MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Team Awards Go to Kenny Cooper and Pablo Ricchetti

Published on November 7, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, Texas (Friday, Nov. 7, 2008) - FC Dallas today announced that Kenny Cooper has been selected as the team's Most Valuable Player and Pablo Ricchetti has been named the team's Defender of the Year as voted by members of the local media. In addition, Cooper also receives the Budweiser Golden Boot for his team-leading 18 goals during the 2008 regular season and Ricchetti has been recognized as the club's U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year as chosen by the FC Dallas Foundation.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER / BUDWEISER GOLDEN BOOT - KENNY COOPER

As the only FC Dallas player to have started all 30 games this season, Kenny Cooper led the team in scoring with 18 goals, equaling the franchise high mark set by Jason Kreis in 1999, and finished the season just two goals behind the 2008 MLS scoring champion Landon Donovan. Fourteen of Cooper's 18 scores either tied or gave FCD the lead in games this year (including four game-winners), while the other four increased the team's lead. As a result, Dallas improved to 19-1-9 all-time when Cooper scores.

The third-year forward also reached 33 regular season goals in his career, surpassing eight players to claim second on the club's all-time scoring list behind Kreis (91). The 24-year-old notched four multi-goal games on the year, including in back-to-back contests against the LA Galaxy on July 27 and Toronto FC on August 3, for which he earned consecutive MLS Player of the Week honors. Cooper was also voted an MLS All-Star First XI selection for the first time in his career, finishing second amongst forwards in voting, and earning the start for the All-Stars 3-2 win over England's West Ham United on July 24.

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR - PABLO RICCHETTI

Pablo Ricchetti began the season as one of two defensive midfielders in the team's 3-5-2 formation. However, with a coaching change came a change in the system, and the 33-year-old was the top choice as the lone holding position in the 4-4-2. The switch enabled the Argentine to display his outstanding range and skill, constantly breaking up the opposition's play in the middle of the field and igniting the FCD attack. His three assists were the second most amongst all teammates who made the majority of their appearances in a defensive role.

Ricchetti finished the season behind only Cooper and Drew Moor with 2,252 minutes played. The veteran showed his versatility by filling in at central defense in games versus the Chicago Fire on Sept. 4 and D.C. United on Sept. 13, and as one of the team's veteran leaders, he was chosen to wear the captain's armband on Sept. 13.

U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR - PABLO RICCHETTI

Ricchetti has spent his spare time this year becoming actively involved with the Miracle League of Frisco, a local non-profit organization that serves as a sports outlet for children with disabilities. The Argentine-born Ricchetti became a buddy with the kids that participate in the program's various sports leagues, and his impact can be summarized in his relationship with a little boy named Joel, who has looked at Pablo as a fatherly figure while his father is serving in Iraq.

Ricchetti also created a fundraising opportunity for the Miracle League by trading his game-worn jerseys with many Major League Soccer stars, including David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, and others. The jerseys were then framed along with a photo of the featured player and were raffled off in September, with the funds going toward the non-profit's upcoming sports seasons as well as the construction of a new Miracle League soccer field.

In addition to his work with the Miracle League, Ricchetti became the face of the FC Dallas Foundation's Community Clinic Series, conducting free monthly soccer clinics with the help of his teammates in different underserved communities of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Over 2,000 young children attended the free clinics, where they were not only taught valuable soccer skills, but also the value of hard work and dedication.

Check out the FC Dallas Statistics

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



Major League Soccer Stories from November 7, 2008


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