Portland Timbers star Mandjou Keita is the first Timbers player to be nominated for MVP since Alan Gordon in 2004.
Keita won the 2009 Scoring Championship with 29 points, was tied for second in the league in goals with Rochester Rhino Johnny Menyongar with 11, was third in the league in assists with 17 and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player by Timbers fans.
He was named five times to the USL1 Team of the Week in 2009 and was named the league’s Player of the Week three times.
Keita also scored three goals for Portland in the 2009 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tournament.
The other nominee is Christian Arrieta of the Puerto Rico Islanders, who finished second to Keita in points with 25, was tied for fourth in the league in goals with 10 and tied for fifth in the league in assists with seven.
USL will announce the winners of the Rookie of the Year award Friday, while the Coach of the Year and Defender of the Year awards will be handed out on the 16th.
