SANDY, Utah (Thursday, October 29, 2015) - Real Salt Lake today announced the team’s annual season-ending award winners, which were based on voting by RSL players. Javier Morales was voted the club’s Most Valuable Player for the third time since joining the club in 2007 in addition to winning the Golden Boot Award, while Aaron Maund (Defensive Player of the Year) and Abdoulie Mansally (Humanitarian of the Year) also collected awards as well.
MF Javier Morales: RSL Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot
Morales earned MVP honors for the third time in his nine seasons with the Claret-and-Cobalt. The Argentine midfielder finished the season with eight goals and 12 assists in 26 regular season matches. He led the team in both categories and he ranked sixth in MLS in assists.
In each of the last three seasons, Morales has finished the year with at least eight goals and 10 assists and has 45 goals and 77 assists in his MLS career. His assist total ranks 12th on the all-time MLS list.
Only three players in the league finished with both more goals and more assists than Morales in 2015 – Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco, Kansas City’s Benny Feilhaber and Ethan Finlay of Columbus.
DF Aaron Maund: RSL Defensive Player of the Year
Maund emerged as RSL’s most consistent center back after appearing in 21 out of the final 22 matches. His 1,974 minutes was second among defenders only to Tony Beltran and he committed just 22 fouls.
The fourth-year defender’s 22 appearances is a career-best total while his minute total exceeded the total of his first three seasons in MLS combined. He scored his first career MLS goal on August 1 against D.C. United and also added a goal in the U.S. Open Cup, scoring a late game-winner against the LA Galaxy.
DF Abdoulie Mansally: Jordan Guernsey Humanitarian of the Year
Mansally is in his ninth season in Major League Soccer and fourth with Real Salt Lake and has continued to grow his efforts in the community. The 26-year-old native of The Gambia in Africa started the Mansally Foundation as a means to help those around him the same way he was helped to chase his dreams of professional soccer. It’s also no coincidence that he is the last one in the locker room after every match while he talks with fans at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Through the foundation, money and awareness is raised to help children of The Gambia have access to food, to medical care, to an education and to a brighter future.
This is the second consecutive year Mansally earned the honor after taking home the award last year, as well. He is the first RSL player to win the award twice.
This year, the club announced that the Humanitarian of the Year Award would be named in honor of one of Real Salt Lake’s biggest fans, the late Jordan Guernsey, whose passion for work in the community embodied the spirit of the award.
Real Salt Lake Career Season-Ending Award Receipients
RSL Most Valuable Player: Javier Morales (2015), Joao Plata (2014), Kyle Beckerman (2013), Kyle Beckerman (2012), Kyle Beckerman (2011), Javier Morales (2010), Nat Borchers (2009), Javier Morales (2008), Nick Rimando (2007), Jeff Cunningham (2006), Andy Williams (2005)
RSL Golden Boot Award: Javier Morales (2015), Joao Plata (2014), Álvaro Saborío (2013), Álvaro Saborío (2012), Álvaro Saborío (2011), Álvaro Saborío (2010), Robbie Findley (2009), Yura Movsisyan (2008), Robbie Findley (2007), Jeff Cunningham (2006), Jason Kreis (2005)
RSL Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Maund (2015), Chris Schuler (2014), Nick Rimando (2013), Nick Rimando (2012), Nat Borchers (2011), Nat Borchers (2010), Jamison Olave (2009), Nat Borchers (2008), Eddie Pope (2007), Carey Talley (2006), Eddie Pope (2005)
Jordan Guernsey Humanitarian of the Year: Abdoulie Mansally (2015), Abdoulie Mansally (2014), Chris Wingert (2013), Will Johnson (2012), Jean Alexandre (2011), Jean Alexandre (2010), Robbie Russell (2009), Nat Borchers (2008), Carey Talley (2007), Seth Trembly (2006), Brian Kamler (2005)
