HARRISON, NJ (554948172" tabindex="0">Nov. 20, 2013) – New York Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke was named a finalist for the 2013 Major League Soccer Coach of the Year award. Petke is one of three finalists for the honor, joining Real Salt Lake’s Jason Kreis and the Portland Timbers’ Caleb Porter. The winner will be announced on 554948173" tabindex="0">Monday, Dec. 2.
The three finalists earned the most votes in polling of voting groups:
* Current MLS players
* MLS Clubs (Coaches, Technical Directors, Chief Business Officers and PR/Community Relations)
* Media members who covered MLS regularly in 2013
In his first year as a head coach, Petke guided New York on a historic run in 2013 which resulted in the team’s first MLS Supporters' Shield – given to the club with the most regular season points. The former standout New York defender helped the Red Bulls earn an MLS-best 59 points from a 17-9-8 record. The Red Bulls, who qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the 10th time in 11 seasons and the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League by virtue of winning the Supporters’ Shield under Petke’s watch, were the highest scoring team in the league with 58 goals while conceding the third-fewest goals in the Eastern Conference (41).
Petke, 37, was named the team’s head coach on Jan. 24, 2013. One of the club’s most popular all-time players and its leader in games played (169 regular season, 196 in all competitions), games started (158 regular season), and minutes played (14,060 regular season), the Bohemia, N.Y. native previously served New York as head coach on an interim basis. Petke began his coaching career in 2011 as an assistant coach following a 13-year career that included two playing stints with New York, from 1998-2002 and 2008-10.
2013 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists
(Listed in alphabetical order by last name within each award category)
AT&T Rookie of the Year Finalists
Deshorn Brown (Colorado Rapids)
Dillon Powers (Colorado Rapids)
DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
Xbox Individual Fair Play Finalists
Jalil Anibaba (Chicago Fire)
Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake)
Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers)
Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, games & minutes played, as well as subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
Xbox Team Fair Play Finalists
Houston Dynamo
LA Galaxy
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fewest fouls committed, cards received, and on subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
Defender of the Year Finalists
Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)
Jose Goncalves (New England Revolution)
Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year Finalists
Jeb Brovsky (Montreal Impact)
Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)
Matt Reis (New England Revolution)
Referee of the Year Finalists
Ismail Elfath
Hilario Grajeda
Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referee of the Year Finalists
Frank Anderson
Bill Dittmar
Kermit Quisenberry
Coach of the Year Finalists
Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake)
Mike Petke (New York Red Bulls)
Caleb Porter (Portland Timbers)
Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Kevin Alston (New England Revolution)
Conor Casey (Philadelphia Union)
Lamar Neagle (Seattle Sounders FC)
Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
Jimmy Nielsen (Sporting Kansas City)
Donovan Ricketts (Portland Timbers)
Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Newcomer of the Year Finalists
Jose Goncalves (New England Revolution)
Nigel Reo-Coker (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)
Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Finalists
Marco Di Vaio (Montreal Impact)
Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Mike Magee (Chicago Fire)
Awards Announcements Schedule:
Schedule subject to change
554948174" tabindex="0">November 25: AT&T Rookie of the Year, Xbox Fair Play Individual & Team of the Year
554948175" tabindex="0">November 26: MLS Defender of the Year, MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, and Referee/Assistant Referee of the Year
554948176" tabindex="0">December 2: MLS Coach of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year
554948177" tabindex="0">December 3: 2013 MLS Best XI
554948178" tabindex="0">December 4: Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year and Newcomer of the Year
554948179" tabindex="0">December 5: AT&T Goal of the Year, MLS Save of the Year and Volkswagen MLS MVP
