Sporting Kansas City midfielder Benny Feilhaber was named to Major League Soccer's Best XI on Sunday in recognition of his outstanding performance throughout the 2015 season. The 30-year-old veteran had a record year setting career-highs in goals (10) and and assists (15) during the regular season. The Landon Donovan MLS MVP finalist was one of four players to register double-digits in both goals and assists and became just the third player in Kansas City history to reach that milestone in a single season.
"It's a huge honor to be selected for the Best XI," Feilhaber said. "I owe my success to all my teammates this year and I can't wait to get back on the field for Sporting KC next season to win more championships."
Feilhaber's 15 MLS assists in 2015 ranked second behind only Toronto FC Designated Player Sebastian Giovinco (16) and tied with Philadelphia Union midfielder Cristian Maidana. The Rio de Janeiro-born midfielder set the club record with 20 assists in all competitions, adding five en route to Sporting Kansas City's third Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship.
In his fifth MLS season and third with Sporting Kansas City, Feilhaber earned his first MLS All-Star selection and was named Etihad Airways MLS Player of the Month recognition in April, recording two goals and three assists during the month.
Voting for the 2015 MLS Best XI was conducted through write-in votes from MLS players, club leadership and media members, with all players who appeared in a 2015 MLS regular season match eligible for nomination. The highest vote-getters from submissions formed a 3-4-3 formation: one goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders and three forwards.
2015 MLS Best XI:
Goalkeeper - Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
Defender - Laurent Ciman (Montreal Impact)
Defender - Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Defender - Matt Hedges (FC Dallas)
Midfielder - Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City)
Midfielder - Fabian Castillo (FC Dallas)
Midfielder - Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls)
Midfielder - Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew SC)
Forward - Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC)
Forward - Kei Kamara (Columbus Crew SC)
Forward - Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Best XI: Club History
Benny Feilhaber (2015)
Matt Besler (2012, 2013)
Graham Zusi (2012, 2013)
Aurelien Collin (2012)
Jimmy Nielsen (2012)
Jimmy Conrad (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)
Jose Burciaga, Jr. (2006)
Kerry Zavagnin (2004)
Preki (1996, 1997, 2003)
Tony Meola (2000)
Peter Vermes (2000)
Mark Chung (1997)
Richard Gough (1997)
