GK - Kasey Keller - Seattle Sounders - After turning in a season like the one Keller just did, you almost wonder if he's making the wrong decision by retiring. The 41 year old Keller started all 34 games for the Sounders and finished the year with 9 shutouts while leading all goalies with 18 wins.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
DEF - Omar Gonzalez - Los Angeles Galaxy - Named the league's Defensive Player of the Year, the youngest player ever to win the award, Gonzalez enjoyed a stellar 2011 season with the Galaxy. Gonzalez was part of a defensive unit that posted the 3rd lowest goals against average (0.82) in league history and tied the MLS record with 17 shutouts. For good measure, the 6'5" center back also had a pair of goals and an assist in 29 starts.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
DEF - Jámison Olave - Real Salt Lake - Last year's Defensive Player of the Year turned in another solid season for Real Salt Lake. The Colombian center back anchored a solid RSL defense for a 4th straight year and led Real to the Western Conference Finals. In 24 starts he had a pair of goals and an assist and finished second to Gonzalez in this year's Defensive Player of the Year voting.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
DEF - Todd Dunivant - Los Angeles Galaxy - The 30 year old left back is hardly a household name, but he was a huge part of the Galaxy back line in 2011 teaming with Gonzalez to help post 17 shutouts. Dunivant started 32 of a possible 34 games during the regular season and chipped in 4 assists, the most since his rookie season in 2003 with San Jose.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
MID - Landon Donovan - Los Angeles Galaxy - Donovan played in just 23 games during this year's regular season but still scored 12 goals and added 3 assists for the Galaxy. He's been in top form in the postseason as well netting two more goals and adding an assist in leading the Galaxy to the MLS Cup Finals where they'll take on the Dynamo. This marked the 6th time in his career that Donovan has tallied at least 12 goals in an MLS season.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
MID - David Beckham - Los Angeles Galaxy - The 4th member of the Galaxy to be named to this squad, Beckham enjoyed his best MLS season to date. After tallying 16 assists in his first four MLS seasons, the 36 year old Englishman had 15 in 25 starts this year to go along with a pair of goals as the Galaxy turned in the league's best record. Beckham's strong play has continued into the postseason as he has 3 more assists in L.A.'s 3 playoff games.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
MID - Brek Shea - FC Dallas - 2011 was a breakout season for the 21 year old Shea. Shea finished with a career high 11 goals to go along with 4 assists for FC Dallas while getting significant attention from the U.S. Men's National Team and also from European clubs. Shea is one of the finalists for this year's MLS MVP award.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
MID - Brad Davis - Houston Dynamo - 2011 was perhaps the best season of Davis's career. He started every one of the Dynamo's 34 games during the regular season and finished with 4 goals and a league high 16 assists (a career high). Davis added two more assists in the postseason, but was injured in the Eastern Conference Finals and may miss the MLS Cup. Like Shea, Davis is a finalist for the MLS MVP award.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
MID - Dwayne De Rosario - D.C. United - To say 2011 was an interesting season for De Ro would be an understatement. The Canadian played with 3 different teams starting the year in Toronto, then moving to New York, and finally finishing with D.C. United. After just 3 goals and 5 assists in 15 matches between Toronto and New York, the 33 year old went to D.C. and exploded to the tune of 13 goals and 7 assists en route to the 2011 Golden Boot and was thrust into the MVP discussion. The 16 goals marked a career high.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
FWD - Chris Wondolowski - San Jose Earthquakes - On the heels of his 18-goal 2010 season, Wondo was back at it again tallying 16 more goals for the Earthquakes in 2011 and adding a career high 3 assists to go along with them. Wondo played a career high 30 matches in 2011 and also set career highs in minutes played, shots, and shots on goal.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
FWD - Thierry Henry - New York Red Bulls - The 34 year old Frenchman turned in a significantly better performance in his 2nd MLS season leading the Red Bulls with 14 goals and adding 4 assists in 26 matches. Henry also tallied a goal and an assist in the postseason, but the Red Bulls were knocked out in the Western Conference Semifinals by David Beckham and the Galaxy.
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| Photo Credit: zimbio.com |
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