Nigeria international, Obafemi Martins has made the final three-man shortlist for the 2014 Major League Soccer (MLS) Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
The ex-Inter Milan and Newcastle striker is nominated along LA Galaxy’s Robbie Keane and Lee Nguyen of New England. All three contenders also have the chance to hoist MLS Cup as they are all involved in the Conference Championships this weekend.
The three finalists earned the most votes in polling involving current players in the American top division, MLS clubs (coaches, technical directors, chief business officers, and communications) and media partners who covered the 2014 season. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 3.
Martins reached double figures in a single league season for the first time since leaving the San Siro, setting a club record with 17 goals (fifth in MLS) in the process. His 13 assists- joint fifth in division- equaled the club’s record for a single season set by Mauro Rosales in 2012.
His five multi-goal games were tied for second in MLS, and his four game-winning assists were tied for fourth. The forward started 29 of his 31 appearances in 2014 and accumulated 2,600 minutes, and Sounders FC won all 12 games in which Martins scored a goal.
Seattle Sounders FC- winners of the Supporters’ Shield and the US Open Cup- have three other nominations for the 2014 awards: Coach Sigi Schmid (Coach of the Year), Chad Marshall (Defender of the Year), and goalkeeper Stefan Frei (Comeback Player).
