US and Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley has been voted the 2015 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year, it was announced Tuesday on ESPN’s SportsCenter.
It’s the first time winning the award for Bradley, having previously been honored as the Young Male Player of the Year in 2007.
The two-time FIFA World Cup veteran also helped TFC reach the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in club history this past season.
“It’s an honor to be selected amongst this group of players,” Bradley said in a US Soccer release. “This has been a challenging year for our team, yet we continue to understand the opportunity we have to represent the United States and know how important it is that we give everything we have every time we step on the field. That’s what means the most to me, and at the same time I certainly appreciate this recognition.”
A new voting process took place this year, with votes collected from men’s national team players who earned a cap in 2015, men’s national team and youth men’s national team coaches, Major League Soccer and North American Soccer League head coaches and select former players, administrators and media members.
Bradley received 43 percent of the tabulated votes, followed by Borussia Monchengladbach winger Fabian Johnson (33 percent) and Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey (20 percent). Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan and Tottenham defender DeAndre Yedlin, who is currently on loan with Sunderland, were also named finalists.
Bradley earned his 100th cap in 2015, making him the fourth youngest USMNT player to do so. Racking up a team-leading 1,668 minutes, the Princeton, New Jersey native topped the team with a career-high six assists while also scoring three goals.
He earned Man of the Match honors in friendlies against the Netherlands and Germany, both road victories against the world No. 6-ranked team and reigning World Cup champions, respectively. Bradley also earned the captain's armband for Toronto FC in 2015, where he appeared 28 times and added five goals.
