GK: Andre Blake, PHI
D: Matt Hedges, DAL
D: Axel Sjoberg, COL
D: Jelle Van Damme, LA
M: Mauro Diaz, DAL
M: Giovani Dos Santos, LA
M: Sacha Kljestan, NY
M: Ignacio Piatti, MON
F: Sebastian Giovinco, TOR
F: Bradley Wright-Phillips, NY
F: David Villa, NYC

quote:
MLS players, club executives and media members voted one goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders and three forwards to the Best XI

quote:
Only two holdovers return from the 2015 group: FC Dallas center back Matt Hedges and Toronto FC striker Sebastian Giovinco.

Regarding the American players in the Best XI:

quote:
Matt Hedges
FC DALLAS - DEFENDER

The 2016 MLS Defender of the Year winner led Dallas to a historic double with a US Open Cup and Supporters' Shield title this season. Hedges receives his second consecutive Best XI selection as the 25-year-old led Dallas to back-to-back 60-plus point seasons, the first club in MLS history to accomplish the feat. Hedges has played over 2,000 minutes in each of his five seasons with FC Dallas.

quote:
Sacha Kljestan
NEW YORK RED BULLS - MIDFIELDER

Kljestan made history with 20 assists this season, the second most in a single season in league history. In addition to his league-leading assist numbers, Kljestan added six goals in helping the Red Bulls to the top of the Eastern Conference regular season standings. Kljestan's tremendous performance this season pushed him back into the fray for the US national team, where he scored two goals and added two assists in five caps while playing in important 2018 World Cup Qualifiers.

Award Winners:

MVP: David Villa, NYC

Golden Boot: Bradley Wright-Phillips, NY

Manager: Oscar Pareja, DAL

Rookie: Jordan Morris, SEA

Goalkeeper: Andre Blake, PHI

Defender: Matt Hedges, DAL

Newcomer: Nico Lodeiro, SEA

Comeback Player: Chris Pontius, PHI

MLSsoccer.com

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Posted by RebelVol

The Sip

Member since Aug 2016

4849 posts

Posted on 12/7/16 at 6:12 pm to John Keating

quote:
MVP: David Villa, NYC

El Guaje

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Posted by John Keating

College Green, Ireland

Member since Jan 2015

2593 posts

Posted on 12/8/16 at 3:02 am to RebelVol

Hedges has really come strong the last three years. I look forward to Arena bringing him into the USMNT.

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Posted by Vicks Kennel Club

29-24 #BlewDat

Member since Dec 2010

31252 posts

Posted on 12/8/16 at 1:32 pm to John Keating

All good selections and deserving. I love this potential trend of getting talented South Americans like Piatti, Lodeiro, and the Atlanta United DP's.

This post was edited on 12/8/16 at 1:33 pm

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Posted by LSUButt

Lowcountry

Member since Jan 2006

16002 posts

Posted on 12/8/16 at 4:16 pm to John Keating

quote:
Goalkeeper: Andre Blake, PHI

quote:
Comeback Player: Chris Pontius, PHI

Philly repping!!!!

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Posted by LSU316

Rice and Easy Baby!!!

Member since Nov 2007

30270 posts

Posted on 12/8/16 at 4:44 pm to RebelVol

Starting to look like Villa or Giovinco will go down as having the best MLS stints for former Euro league stars (is Gio considered a star for his time with Juventus)?

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Posted by John Keating

College Green, Ireland

Member since Jan 2015

2593 posts

Posted on 12/8/16 at 5:14 pm to LSU316

Probably not. Giovinco was a squad player for Juventus, a good leading player for Parma, and has around 25 appearances for the Azzurri.

Villa is one of the greatest Spanish players of all time and the leading scorer for La Roja.

Both are brilliant additions to MLS, though. Players like Giovinco, Dos Santos, and Lodeiro are exactly the kinds of players that MLS needs to continue to bring into the league.

Villa truly cares about the growth of soccer in the US. He regularly meets with Garber and USSF officials in an informal capacity to discuss ways to further develop the game in the US.

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