NEW YORK (Monday, Nov. 24, 2014) – A talented forward and stalwart center back took home the honors as Major League Soccer today announced the 2014 AT&T Rookie of the Year and the Xbox Individual Fair Play awards. FC Dallas front man and Canadian-born, Tesho Akindele, earned the Rookie nod, while Michael Parkhurst of Columbus Crew SC won the Individual Fair Play title. The Philadelphia Union were also recognized with the Xbox Team Fair Play Award.
2014 AT&T Rookie of the Year: Tesho Akindele – FC Dallas
A goal hungry and lightning-fast player drafted out of the Colorado School of Mines, where he holds the school’s all-time goal scoring record, Tesho Akindele made his presence known in FC Dallas’ 2014 campaign. The rookie forward made 26 appearances in the regular season, 18 of which were starts, logging 1,748 minutes and playing every minute of the Hoops’ playoff run. The 22-year-old recorded seven goals and three assists during the regular season, adding a goal in the MLS Cup Playoffs against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Akindele was named MLS Player of the Week for week 23 after he recorded his first MLS hat trick in a 5-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on Aug. 16.
2014 AT&T Rookie of the Year: Tesho Akindele – FC Dallas
A goal hungry and lightning-fast player drafted out of the Colorado School of Mines, where he holds the school’s all-time goal scoring record, Tesho Akindele made his presence known in FC Dallas’ 2014 campaign. The rookie forward made 26 appearances in the regular season, 18 of which were starts, logging 1,748 minutes and playing every minute of the Hoops’ playoff run. The 22-year-old recorded seven goals and three assists during the regular season, adding a goal in the MLS Cup Playoffs against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Akindele was named MLS Player of the Week for week 23 after he recorded his first MLS hat trick in a 5-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on Aug. 16.
All first-year players in MLS, without previous professional experience, were eligible for the AT&T Rookie of the Year award, voted by media, MLS players and MLS club management based on regular season performance. The other two finalists were Chicago Fire midfielder Harry Shipp and D.C. United defender Steve Birnbaum. Below is a breakdown of the voting for the top four candidates:
2014 Xbox Individual Fair Play Award: Michael Parkhurst – Columbus Crew SC
This year’s winner of the Xbox Individual Fair Play award has proven a true gentleman on the field, while still churning out gritty defensive displays for Columbus Crew SC. Michael Parkhurst joined the Crew prior to the 2014 season and proceeded to log 2,806 minutes in 33 games, committing just 11 fouls and drawing one yellow card. In five MLS seasons, the Rhode Island native has never recorded more than 12 fouls and two yellow cards in a single season. Parkhurst is the second player in MLS history to win the Xbox Fair Play Award three times.
This award is selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, games & minutes played, as well as subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior. The other two finalists were Chicago Fire midfielder Harry Shipp and Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe.
2014 Xbox Team Fair Play Award: Philadelphia Union
The Philadelphia Union earned the fewest cards in MLS in 2014, receiving 37 yellow cards and five red cards throughout the season. Additionally, the Union’s 413 fouls were the fifth-lowest in the league. This is the club’s first time winning the award.
The award is selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fewest fouls committed and cards received, and subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
AT&T Rookie of the Year Winners
2014: Tesho Akindele – FC Dallas
2013: Dillon Powers – Colorado Rapids
2012: Austin Berry – Chicago Fire
2011: C.J. Sapong – Sporting Kansas City
2010: Andy Najar – D.C. United
2009: Omar Gonzalez – LA Galaxy
2008: Sean Franklin – LA Galaxy
2007: Maurice Edu – Toronto FC
2006: Jonathan Bornstein – Chivas USA
2005: Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
2004: Clint Dempsey – New England Revolution
2003: Damani Ralph – Chicago Fire
2002: Kyle Martino – Columbus Crew
2001: Rodrigo Faria - MetroStars
2000: Carlos Bocanegra – Chicago Fire
1999: Jay Heaps – Miami Fusion
1998: Ben Olsen – D.C. United
1997: Mike Duhaney – Tampa Bay Mutiny
1996: Steve Ralston – Tampa Bay Mutiny
Xbox Fair Play Award - Individual Winners:
