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D.C. United's Dwayne De Rosario: I deserved the Most Valuable Player award
Despite D.C. United missing the postseason, De Rosario maintains that the MVP awards the player who the best performances on the field and he deserved to win.
Nov 18, 2011 7:13:00 PM
By Alex Labidou
Getty Images
CARSON, Calif. -- Dwayne De Rosario agrees that it is pretty unconventional that he won the Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award this season.
Despite having 18 goals and 12 assists in 33 appearances, the attacking midfielder's club, D.C. United, narrowly missed the playoffs. Yet, De Rosario is steadfast in his belief that he deserved the honor.
"Everyone has their opinion and they are entitled to have that opinion. MVP is Most Valuable Player, it's about one individual and his success, how he overcame obstacles and helped his team out," explained De Rosario.
It is the first time in De Rosario's successful 14-year career that he has been acknowledged as the league's top player. However, the Canadian international said that as happy as he is to have won, he is disappointed that D.C. couldn't make the playoffs this year. De Rosario has won four MLS cups, two each with the San Jose Earthquakes and the Houston Dynamo and he admitted that he would like to win more titles, hopefully with United.
"I never play for personal awards, I play for team success." said De Rosario. "I think DC is a team to look out for in the future."
Houston's Brad Davis and FC Dallas' Brek Shea were second and third in voting respectively and De Rosario was complementary of the two Texas midfielders.
"I'd like to congratulate Brek Shea, who is the future of MLS and Brad Davis, whose had a great career and a great season," he said.
De Rosario and Davis were teammates during Houston's back-to-back title run between 2006 and 2007. Davis conceded that he was disappointed that he didn't win the award considering the season that he had but praised his former midfield partner's success.
"I'm happy for Dwayne and but I am disappointed that I didn't win it," said Davis. "I like Dwayne, he's a good player and good guy. He's not the one that voted so I am not mad at him or anything. But I was disappointed. It's something that you want to win, no question about it. I felt that I had a pretty good shot at it."
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When asked about whether or not the award should go to a player whose team didn't make the playoffs, Davis refused to comment.
"I'm not going to go into that," he said.
One looming question remains from De Rosario's impressive season, could he have achieved the same success if he stayed with the New York Red Bulls, the team he was traded to midseason?
Red Bulls star Thierry Henry continues to be vocal at his displeasure that the club traded away the midfielder who he believes is the best player in the league. Team GM Erick Soler claims that the two couldn't fit together on the same field. De Rosario reflected on his time in New York saying that he is humbled by Henry's praise.
"Hearing those words from such a class player that is really accomplished-- World Cups, Champions League, its humbling for sure." De Rosario said. "In the team training, your talking about a true professional. He takes his job very seriously. We built a understanding and a friendship not only on the field but off of it."
He added, "Had it worked out [staying in NY], would it affect the stats for myself? I don't know. I think so[the numbers would be the same]. I think eventually things would have opened up as the season went further."
Another positive to come from De Rosario's winning of the award will be the likely resolution of signing a long term deal to finish his career. The 33-year-old star has one year remaining on his contract and it is no secret that he would like to be a Designated Player. United President Kevin Payne said that the team will be aggressive in renegotiating De Rosario's contract.
"Every place he goes, he wins," said Payne. "We don't necessarily have to [restructure his contract] but we do think that Dwayne has more than one year in the tank to play at a very high level. So we'll be sitting with his representatives soon to discuss his future with D.C. United."
Despite having 18 goals and 12 assists in 33 appearances, the attacking midfielder's club, D.C. United, narrowly missed the playoffs. Yet, De Rosario is steadfast in his belief that he deserved the honor.
"Everyone has their opinion and they are entitled to have that opinion. MVP is Most Valuable Player, it's about one individual and his success, how he overcame obstacles and helped his team out," explained De Rosario.
It is the first time in De Rosario's successful 14-year career that he has been acknowledged as the league's top player. However, the Canadian international said that as happy as he is to have won, he is disappointed that D.C. couldn't make the playoffs this year. De Rosario has won four MLS cups, two each with the San Jose Earthquakes and the Houston Dynamo and he admitted that he would like to win more titles, hopefully with United.
"I never play for personal awards, I play for team success." said De Rosario. "I think DC is a team to look out for in the future."
Houston's Brad Davis and FC Dallas' Brek Shea were second and third in voting respectively and De Rosario was complementary of the two Texas midfielders.
"I'd like to congratulate Brek Shea, who is the future of MLS and Brad Davis, whose had a great career and a great season," he said.
De Rosario and Davis were teammates during Houston's back-to-back title run between 2006 and 2007. Davis conceded that he was disappointed that he didn't win the award considering the season that he had but praised his former midfield partner's success.
"I'm happy for Dwayne and but I am disappointed that I didn't win it," said Davis. "I like Dwayne, he's a good player and good guy. He's not the one that voted so I am not mad at him or anything. But I was disappointed. It's something that you want to win, no question about it. I felt that I had a pretty good shot at it."
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When asked about whether or not the award should go to a player whose team didn't make the playoffs, Davis refused to comment.
"I'm not going to go into that," he said.
One looming question remains from De Rosario's impressive season, could he have achieved the same success if he stayed with the New York Red Bulls, the team he was traded to midseason?
Red Bulls star Thierry Henry continues to be vocal at his displeasure that the club traded away the midfielder who he believes is the best player in the league. Team GM Erick Soler claims that the two couldn't fit together on the same field. De Rosario reflected on his time in New York saying that he is humbled by Henry's praise.
"Hearing those words from such a class player that is really accomplished-- World Cups, Champions League, its humbling for sure." De Rosario said. "In the team training, your talking about a true professional. He takes his job very seriously. We built a understanding and a friendship not only on the field but off of it."
He added, "Had it worked out [staying in NY], would it affect the stats for myself? I don't know. I think so[the numbers would be the same]. I think eventually things would have opened up as the season went further."
Another positive to come from De Rosario's winning of the award will be the likely resolution of signing a long term deal to finish his career. The 33-year-old star has one year remaining on his contract and it is no secret that he would like to be a Designated Player. United President Kevin Payne said that the team will be aggressive in renegotiating De Rosario's contract.
"Every place he goes, he wins," said Payne. "We don't necessarily have to [restructure his contract] but we do think that Dwayne has more than one year in the tank to play at a very high level. So we'll be sitting with his representatives soon to discuss his future with D.C. United."
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