Philadelphia, PA – Ahead of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, Major League Soccer announced that the league’s Most Valuable Player award will be re-christened in honor of LA Galaxy legend Landon Donovan.
The new design of the award, created by Tiffany & Co., was unveiled during a special tribute to Landon Donovan held before the Draft. It’s a simple trophy and cements the league’s new branding as here to stay, ‘kickstand’ and all.
“As a child, soccer was merely an outlet for me – a way to express myself.”
—Landon Donovan
The award notably features a sterling silver silhouette of Donovan, set in the lower right half of the crest.
Introducing MLS' Landon Donovan MVP Award. #MLS pic.twitter.com/15JJShxZSd
— Corner Of The Galaxy (@GalaxyPodcast) January 15, 2015
“To have this prestigious award named after me is truly unimaginable.” #ThanksLD #MLSMVP pic.twitter.com/XG2ESRrFMt
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) January 15, 2015
.@MLS has named the Most Valuable Player Award after @LandonDonovan: http://t.co/z7hCUpL4zT #ThanksLD pic.twitter.com/diAc5iHxxt
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) January 15, 2015
"He's our Michael Jordan and our Wayne Gretzky." – @thesoccerdon on Landon Donovan. #LAGalaxy #MLSMVP
— Adam Serrano (@LAGalaxyInsider) January 15, 2015
.@LandonDonovan: “I am incredibly honored” #ThanksLD #MLSMVP pic.twitter.com/57pG8o0lts
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) January 15, 2015
Donovan won the League MVP award in 2008, just one of his many accomplishments in MLS:
Landon Donovan Career Achievements
- MLS All-Time Leader in Goals (144) and assists (136)
- Winner of Six MLS Cups (2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014)
- Winner of Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (2005)
- Winner of 2 MLS Supporters’ Shields (2010, 2011)
- Winner of 2 MLS Cup MVP Awards (2003, 2011)
- 14 Consecutive All-Star selections (2001-2014)
- Winner of 2 MLS Cup All-Star Game MVP’s (2001, 2014)
- Seven MLS Best XI selections (2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014)
- MLS MVP (2008)
This announcement comes just 40 days after the LA Galaxy and Landon Donovan won a league leading fifth MLS Cup in a 1-0 extra-time thriller over New England.
Donovan isn’t the first Galaxy-associated name to have a trophy dedicated to him. The MLS Cup itself is named after Phil Anschutz, and was dedicated to the Galaxy owner in 2008.