COLUMBUS, Ohio - Major League Soccer announced Thursday that Crew midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto has been voted the 2008 MLS Volkswagen Most Valuable Player, awarded to the player who earns the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, and members of the media. Schelotto, who leads the Crew into its first-ever appearance in the MLS Cup Championship this Sunday (Nov. 23), becomes the first player in Crew history to win the prestigious league MVP award.
Schelotto collected seven goals and 19 assists in 27 games during a prolific 2008 regular season, leading the league in assists by a wide margin. He also set a new Crew record for most assists in a season, eclipsing John Wilmar Perez's 15 in 2001, and finished the season tied for second in MLS history for assists in a season. Five of his assists led to game-winners and his extraordinary performances were recognized with four regular-season MLS Player of the Week selections, MLS Player of the Month honors for August and inclusion on the MLS inactive All-Star roster. His 19 assists this season are the most for an individual in MLS since the 2002 season when Steve Ralston also totaled 19.
Thanks in large part to Schelotto's leadership and playmaking ability, the 2008 regular season was one of the best in Crew history, as the Black & Gold won the Supporters' Shield with a 17-7-6 record and 57 points, shattering the club record for points in a season. Columbus also set new club marks for wins and goals (50) in the post-shootout era (since 2000).
Schelotto has continued to be a difference-maker in the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs, totaling three assists in three games and garnering MLS Cup Playoffs Player of the Week honors on Nov. 17. Schelotto and the Crew will look to produce a storybook ending to their magical 2008 season on Sunday, when the Black & Gold take on the New York Red Bulls in the 2008 MLS Cup Final on "ESPN on ABC" at 3:30 p.m. (ET) at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
Since joining the Crew in 2007 from storied Argentinean club Boca Juniors, Schelotto has proven to be one of the best attacking players in the league. He was a member of the 2007 MLS Best XI squad and in 49 career MLS regular season games, he has recorded a whopping 30 assists and scored 12 goals.
The 2008 Volkswagen Most Valuable Player earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, and members of the media. The following is a breakdown of the voting for the top three candidates:
MVP VOTING |
Coach/GM |
Players |
Media |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Schelotto |
53.13% |
29.67% |
79.63% |
54.14% |
Donovan |
25.00% |
26.83% |
5.56% |
19.13% |
Blanco |
0% |
5.28% |
3.70% |
3.00% |
Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members, it has won the 2002 U.S. Open Cup championship and MLS Supporters' Shield titles in 2004 and 2008. It is currently in its 13th season overall and 10th in first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium.
