Cucho Hernandez, Wilfried Nancy highlight Columbus Crew's finalists for MLS awards
Major League Soccer has announced that the Crew's Cucho Hernandez and Wilfried Nancy are finalists for MLS MVP and MLS Coach of the Year, respectively.
Hernandez is one of five finalists alongside Inter Miami's Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, Evander of the Portland Timbers and D.C. United's Christian Benteke. This is the first time since 2021 the league has five finalists for the award.
Kei Kamara was the last Crew player to be a finalist for MVP. That was in 2015.
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The only Columbus player to win MVP honors is Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who earned the award in 2008. That same season, the Crew's Sigi Schmid was named MLS Coach of the Year, making him the second Columbus coach to be so recognized. Greg Andrulis won in 2004.
This year marks the third season in a row that Nancy has been a finalist for Coach of the Year. He has finished as a runner-up twice, with a second-place finish when he coached CF Montreal and then ended up behind FC Cincinnati's Pat Noonan in 2023.
This year, Nancy is up against Miami's Gerardo "Tata" Martino and the Colorado Rapids' Chris Armas.
For every award, only the regular season is taken in consideration by voters, meaning Hernandez's and Nancy's accomplishments in CONCACAF Champions Cup and Leagues Cup are disregarded. Winners will be announced throughout the playoffs.
Patrick Schulte, Steven Moreira, Darlington Nagbe additional Columbus Crew finalists for regular-season awards
The Crew are in the running for three additional regular-season awards, with Steven Moreira, Patrick Schulte and Darlington Nagbe all being named finalists for different honors.
Both Moreira and Rudy Camacho were nominated by the Crew for MLS Defender of the Year, but Moreira beat out his teammate to be named one of the three finalists. Moreira is up against Miami's Jordi Alba and Seattle Sounders' Jackson Ragen.
The most unexpected finalist from Columbus is Schulte for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Schule finished with fewer than 100 saves in the regular season, but helped Columbus hold teams to 40 allowed goals, which is fourth in the league.
Along with Schulte, Charlotte FC' Kristijan Kahlina and Los Angeles FC's Hugo Lloris are in the running.
Nagbe is among the three finalists for the MLS Impact Award. This award is given to a player who makes a difference in their community. The winner gets a $150,000 contribution to the charity of their choice.
New England Revolution's Andrew Farrell and LAFC'S Ilie Sanchez are the other two finalists for the award.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Cucho Hernandez, Wilfried Nancy among finalists for MLS awards
