
Taty Castellanos Shortlisted for MLS Award
November 15, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York City FC News Release
NEW YORK Major League Soccer today announced finalists for the 2021 MLS Year-End Awards, honoring the top performers on and off the field during the regular season. With the spread of finalists recognizing players from 15 MLS clubs, the wealth of talent features more teams with finalists than in any of the last four years.
Among the contenders for the coveted Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Award are five players who have led their sides to a top-four finish in the conference, including MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi winner Valentín "Taty" Castellanos (New York City FC), the league leader in assists Carles Gil (New England Revolution), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), João Paulo (Seattle Sounders FC) and Dániel Sallói (Sporting Kansas City).
As MLS continues to showcase young dynamic players on the rise, the LA Galaxy's Julián Araujo is alongside New England Revolution star Tajon Buchanan of the Canadian National Team and FC Dallas Academy product Ricardo Pepi of the U.S. Men's National Team in the chase for the Young Player of the Year Award - which recognizes the best player under age 22.
The finalists (in alphabetical order) which follow below earned the most votes in polling among three voting groups:
Current MLS players.
MLS club technical staffs (coaches, technical directors/GMs).
Select group of media members.
2021 Major League Soccer Award Finalists
Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
Valentín Castellanos (New York City FC)
Carles Gil (New England Revolution)
Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC)
João Paulo (Seattle Sounders FC)
Dániel Sallói (Sporting Kansas City)
Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)
Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
Joe Willis (Nashville SC)
Defender of the Year Finalists
Yeimar Gómez (Seattle Sounders FC)
Miles Robinson (Atlanta United)
Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)
Newcomer of the Year Finalists
For this award, "newcomer" is defined as a player who made his MLS debut in 2021.
Cristian 'Chicho' Arango (Los Angeles Football Club)
Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Eduardo 'Chofis' López (San Jose Earthquakes)
AT&T MLS Young Player of the Year Finalists
For this award, "young player" is defined as a player age 22 (born on or after Jan. 1, 1999).
Julián Araujo (LA Galaxy)
Tajon Buchanan (New England Revolution)
Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas)
Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Honors an MLS player who has overcome injuries and/or adversity in order to achieve success during the 2021 regular season.
Carles Gil (New England Revolution)
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández (LA Galaxy)
Dániel Sallói (Sporting Kansas City)
MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year Finalists
Julián Araujo (LA Galaxy)
Justin Morrow (Toronto FC)
Brad Stuver (Austin FC)
Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Finalists
Bruce Arena (New England Revolution)
Robin Fraser (Colorado Rapids)
Brian Schmetzer (Seattle Sounders FC)
Referee of the Year Finalists
Jair Marrufo
Robert Sibiga
Armando Villarreal
Assistant Referee of the Year Finalists
Frank Anderson
Ian Anderson
Cory Richardson
Major League Soccer Stories from November 15, 2021
- Houston Dynamo FC Legend Boniek García Enters Free Agency - Houston Dynamo FC
- Atlanta United Signs Carlos Bocanegra to Multiyear Contract Extension - Atlanta United FC
- Taty Castellanos Shortlisted for MLS Award - New York City FC
- Three Sounders Announced as Finalists for 2021 MLS Year-End Awards - Seattle Sounders FC
- Chofis Named Finalist for MLS Newcomer of the Year - San Jose Earthquakes
- Robin Fraser Selected as Finalist for Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Award - Colorado Rapids
- LA Galaxy Defender Julian Araujo and Forward Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez Named 2021 MLS Year-End Awards Finalists - LA Galaxy
- Nashville Soccer Club Earns Three Finalists for 2021 MLS End-Of-Year Awards - Nashville SC
- Ryan Gauld Named Finalist for MLS Newcomer of the Year - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Miles Robinson Named Finalist for MLS Defender of the Year - Atlanta United FC
- Daniel Salloi Named an MLS MVP Finalist - Sporting Kansas City
- New England Revolution Boast Five Finalists for 2021 MLS Year-End Awards - New England Revolution
- FC Dallas Homegrown Ricardo Pepi Announced as Finalist in MLS 2021 Year-End Awards - FC Dallas
- MLS 2021 Year-End Awards Finalists Announced - MLS
- Austin FC Goalkeeper Brad Stuver Named MLS Works Humanitarian of the Year Award Finalist - Austin FC
- Sporting KC Weekly - Sporting Kansas City
- Timbers, Thorns FC Team up with Providence to Host COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for Children Ages 5 to 11 at Providence Park - Portland Timbers
- Inter Miami CF Announces 2021 Roster Decisions - Inter Miami CF
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.
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