Nashville SC’s Mukhtar, Willis and Zimmerman finalists for MLS end of year awards

Major League Soccer announced Monday the finalists for the individual end of year awards, featuring three Nashville SC players in the running. From the press release:

Nashville Soccer Club, in conjunction with Major League Soccer have announced that three players on the Nashville SC roster have been named as finalists for MLS End of the Year Awards for the 2021 season.

Midfielder Hany Mukhtar has been named a finalist for the Landon Donovan MVP, while defender Walker Zimmerman has been named a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year and goalkeeper Joe Willis is a finalist for the Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year.

The finalists (in alphabetical order) which follow below earned the most votes in polling among three voting groups:

• Current MLS players.

• MLS club technical staffs (coaches, technical directors/GMs).

• Select group of media members.

2021 Major League Soccer Award Finalists

Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists

• Valentín Castellanos (New York City FC)

• Carles Gil (New England Revolution)

• HANY MUKHTAR (NASHVILLE SC)

• João Paulo (Seattle Sounders FC)

• Dániel Sallói (Sporting Kansas City)

Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists

• Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)

• Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

• JOE WILLIS (NASHVILLE SC)

Defender of the Year Finalists

• Yeimar Gómez (Seattle Sounders FC)

• Miles Robinson (Atlanta United)

• WALKER ZIMMERMAN (NASHVILLE SC)

Hany Mukhtar leads MLS in combined goals and assists, scoring 16 and assisting an additional 12.

Walker Zimmerman was named to the 2021 MLS All Star team, in addition to earning eight caps for the US Men’s National Team in 2021, including a start against Mexico last week in World Cup Qualifying. Zimmerman scored three goals for Nashville in 2021, earning an additional three assists.

Joe Willis earned 13 clean sheets in 2021, tied for the league lead. He lead the league in 2020 with nine shutouts, and has played every minute for Nashville at the MLS level.

Nashville nominated other members of their club for additional individual awards, but none reached the required threshold to be designated a finalist. Gary Smith appeared to have a strong case for Coach of the Year, but wasn’t included alongside New England’s Bruce Arena, Colorado’s Robin Fraser and Seattle’s Brian Schmetzer.

As a member of the voting media, my votes are as follows:

• MVP – Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC)
• Goalkeeper – Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
• Defender – Andreu Fontàs (Sporting KC)
• Newcomer – Chico Arango (LAFC)
• Young player – Tajon Buchanan (New England Revolution)
• Comeback – Sebastian Blanco (Portland Timbers)
• Coach – Bruce Arena (New England Revolution)

The winners in each category, along with inclusions in the MLS Best XI, will be announced in the week leading up to MLS Cup on December 11.

Author: Ben Wrightis the Director of Soccer Content and a Senior MLS Contributor for Broadway Sports covering Nashville SC and the US National Team. Previously Ben was the editor and a founder of Speedway Soccer, where he has covered Nashville SC and their time in USL before journeying to Major League Soccer since 2018. Raised in Louisville, KY Ben grew up playing before a knee injury ended his competitive career. When he is not talking soccer he is probably producing music, drinking coffee or hanging out with his wife and kids. Mastodon

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