D.C. United today announced the club’s end-of-season award winners for the 2014 Major League Soccer season.
In his first year with the Black-and-Red, forward Fabiàn Espíndola took home the 2014 Most Valuable Player Award, Fans’ Choice Goal of the Year and the Golden Boot. The Argentinean playmaker set new career highs with 11 goals and nine assists and led the Black-and-Red in total points, ahead of Luis Silva with 11 goals and four assists, to take home the Golden Boot. He also led the Black-and-Red in shots (68), shots on goal (31), game-winning assists (4) and a tie for second in game-winning goals (3). His Fans’ Choice Goal of the Year, one of his three game-winning goals, took place on May 31 against Sporting Kansas City at RFK Stadium in United’s 1-0 victory. In the 28th minute, Espíndola received the ball from Chris Korb on the right side of the 18 yard box, dribbled to his left and chipped the goalkeeper from 20 yards. To watch Espíndola’s goal, click here. In his eight seasons in MLS, Espíndola has 55 goals – 10th in MLS among active players and 29th All-Time - and 28 assists.
Veteran defender Bobby Boswell took home D.C.’s Defender of the Year in his first season back with the club following six years with the Houston Dynamo. Named Team Captain upon his arrival, Boswell was one of three field players, and eight total, to start every game in 2014. The veteran centerback anchored a Black-and-Red defense that finished tied for first in goals against average (1.09) and allowed the fewest goals at home in MLS en route to the top seed in the Eastern Conference in the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs. In 10 MLS seasons, the 2014 MLS All-Star has appeared in the playoffs nine times. Boswell also recorded one goal and set a career high with three assists.
All-Star defender Sean Franklin was named United’s MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year as he has given his time unselfishly to numerous charity endeavours throughout the D.C. Metropolitan area. Among his off-the-field work, Franklin visited patients at Children’s National Medical Center and wounded warriors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He was also an ambassador for Dreams for Kids DC and has been a vital spokesperson for the organization -- giving the opening speech at the annual fundraiser this past September and encouraging his friends and family to either donate or volunteer at events. Franklin also helped host the 2014 Extreme Recess Soccer clinic, which brought out close to 100 children with both physical and developmental disabilities to enjoy a day of soccer. In July, Sean was the hero for Make-A-Wish recipient Jordan Johansen by treating him and his family to an all-encompassing D.C. United VIP experience.
Most Valuable Player: Fabiàn Espíndola
Golden Boot: Fabiàn Espíndola
Goal of the Year: Fabiàn Espíndola
Defender of the Year: Bobby Boswell
MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year: Sean Franklin
