Preki Wins MLS MVP Award Again
Published on November 21, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
TORRANCE, Calif. (Friday, November 21, 2003) - Kansas City Wizards midfielder Preki became the first two-time MLS Honda MVP winner in League history as he captured the 2003 award six years after his first honor in 1997. The announcement was made at the Torrance Marriott on Friday at the annual MLS Cup News Conference presented by Honda in which the winner is revealed on the Friday before the championship game. MLS Cup 2003, the League's eighth title match, pits the Chicago Fire against the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday, November 23 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California (3:30 p.m. ET live on ABC Sports).
Preki, who also became the oldest MVP in American professional sports history, had already captured the 2003 Budweiser Scoring Championship by virtue of his 12 goals and 17 assists during the regular season. His 2003 scoring totals were identical to his offensive production in 1997, when he also won both honors as MVP and top scorer. Each of the last three Budweiser Scoring Champions, and five of eight all-time, have gone on to win that season's Honda MVP accolade.
The 40-year-old, known for his trademark cutback moves and alarmingly accurate left foot, remains the only Budweiser Scoring Champion to finish with more assists than goals scored, a feat he has now accomplished twice. Preki finished six points ahead of his nearest competitor, Los Angeles Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz, who accumulated 35 points (15g, 5a). Chicago Fire forward Ante Razov and New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman finished one point behind Ruiz, whose 2002 race with the Revolution attacker for both the Budweiser Scoring Title and the Honda MVP, as well as MLS Cup, transfixed the American soccer community.
Preki helped guide the Wizards to a second-place finish in the Western Conference and into the postseason for a fourth consecutive season. His 17 assists in 2003 were tops in MLS and matched a career high set in 1997. Preki registered at least one point in 18 of the Wizards 30 games this season, averaging 1.37 points per game, second in MLS behind Twellman (1.55). His most productive game of the year came just three days before his 40th birthday. On June 21, the left-footed magician tallied three assists in the first half, then scored on a penalty kick in the second half to help the Wizards beat the Chicago Fire 4-2.
A member of the Wizards for every season except 2001, Preki edged out forwards Ante Razov (Chicago Fire) and John Spencer (Colorado Rapids) for the award. Razov led the Fire in scoring for the fifth time in the club's six-year history and finished third in League in scoring (14 goals and six assists), kicking off his season with 11 goals in his first 16 matches. Rapids captain John Spencer carried his team after its poor start on the strength of 14 goals and five assists (5th among League scoring leaders). He scored in six consecutive games as Rapids registered a five-game winning streak and a seven-game undefeated streak.
HONDA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD
2003: Preki (Kansas City)
2002: Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles)
2001: Alex Pineda Chacon (Miami)
2000: Tony Meola (Kansas City)
1999: Jason Kreis (Dallas)
1998: Marco Etcheverry (D.C. United)
1997: Preki (Kansas City)
1996: Carlos Valderrama (Tampa Bay)
Major League Soccer Stories from November 21, 2003
- MLS Announces Expansion Plans - MLS
- Preki Named Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Player, Becomes First Two-Time Winner - Sporting Kansas City
- MLS Cup on ABC Sunday - Colorado Rapids
- Preki Wins MLS MVP Award Again - MLS
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