WEEHAWKEN, N.J. - The MetroStars presented their 2005 regular season awards tonight at the Chart House in Weehawken, NJ. The night featured 17 awards with 10 going to MetroStars players, two to the Youth Soccer Clubs of the Year, three to MetroStars Player Development Academy players, one to the "Red and Black's" Fan of the Year and one to a select member of the MetroStars organization.
Youri Djorkaeff took home the most hardware of the night, winning three awards including the 2005 Honda Most Valuable Player, the 2005 MetroStars.com Player of the Year, and the 2005 MetroStars Newcomer of the Year.
The MetroStars Most Valuable Player, sponsored by American Honda Motor Company, awards the player who made the most significant impact on the MetroStars success during the 2005 regular season. Djorkaeff, in just his first season with the club, tallied 10 goals (five gamewinners) and 7 assists. More impressive than simply the numbers, is the impact they have had on the team, as the Metros are 9-2-3 on the season when Djorkaeff either scores a goal or tallies an assist.
Additionally, the 1998 World Cup winner was recognized as the MetroStars.com Player of the Year (which was voted on by fans on the team's website www.metrostars.com
), and the 2005 MetroStars Newcomer of the Year.
MetroStars midfielders Michael Bradley and Amado Guevara were the only other players who took home multiple awards, as they each took home two pieces of hardware on the evening.
Guevara earned the 2005 MLS Play of the Year Award for his last second game-tying goal against Chivas USA at Giants Stadium on August 21. Not only was the goal a spectacular strike and one of much importance to the MetroStars, it completed Guevara's second hat-trick of the season.
The Honduran International also took home the MetroStars 2005 Budweiser Golden Boot, which is given to the player who scores the most goals for his club. "El Lobo" tallied eleven goals for the MetroStars on the season.
Bradley was recognized for his contributions to the 2005 "Red and Black" squad, as he was awarded the 2005 MetroStars Iron Man Award and the 2005 MetroStars Young Player of the Year Award.
Bradley, who tallied 2628 minutes this season, earned the Iron Man Award, which goes to the player who logs the most minutes of action throughout the course of the year. He started 30 of 32 games, playing the full 90 minutes in all but four of those contests. The two games that he did not appear in were due to suspension (caution point accumulation).
Bradley's second award, the 2005 MetroStars Young Player of the Year Award, recognizes a player under the age of 23 who has been able to handle the pressures of being a professional athlete while delivering positive results on the field. At the young age of 18, Bradley has proven to be an integral part of the MetroStars squad, earning respect for his hard work ethic, and blue-collar style of play. Despite leading the team in minutes, Bradley's season will be most remembered for his 49th minute game-winning goal against Chivas USA last weekend, which vaulted the MetroStars into the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Tim Regan captured the U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year Award for the third straight year. This award is presented to the player who has made a significant impact on the local community and recognizes the player who has served as the strongest role model. He has coached youth soccer in Wyckoff, read to the children of Harrison in the public library, visited children at St. Barnabas Medical Center, taught handicapped children the fundamentals of soccer and is an active member of the "Athletes in Action" organization.
Chris Leitch also took home a trophy for the second consecutive season. Last season, Leitch was named the team's Iron Man while this season he was voted the team's Defender of the Year. Leitch, who is in his fourth season as a professional, is recognized as one of the hardest working defenders on the team. This year he appeared in 28 games, starting 26, and tallied an assist with a throw in at New England on June 25.
The 2005 MetroStars Unsung Hero Award was given to forward Sergio Galvan Rey. Galvan Rey, who is in his second season with the club, saw action in 27 games this season, starting 16 of them. He was effective from both the bench and as a starter, tallying seven goals during the regular season campaign.
In addition to honoring the players, the MetroStars organization also honored youth soccer clubs, academy players, its greatest fan of the year and a special member of the organization.
The MetroStars work with hundreds of youth soccer clubs throughout the Tri-State area, however there are some clubs that demonstrate extraordinary levels of support and participation in MetroStars activities. The Youth Soccer Clubs of the Year took part in many of the MetroStars programs and served as strong outlets to promote the growth and success of soccer in this area. Staten Island United Soccer League and Toms River Youth Soccer Club both took home this honor for their contributions.
The MetroStars also honored three members of their Youth Development Program. The MetroStars Academy Teams compete at the U-19, U-16 and U-14 levels. These teams provide local youth players an outstanding opportunity and positive environment to develop and mature as young pros. Jassimar Sanchez (U-14), Gabe Ferrari (U-16) and Mike Hessemer (U-19) were all honored for their leadership both on and off the field as Young Players of the Year.
The "Red and Black" recognized a pair of their most faithful, Fred and Yvonne Bachmann, as the 2005 MetroStars Fan(s) of the Year. The MetroStars organization received multiple online submissions for this award and narrowed down their search for the winner, which was ultimately decided upon by the team. The Bachmann's have been passionate supporters since the team's inception in 1996 and have become recognizable faces amongst staff, players, media and other fans.
Finally the MetroStars gave a new award tonight, the 2005 Pride and Passion Award, which is given to a recipient in the Metrostars family who goes above and beyond his/her call of duty with their devotion to the MetroStars. The 2005 winner of this award is Fernando Ruiz, who has helped the team in many facets over the past 10 years.
Of the ten awards going to players, seven were voted on by the media (2005 Honda MetroStars Most Valuable Player, 2005 United States Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year, 2005 Major League Soccer's MetroStars Defender of the Year, 2005 Unsung Player of the Year, 2005 MetroStars Newcomer of the Year, 2005 MetroStars Young Player of the Year and 2005 MetroStars Play of the Year), two were awarded by statistical analysis (2005 MetroStars Budweiser Golden Boot and 2005 MetroStars Iron Man) and one was voted on by the fans at www.metrostars.com
(2005 MetroStars.com Player of the Year).
2005 MetroStars Honda Most Valuable Player - Youri Djorkaeff
2005 United States Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year - Tim Regan
2005 MetroStars Young Player of the Year - Michael Bradley
2005 Major League Soccer's MetroStars Defender of the Year - Chris Leitch
2005 MetroStars Play of the Year - Amado Guevara (90th minute goal against Chivas USA on August 21)
2005 MetroStars Unsung Player - Sergio Galvan Rey
2005 MetroStars Newcomer of the Year - Youri Djorkaeff
2005 MetroStars Budweiser Golden Boot - Amado Guevara
2005 MetroStars Iron Man - Michael Bradley
2005 MetroStars.com Player of the Year - Youri Djorkaeff
2005 MetroStars Fan of the Year - Fred and Yvonne Bachmann
2005 MetroStars Youth Soccer Clubs of the Year - Staten Island United Soccer League, Toms River Youth Soccer Club
2005 MetroStars Player Development Academy Players of the Year - Jassimar Sanchez (U-14), Gabe Ferrari (U-16) and Mike Hessemer (U-19)
2005 MetroStars Pride and Passion Award - Fernando Ruiz
