the Fourth Round of the U.S. Open Cup on August 2.

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR - Chris Gbandi, Defender

A stalwart on the Dallas backline all season long, Chris Gbandi set career-highs in games played, games started and minutes played in 2006 to claim his first Defender of the Year award. The 2002 No. 1 overall pick appeared in 28 games, making 27 starts and playing 2,393 minutes while collecting two assists. Gbandi has established himself as one of the best left backs in all of MLS, not just for his defensive prowess but also for his attacking skills which allow him to pin back opposing midfielders and whip crosses into the box from the left flank. Gbandi proved to be cool under pressure as well, successfully converting his penalty kicks during shootouts against Tigres UANL in the Rio Grande Plate and the Charleston Battery in the U.S. Open Cup.

BUDWEISER GOLDEN BOOT - Carlos Ruiz, Forward

In his second season with FC Dallas, forward Carlos Ruiz won his second consecutive Budweiser Golden Boot award, which goes to the team's leading goalscorer during the regular season. Ruiz led FCD with 13 goals while playing a career-high 27 games this season to finish third in the league in scoring. Eight of Ruiz's 13 goals came in a seven game stretch from May 6-June 11 when the Guatemalan international tied a league record by scoring in seven consecutive games, won a pair of Goal of the Week awards and was named as Major League Soccer's Player of the Month for May. As good as Ruiz has been in the regular season, ranking ninth in MLS history with 74 goals during his five-year career, it has been the postseason where he has really made his mark. In 14 career postseason games, "Fish" has scored 14 goals, which ties him for first place in MLS history in postseason goals along with Landon Donovan of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR - Richard Mulrooney, Midfielder

For the second straight season, midfielder Richard Mulrooney has been named the team's U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year. Mulrooney's return in May after rehabbing for a year from a torn right ACL not only made a tremendous impact on the field for FC Dallas, but off the field also. At every FC Dallas home game, Mulrooney donates his game-worn cleats for an in-stadium silent charity auction called "In His Shoes", with all money raised in the auction benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In addition to his shoes, Mulrooney has also donated other game-worn items including his uniform from the 2006 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star game, in which he started and helped the MLS side defeat Chelsea 1-0 in August. Mulrooney's involvement with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society also includes schools visits to encourage the "Pennies for Patients Program".

Check out the FC Dallas Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from October 25, 2006


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.

OurSports Central