Ljungberg in MLS Best Eleven Announced Today

MLS have announced the Best XI from their 2009 season which ends in Seattle this Sunday. The players selected have received the most votes from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers.

This season 10 clubs are represented on the Best XI. Houston is the only club with two representatives, Geoff Cameron and Stuart Holden. Of the top 11 players, 10 were members of the 2009 MLS All-Star team, and seven are finalists for the League’s top end-of-season awards. Nine members of the Best XI have senior national team appearances.

Sounders FC’s Freddie Ljungberg is among the selection announced today by Commissioner Don Garber. The Best XI recognizes the League’s top 11 players at each position on the field – one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards.

Garber disclosed the Best XI during his annual State of the League address. Six members of the 2009 Best XI are prior recipients of the honor, while Ljungberg was one of five named to the squad for the first time.

The former Sweden international playing his first season in MLS, made a remarkable recovery from off-season hip surgery and led the team on assists with nine, including a league high five game-winning assists. He also scored twice in MLS. He had four assists in the final two regular season games en route to an MLS Cup playoff berth.

Ljungberg was named an MLS All-Star, was MLS Player of the Month for October and was a finalist for the MLS Newcomer of the Year Award.

Below is a breakdown of the MLS Best XI by position :

GOALKEEPER (1): Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)

DEFENDERS (3): Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC)

FORWARDS (2): Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas)

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