U.S. Soccer earns 36 nominations for 2016 CONCACAF Awards

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – The shortlists have been announced for the fourth annual CONCACAF Awards, and U.S. Soccer has garnered a total of 36 nominations. The awards have been designed to recognize the top men’s and women’s players, coaches and referees from the North, Central American and Caribbean region.

The USA earned six of the 10 nominations for CONCACAF Female Player of the Year, and 13 nominations for the CONCACAF Female Best XI. Christian Pulisic and Clint Dempsey were nominated for the CONCACAF Male Player of the Year, while five U.S. MNT players earned nominations for the CONCACAF Male Best XI.

Fan and media voting is now open to honor the year’s standout performers and achievements from across Confederation events. Voting is open through 11:59 EST on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017. To pick your favorites, vote HERE.

The CONCACAF Awards honor players and achievements in CONCACAF-sanctioned tournaments and competitions involving the Confederation’s National Teams at all levels, including FIFA World Cups and World Cup Qualifying for both genders, in all age categories. Performances also eligible for recognition include those achieved in professional club football leagues under CONCACAF’s stewardship in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, as well as the CONCACAF Champions League.

+Read: USA drawn into Group C for CONCACAF U-17 Men’s Championship

Players, coaches and referees of any nationality are eligible to be nominated for the awards, as long as they meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Have played/coached/refereed in an official CONCACAF tournament at club or National Team level.
• Have played/coached/refereed for a CONCACAF member national team in a FIFA-sanctioned international competition.
• Have played/coached/refereed in a domestic league within CONCACAF’s territory.

Goal of the Year applies only to goals scored during CONCACAF or FIFA official competitions or a league game played within the CONCACAF region.

The nominees from U.S. Soccer are:

CONCACAF Male Player of the Year
Clint Dempsey
Christian Pulisic

CONCACAF Female Player of the Year
Crystal Dunn
Tobin Heath
Carli Lloyd
Alex Morgan
Mallory Pugh
Becky Sauerbrunn

CONCACAF Male Goalkeeper of the Year
Brad Guzan
Tim Howard

CONCACAF Female Goalkeeper of the Year
Ashlyn Harris
Alyssa Naeher

CONCACAF Female Coach of the Year
Jill Ellis
Michelle French

CONCACAF Male Referee of the Year
Mark Geiger

CONCACAF Female Referee of the Year
Ekaterina (Katja) Koroleva

CONCACAF Male Best XI
Jozy Altidore – Forward
John Brooks – Defender
Clint Dempsey – Forward
Christian Pulisic – Midfielder
Bobby Wood – Forward

CONCACAF Female Best XI
Morgan Brian – Midfielder
Crystal Dunn – Forward
Tobin Heath – Midfielder
Julie Johnston – Defender
Meghan Klingenberg – Defender
Ali Krieger – Defender
Carli Lloyd – Midfielder
Alex Morgan – Forward
Kelley O’Hara – Defender
Christen Press – Forward
Mallory Pugh – Forward
Megan Rapinoe – Midfielder
Becky Sauerbrunn – Defender

CONCACAF Goal of the Year
Clint Dempsey vs. Ecuador (June 16, 2016)
Kelley O’Hara vs. Puerto Rico (Feb. 15, 2016)