Harrison, N.J. (November 20, 2014) – New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips was presented with the 2014 Castrol Index Top Player award on Thursday afternoon at Red Bull Arena. The Castrol Index, the official performance index of MLS, ranks all MLS players based on data collected from every game during the MLS regular season.
Castrol, an official sponsor of Major League Soccer, launched the performance index in 2008, and has been analyzing MLS players since 2010. The proprietary technology objectively ranks a player’s performance by tracking and analyzing a player’s every move through each game, offering analysts and fans alike a unique perspective on the game. Each game, analysts log movements that assess every player’s actions for positive or negative impact on his team’s ability to score or concede a goal, and also factors in where on the pitch each action takes place.
For example, players receive points for each successful pass they complete, but the number of points awarded depends on which ‘zones’ of the pitch the ball is passed from and received in. Similarly, misplaced or intercepted passes are penalized depending on how much trouble the mistake is likely to cause. The metric also gives points for categories such as tackles, interceptions, and blocked shots.
A player’s index score is calculated per 90 minutes in order to measure the quality of each performance rather than the total number of games played.
Wright-Phillips earned the distinction of being “top player” by accumulating 918 points in in the Castrol Index. Seattle’s Clint Dempsey finished second with 905 points, followed by Galaxy forward Robbie Keane and D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
Wright-Phillips finished the regular season with 27 total goals, tying the MLS single-season goal record and winning the 2014 Budweiser Golden Boot. He has continued his stellar form with three goals in three playoff matches, propelling the Red Bulls into the Eastern Conference Finals where there are set to host the New England Revolution on Sunday in the first leg of the two-game series.
