World Soccer - UK (2019-12)

Vela scored twice,
Ibrahimovic only once,
as LAFC won 5-3.
Ibrahimovic then
announced that he
might not be back in
Los Angeles for the
2020 season, adding
some sour comments
about the league: “[If I
stay], that will be good
for MLS because the
world will watch it. If I
don’t stay nobody will
remember what MLS is.”
One foreign star definitely leaving MLS
is Wayne Rooney, who is returning to
England 18 months into a three-and-a-
half-year contract with DC United. Both
Ibrahimovic and Rooney have performed
well in MLS, but their readiness to return
to Europe only confirms a feeling that
they, and other celebrity imports from
Europe, do not take MLS seriously.
LAFC’s triumph over Galaxy meant
a home semi-final against Seattle, who
managed to keep the ball away from

WORLD SERVICE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Carlos Vela (LAFC)

The Mexican forward, who was with

Arsenal as a teen, set a new record

in scoring 34 of LAFC’s 85 goals. The

previous best was 31, set a year earlier

by Atlanta’s Josef Martinez.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Bob Bradley (LAFC)

The former boss of the national team

guided LAFC to an MLS regular-

season record of 72 points in his

first year in charge.

SEASON’S

BEST

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Andre Shinyashiki

(Colorado Rapids)

The 22-year-old Brazilian, a product

of the University of Denver, had an

outstanding first campaign, scoring

seven goals in 31 appearances, often

as an impact player from the bench.

Vela. Despite LAFC

opening the scoring

through Eduard

Atuesta, Seattle hit

back with two goals

from Ruidiaz and one

by Nicolas Lodeiro.

In spite of the rather

anti-climactic final act,

the 2019 MLS season

was largely positive.

In his annual end-

of-the-season State of

the League address,

commissioner Don

Garber talked encouragingly about

further expansion.

MLS, now with 24 teams, is aiming for

30. In 2020 it will grow to 26 teams,
    with the long-delayed debut of David
    Beckham’s Inter Miami and Nashville SC.
    Austin are due to join in 2021, followed
    by St Louis and Sacramento in 2022.
    There are already four candidate cities
    for the 30th slot, but Garber’s glowing
    praise for the bid from Charlotte left little
    doubt that it would get the nod.

Impact...Andre

Shinyashiki

Sour...Zlatan

Ibrahimovic

may not return

Victorious...Victor

Rodriguez scores

Seattle’s second goal

in the Final