NEW YORK, NY (July 10, 2008) MLS -- Major League Soccer Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis unveiled the MLS All-Star First XI today in Toronto and among the group are five first-time All-Stars and six players with previous MLS All-Star experience. The First XI received the most votes at their respective positions from four groups – fans, players, media and coaches/general managers. Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan led all players in combined voting, followed closely by teammate David Beckham and Chicago Fire playmaker Cuauhtémoc Blanco.
The MLS All-Stars will take on historic English Premier League club West Ham United in the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game on Thursday, July 24 at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada. The game will be televised live on ESPN, Telefutura, and CBC Sports at 7 p.m. ET.
The New England Revolution currently hold the best record in MLS (10-4-3, 33 pts) and led all teams with three players voted to the First XI -- defender Michael Parkhurst, midfielder Shalrie Joseph and goalkeeper Matt Reis. The Los Angeles Galaxy and Columbus Crew each had two players make the First XI, while the Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, FC Dallas and Kansas City Wizards each had one player named.
The First XI is anchored in the net by Reis, who was selected for his fourth consecutive MLS All-Star Game. An experienced back line features Kansas City Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad (five-time All-Star), the Columbus Crew’s Frankie Hejduk (six) and Parkhurst (three).
The midfield will feature some of the League’s most experienced players and two rising stars. Beckham (England), Blanco (Mexico) and Joseph (Grenada) are joined by Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan and Columbus Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers.
The First XI front line features two of the League’s top goal scorers in Donovan (11 goals) and FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper (8 goals). Donovan’s 11 goals rank first, while Cooper’s eight goals rank fourth in the League’s scoring race.
The First XI is reflective of Major League Soccer’s diverse player pool. Ranging in age from 21 (Robbie Rogers) to 35 (Cuauhtémoc Blanco), this group brings an array of experience both domestically and abroad. Three players born outside of the United States and Canada are among the 11, each having captained their respective country’s national team – Beckham (102 caps with England), Blanco (97 caps with Mexico), and Joseph (Grenada).
Online fan balloting comprising 25 percent of the combined First XI vote, with MLS coaches and GMs (25 percent), media (25 percent), and players (25 percent) accounting for the remainder. Players and coaches/general managers could not register votes for players on their own teams. A chart below shows 20 of the top vote-getters, with the percentage of ballots within each voting group for each player.
On July 15, Revolution head coach Steve Nicol and his staff will select five additional All-Stars, who will join two Commissioner selections to complete 18-man game-day MLS roster. Nicol earned the honor of coaching the MLS side by leading his team to the highest points per game average in the League through games on June 29.
The First XI is not necessarily the starting lineup. Nicol will select the starters based on player availability and tactical considerations. If First XI selections are unavailable due to injury, international duty or other commitments, Nicol will select alternates for the game day roster, but all First XI players are All-Stars.
2008 MLS All-Star First XI
Goalkeeper: Matt Reis (New England Revolution)
Defenders: Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution)
Midfielders: David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
Forwards: Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Courtesy of MLS Communications
