Major League Soccer (MLS) announced today that Toronto FC midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo has been named the 2020 Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player.
“I am honoured to be named MLS MVP,” said Pozuelo. “I want to thank my teammates and our coaching staff as this individual award shows we had a very good season. I am happy to be able to celebrate this award with my wife, my kids and all my friends here in Spain."
Pozuelo, 29, becomes the second player in Toronto FC history to be named the league’s MVP, following Sebastian Giovinco who won the award in 2015. This season, Pozuelo scored 9 goals and added 10 assists, leading the league in combined goals and assists. He also led MLS in chances created (70) and game-winning goals (5) while becoming the first player in TFC history to start in every regular season match in a season. Toronto FC posted a record of 9-1-4 when Pozuelo scored and/or had an assist this season.
“Congratulations to Alejandro on being awarded the highest of honours in MLS,” said Toronto FC President Bill Manning. “Since joining our club in 2019 Alejandro’s contributions on the field and in the locker room have been incredible. This year he emerged as one of our leaders and was the chief catalyst as our team finished with the second-highest points per game in the league. This is a well-deserved MVP award for Alejandro.”
Pozuelo was named the MLS Player of the Month for September, as he scored four goals and added two assists across six matches. In addition, Pozuelo was named to the MLS Team of the Week on five occasions (MLS is Back Round 1, Round 2, Week 6, Week 7 & 8 combined, Week 15). Last month, Pozuelo was named to his second consecutive MLS Best XI (2019, 2020), becoming the third player in club history to be named to the Best XI on multiple occasions.
“Poz had a great season, and we are very happy that he is receiving this award,” said Toronto FC General Manager Ali Curtis. “We also believe that while the MVP is given to one, it is an award that is reflective of the group. This year was challenging in so many ways, but Poz is a competitor, he’s passionate about the game, and he is more than deserving of this award.”
Signed as a Designated Player on March 4, 2019, Pozuelo has made 61 appearances for Toronto FC, scoring 23 goals and 25 assists, in all competitions. In addition, Pozuelo converted 11 of 12 penalty kicks over the course of the past two seasons.
