PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri was named a finalist for the 2015 MLS Comeback Player of the Year as Major League Soccer today announced the finalists for its 2015 league awards. Valeri joins Tim Melia (Sporting Kansas City) and Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC) as the three finalists. The winners for each award will be revealed in the coming weeks.
The finalists for each award earned the most votes in polling of current MLS players, MLS clubs and media members who regularly covered the 2015 season.
Valeri, 28, returned this season following a successful recovery after tearing his ACL in the 2014 season finale against FC Dallas on Oct. 25, 2014. Making his season debut on May 2 against Vancouver, Valeri tallied eight assists, including three game-winners, and two goals in 22 appearances (20 starts) while logging 1,713 minutes. The Argentine attacking midfielder recorded an assist in three consecutive matches from Aug. 15-30, while also recording the game-winning goal in his first start back from injury in a 2-1 win over Montreal on May 9.
Additionally, midfielder Darlington Nagbe and defender Nat Borchers were named as finalists for the 2015 MLS Individual Fair Play Award. The Fair Play Award is selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, games and minutes played, as well as subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
