U.S. trio vying for player of the year award
Four-time winner Landon Donovan of the Galaxy, 2006 winner Clint Dempsey of Fulham and last year's runner-up, goalkeeper Tim Howard of Everton, are the three finalists for the 2008 Honda Player of the Year award that will be presented Tuesday at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
Donovan's year saw him become the all-time leading goal scorer in the history of the U.S. men's national team. The Galaxy striker led all Major League Soccer scorers in 2008 with 20 goals.
Dempsey has been pivotal to the U.S. team's World Cup qualification campaign, scoring four goals as Coach Bob Bradley's side clinched a place in next year's final six-team qualifying round.
Howard's 15 career shutouts for the national team included a stunning performance this year as the U.S. held two-time world champion Argentina to a 0-0 tie in a sold-out friendly at Giants Stadium. He also was in exceptional form when the U.S. defeated host Guatemala in a qualifying game.
The award is sponsored by Honda but presented by Futbol de Primera, which on Monday also presented the Honda Soccer Symposium, at which Justino Compean, the president of Mexico's soccer federation, said Sweden's Sven-Goran Eriksson was the right choice as Mexico's national coach.
"Our new coach is extremely professional," Compean said. "Every week he scouts players at the Mexican league games, something that not all coaches have done in the past. He also speaks with other coaches, club presidents and the sports directors.
"I believe that the league coaches that have spoken with Eriksson have learned from him, and he from them, something which is very beneficial to everyone.
"In addition, he commands discipline, respect and has a good attitude when faced with problems."
Eriksson's most pressing problem is to get Mexico into next year's final six-team qualifying round. To do so, he has to tie or defeat Honduras on the road in San Pedro Sula on Nov. 19. Mexico will play a warm-up game against Ecuador in Phoenix on Wednesday night in preparation for that test.
-- Grahame L. Jones
Photo: Galaxy striker Landon Donovan celebrates a hat trick against D.C. United during the second half of an MLS game on Sept. 20 at Home Depot Center. Credit: Mark Avery / Associated Press
