Howard and Lloyd named U.S. Soccer athletes of the year
Photo by ISIphotos.com
It was hard to argue against Tim Howard having been the U.S. national team's best player in 2008 and voters agreed, naming him the 2008 U.S. Soccer male athlete of the year on Thursday.
Howard was one of four players honored by U.S. Soccer on Thursday. Sacha Kljestan earned Young Male Athlete of the Year honors, Olympic final hero Carli Lloyd won Female Athlete of the Year honors and Under-17 standout Kristie Mewis earned Young Female Athlete of the Year.
The award, the first of Howard's career, comes after a year that saw him star for both Everton and the U.S. national team. He posted five shutouts in eight national team matches this year, including his memorable seven-save performance against Argentina in June. He recorded 18 shutouts in all competitions for Everton last season.
Lloyd took home the honor after helping lead the U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal. Her game-winning goal in the final vs. Brazil was one of the top moments of the year for American soccer.
Here is a great video tribute to Howard's impressive year, courtesy of Ussoccer.com:
Here is a video tribute to Carli Lloyd's unforgettable year:
What do you think of the award winners? Think they're all deserving? Glad to see the voters get it right after the Honda Award voters got it so wrong? Proud to see New Jersey sweep the Player of the Year awards with Howard and Lloyd (not to mention Seton Hall product Kljestan)?
Share your thoughts below.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
Have a tip, story idea or suggestion? Send it to:
Well deserved for Timmy.
Posted by: Justin | December 19, 2008 at 11:40 AM
What, LD didn't win this one too?
Posted by: RK | December 19, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Completely agree with both those choices. Well deserved for both
Posted by: Geoff | December 19, 2008 at 12:03 PM
This makes Landycakes' Honda Player of the year award a even bigger joke. Way to go Timmmmmmmmmmmmy!!!!!
Posted by: SonicDeathMonkey | December 19, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Tim Howard is my hero!
Posted by: PCFC | December 19, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Well deserved for Sacha as well. You can make an arguement for Jozy as well, but Sacha played well for the Olympic team this year.
Posted by: Eric | December 19, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Absolutely agree with Howard. I'm more mixed with Lloyd. While there are flashes of brilliance, her passing and control in the midfield is substandard. She wasn't always a starter. The Gold Medal Goal was incredible so maybe combined with the fact that there wasn't a standout once Aby got injured, I could by it but I might have gone with Solo or Chalupny over Lloyd.
Posted by: beckster | December 19, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Sacha played very well and deserved his award. Freddy and Jozy, as good as they are, dont really come close. Sacha excelled on all levels of the MNT and has been a stand out for club and country.
Posted by: Isaac | December 19, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Congrats to Howard. 1 of the top20 best goalkeepers in the world without a doubt.
Great for Sacha. Should be a great ego booster as he's set to head to Europe next month.
Posted by: jddjsjsjdd | December 19, 2008 at 05:47 PM
Well deserved. Go Blues.
Posted by: Dominghosa | December 19, 2008 at 08:20 PM