2014: Michael Parkhurst – Columbus Crew SC
2013: Darlington Nagbe – Portland Timbers
2012: Logan Pause – Chicago Fire
2011: Sébastien Le Toux – Philadelphia Union
2010: Sébastien Le Toux – Philadelphia Union
2009: Steve Ralston – New England Revolution
2008: Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
2007: Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
2006: Chris Klein – Real Salt Lake
2005: Ronald Cerritos – San Jose Earthquakes
2004: Eddie Pope – Metro Stars
2003: Brian McBride – Columbus Crew
2002: Mark Chung – Colorado Rapids
2001: Alex Pineda Chacon – Miami Fusion
2000: Steve Ralston – Tampa Bay Mutiny
1999: Steve Ralston – Tampa Bay Mutiny
1998: Thomas Dooley – Columbus Crew
1997: Mark Chung – Kansas City Wizards
Xbox Fair Play Award -Team Winners:
2014: Philadelphia Union
2013: LA Galaxy
2012: New England Revolution
2011: Portland Timbers
2010: San Jose Earthquakes
2009: Chicago Fire
2008: New England Revolution
2007: Columbus Crew
2006: Kansas City Wizards
2005: Kansas City Wizards
2004: Columbus Crew
2003: New England Revolution
2002: Kansas City Wizards
2001: San Jose Earthquakes
2000: Tampa Bay Mutiny
1999: Columbus Crew
1998: Kansas City Wizards
1997: Columbus Crew
This year’s winner of the Xbox Individual Fair Play award has proven a true gentleman on the field, while still churning out gritty defensive displays for Columbus Crew SC. Michael Parkhurst joined the Crew prior to the 2014 season and proceeded to log 2,806 minutes in 33 games, committing just 11 fouls and drawing one yellow card. In five MLS seasons, the Rhode Island native has never recorded more than 12 fouls and two yellow cards in a single season. Parkhurst is the second player in MLS history to win the Xbox Fair Play Award three times.
This award is selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, games & minutes played, as well as subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior. The other two finalists were Chicago Fire midfielder Harry Shipp and Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe.
2014 Xbox Team Fair Play Award: Philadelphia Union
The Philadelphia Union earned the fewest cards in MLS in 2014, receiving 37 yellow cards and five red cards throughout the season. Additionally, the Union’s 413 fouls were the fifth-lowest in the league. This is the club’s first time winning the award.
The award is selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fewest fouls committed and cards received, and subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
AT&T Rookie of the Year Winners
2014: Tesho Akindele – FC Dallas
2013: Dillon Powers – Colorado Rapids
2012: Austin Berry – Chicago Fire
2011: C.J. Sapong – Sporting Kansas City
2010: Andy Najar – D.C. United
2009: Omar Gonzalez – LA Galaxy
2008: Sean Franklin – LA Galaxy
2007: Maurice Edu – Toronto FC
2006: Jonathan Bornstein – Chivas USA
2005: Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
2004: Clint Dempsey – New England Revolution
2003: Damani Ralph – Chicago Fire
2002: Kyle Martino – Columbus Crew
2001: Rodrigo Faria - MetroStars
2000: Carlos Bocanegra – Chicago Fire
1999: Jay Heaps – Miami Fusion
1998: Ben Olsen – D.C. United
1997: Mike Duhaney – Tampa Bay Mutiny
1996: Steve Ralston – Tampa Bay Mutiny
Xbox Fair Play Award - Individual Winners:
2014: Michael Parkhurst – Columbus Crew SC
2013: Darlington Nagbe – Portland Timbers
2012: Logan Pause – Chicago Fire
2011: Sébastien Le Toux – Philadelphia Union
2010: Sébastien Le Toux – Philadelphia Union
2009: Steve Ralston – New England Revolution
2008: Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
2007: Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
2006: Chris Klein – Real Salt Lake
2005: Ronald Cerritos – San Jose Earthquakes
2004: Eddie Pope – Metro Stars
2003: Brian McBride – Columbus Crew
2002: Mark Chung – Colorado Rapids
2001: Alex Pineda Chacon – Miami Fusion
2000: Steve Ralston – Tampa Bay Mutiny
1999: Steve Ralston – Tampa Bay Mutiny
1998: Thomas Dooley – Columbus Crew
1997: Mark Chung – Kansas City Wizards
Xbox Fair Play Award -Team Winners:
2014: Philadelphia Union
2013: LA Galaxy
2012: New England Revolution
2011: Portland Timbers
2010: San Jose Earthquakes
2009: Chicago Fire
2008: New England Revolution
2007: Columbus Crew
2006: Kansas City Wizards
2005: Kansas City Wizards
2004: Columbus Crew
2003: New England Revolution
2002: Kansas City Wizards
2001: San Jose Earthquakes
2000: Tampa Bay Mutiny
1999: Columbus Crew
1998: Kansas City Wizards
1997: Columbus Crew
By: Editor
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