Wondolowski named MLS's MVP
Reuters - Thursday 29 November 2012, 15:30
San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski was voted Major League
Soccer's Most Valuable Player for the 2012 season, the league said on
Thursday.
The U.S
international, a classic 'goal poacher' equalled MLS's goals per season
record, held since 1996 by Roy Lassiter, with 27 during 2012.
"It's
an individual award but I like to think of it as a team award," said
Wondolowski, paying tribute to his coaches and team-mates.
"There
weren't many of those goals were more than one touch finishes. I get
great service from good passers. I'm not beating 10 guys or shooting
into the upper 90 but from six yards and in," he said.
It was the third successive year the 29-year-old has been the league's top scorer, but the first time he has been named MVP.
Former
France and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry of the New York Red Bulls
finished a distant second in the vote of clubs, media and fellow
players.
Sporting Kansas City and U.S winger Graham Zusi was ranked third while Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis was fourth.
"What he is good at is taking chances," Wondolowski's coach at San Jose Frank Yallop told Reuters.
"His
general play is solid, just normal. As he says himself, he doesn't
dribble anybody, he isn't very fast but where he is fast is in his mind.
He knows when the ball is going to arrive... it's instinct.
"He
works on his finishing, no doubt about that. Every striker tries to
score goals but lots can't because they can't get away from people. He
can, he drifts around and does he thing - he's very difficult to play
against," he added.
The
title-deciding MLS Cup is played on Saturday between L.A Galaxy and the
Houston Dynamo.