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Union Players and Coach Named Finalists for MLS End of Year Awards

October 14, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - Philadelphia Union News Release

CHESTER, Pa. - Philadelphia Union, in conjunction with Major League Soccer, today announced three Union finalists for the 2019 year-end awards honoring the league's top performers during the MLS regular season. Jim Curtin has been named a finalist for Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year while Brenden Aaronson is a finalist for AT&T MLS Rookie of the Year and Kacper Przybylko is up for MLS Comeback Player of the Year.

The finalists earned the most votes in polling of three voting groups: Current MLS players, MLS clubs (Coaches, Technical Directors/General Managers), and select media members representing local and national outlets who consistently covered the 2019 MLS regular season.

Curtin is one of three finalists for the Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Yea award. With a change in style of play at the start of the season, and under a new sporting director, Curtin has led the Philadelphia Union to their best start in team history. The club set their all-time single-season wins record and their 10 home wins also tied their output from 2017, the club record. Furthermore, the Union's 58 goals are the most scored in a single-season in team history and their third place Eastern Conference finish ties the club's top conference rank. His successful coaching style has earned Curtin MLS' Coach of the Week five times.

Aaronson had a breakout rookie season, playing 28 games and starting 25. During that time, he recorded three goals and two assists, including the game-winning goal against D.C United on August 24. Aaronson has also been recognized on an international level this season. He was first called up to the U.S U-23 training camp in June, and then again in September, during the latter he notched an assist in a 2-0 victory in a friendly vs. Japan. He most recently earned his first Senior National Team call up on October 2, 2019 ahead of a pair or Concacaf Nations League matches.

Lastly, Przybylko has been named a finalist for MLS Comeback Player of the Year. In his first full season with the club he played in 26 games and started 25 during which time he scored 15 goals and added four assists. After missing two straight years of professional play due to various injuries, he became the leading scorer of the club, and one of the top scorers in the league. A four time player on the MLS Team of the Week squad, he climbed the ranks of Union history makers all season and has helped the squad to their best season in Union history.

The finalists for each award are listed in alphabetical order below, as well as the announcement schedule for the winner of each.

Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists

(to be announced the week of 2019 MLS Cup)

Zlatan Ibrahimović (LA Galaxy)

Josef Martínez (Atlanta United)

Carlos Vela (Los Angeles Football Club)

MLS Defender of the Year Finalists

(to be announced Oct. 17)

Ike Opara (Minnesota United FC)

Miles Robinson (Atlanta United)

Walker Zimmerman (Los Angeles Football Club)

Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists

(to be announced Oct. 24)

Bill Hamid (D.C. United)

Sean Johnson (New York City FC)

Vito Mannone (Minnesota United FC)

MLS Newcomer of the Year Finalists

(to be announced Oct. 16)

For this award, "newcomer" is defined as a player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2019

Carles Gil (New England Revolution)

Héber (New York City FC)

Alejandro Pozuelo (Toronto FC)

AT&T MLS Rookie of the Year Finalists

(to be announced Oct. 15)

For this award, "rookie" is defined as a player without previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2019

Brenden Aaronson (Philadelphia Union)

Hassani Dotson (Minnesota United FC)

Andre Shinyashiki (Colorado Rapids)

Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year Finalists

(to be announced Oct. 23)

Bob Bradley (Los Angeles Football Club)

Jim Curtin (Philadelphia Union)

Domènec Torrent (New York City FC)

MLS Comeback Player of the Year Finalists

Honors an MLS player who has overcome injuries and/or adversity in order to achieve success during the 2019 regular season

(to be announced Oct. 22)

Mark-Anthony Kaye (Los Angeles Football Club)

Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC)

Kacper Przybyłko (Philadelphia Union)

MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year

(TBD announcement date)

Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)

Matt Lampson (LA Galaxy)

Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)

MLS Referee of the Year Finalists

(to be announced Oct. 15)

Allen Chapman

Jair Marrufo

Rubiel Vazquez

MLS Assistant Referee of the Year Finalists

(to be announced Oct. 15)

Logan Brown

Brian Dunn

Brian Poeschel

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