MLS to Honor Top Rising Star with the AT&T Young Player of the Year Award
Voting begins on Thursday for 2020 End of Year Awards;
Star performers age 22 and under will be eligible for Young Player of the Year
NEW YORK
(October 28, 2020) –
Major League Soccer today announced the creation of the AT&T MLS Young Player of the Year award, an honor that will recognize the top young player in the league age 22 and under at the end of each season. Voting for 2020 End of Year Awards including Young Player of the Year will run from Oct. 29 through Nov. 9 with finalists to be announced on Nov. 11.
The AT&T MLS Young Player of the Year award will celebrate the rising stars within MLS and serve as a reflection of the diverse and up-and-coming talent in the league. Any player who meets the age requirement, whether it be a Homegrown Player developed in MLS academies, an MLS SuperDraft pick, or a young player who arrived in the league via the international transfer market will be eligible for the award. For 2020, any player born on or after Jan.1, 1998 is eligible, while players born on or before Dec. 31, 1997 are ineligible.
Beginning this season, the AT&T Young Player of the Year award replaces the Rookie of the Year award, which previously honored the top first-year pro player in MLS.
“The AT&T Young Player of the Year award reflects the commitment of MLS to develop world class players by recognizing the elite young stars within our league. This honor will highlight the amazing talent developed in MLS academies, which year-after-year produce internationally coveted stars,” MLS Executive Vice President, Player Relations and Competition Todd Durbin said. “With our clubs increasingly signing elite young international standouts and the continued quality of players in the MLS SuperDraft, there has never been more young talent to celebrate in our league.”
End of Year Awards will be determined through voting between Oct. 29-Nov. 9 from three groups:
• Current MLS players
• MLS clubs (Coaches, Technical Directors/General Managers)
• Select media members representing local and national outlets who consistently covered the 2020 MLS regular season
Additionally, MLS will recognize the top plays of the season with the AT&T MLS Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year presented by Allstate, with voting for both awards set to run from Nov. 12-18 on MLSsoccer.com.
CLICK HERE
for a full list of nominees for each award.
MLS will honor the top stars and moments with the following awards in 2020:
2020 MLS End of Year Awards
MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi
Landon Donovan MLS MVP
MLS Best XI presented by The Home Depot
AT&T MLS Young Player of the Year
Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
MLS Defender of the Year
MLS Comeback Player of the Year
MLS Newcomer of the Year
AT&T MLS Goal of the Year
MLS Save of the Year presented by Allstate
MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year
Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year
MLS Referee of the Year
MLS Assistant Referee of the Year
MLS Fair Play Award – Individual & Team
About Major League Soccer (MLS):
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer – celebrating its 25th Season in 2020 – features 26 clubs throughout the United States and Canada, in addition to future expansion teams in Austin, St. Louis, Sacramento, and Charlotte. For more information about MLS, visit
www.MLSsoccer.com
.
