Donovan and Hope named players of the year

Landon Donovan was recently voted the U.S. Soccer’s Male Athlete of the year and goalkeeper Hope Solo became the first woman to win the keeper’s award. This is the third time that Donovan, now aged 27, has received this honour, having previously won it in both2003 and 2004. He is now tied with the goalkeeper Kasey Keller who won the award three times as well in 1997, 1999 and 2005. 

This year Donovan has joined the U.S team that finished in second place at the Federations Cup in South Africa and won the qualifier for the World Championship 2010 in the African country. 

The American striker winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) with the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer managed to score 12 goals along the way to reaching his 35th World Cup appearance for his country.

Donovan said, "It's a great achievement and a big prize. Knowing that I'm very proud I had the backing of the fans, my teammates and other colleagues. It is a very special recognition for me."

Donovan is now looking at a move to the English side Everton where he will be playing for ten weeks. Donovan said that "I am really looking forward to coming over. For any American player…the opportunity to play for a club like Everton is a very exciting one."

So far the Hope Solo the goalkeeper has only had impressive performances with the St. Louis Athletic Club which ranks second in the American League and with the national team at the Algarve Cup in Portugal where he was recognised as the MVP.

Solo said that, "Besides a great honour it was also a pleasant surprise, I want to thank everyone who voted for me and also to Coach Paul Rogers for helping to develop the thinking in the position."