Ljungberg in, Beckham out of MLS XI
442 Staff - Tuesday 17 November 2009, 16:16
RENTON, WASH. – Seattle Sounders' former Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has been named in the 2009 MLS Best XI, it was announced today by Commissioner Don Garber. However, there was no place for LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham.
The Best XI recognizes the League’s top 11 players at each position on the field – one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards.
Garber disclosed the Best XI during his annual State of the League address.
Six members of the 2009 Best XI are prior recipients of the honor, while Ljungberg was one of five named in the squad for the first time.
Ljungberg, the former Sweden international playing his first season in MLS, made a remarkable recovery from off-season hip surgery and led a dynamic Seattle offense with a team high nine assists.
He also bagged four assists in the final two regular season games en route to an MLS Cup play-off birth.
Ljungberg was named an MLS All-Star, was MLS Player of the Month for October and was a finalist for the MLS Newcomer of the Year Award.
The Best XI members received the most votes from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers.
This season 10 clubs are represented on the Best XI.
Houston is the only club with two representatives. Of the top 11 players, 10 were members of the 2009 MLS All-Star team, and seven are finalists for the League’s top end-of-season awards.
Nine members of the Best XI have senior national team appearances.
2009 MLS Best XI:
Goalkeeper: Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)
Defenders: Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)
Midfielders: Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC)
Forwards: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas)