Wambach nominated for Women's Player of the Year

[AWARDS] Abby Wambach, who leads the U.S. women with 10 goals but is no longer a full-time starter on the national team and was limited to just 10 appearances with the Western New York Flash because of injuries during the NWSL season, is the lone American on the shortlist for the 2014 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award. Two other former winners, Brazilian Marta and German keeper Nadine Angerer, are among the 10 finalists.

Wambach and Angerer, who played for Portland, were among four NWSL players on the shortlist but there was no place for Seattle's Kim Little, the 2014 MVP, or Lauren Holiday, who led Kansas City to the 2014 league title.

Spaniard Veronica Boquete, who played part of the 2014 season for Portland,  Japanese star Nahomi Kawasumi, who played for Seattle, were among the nominees.

Englishwoman Laura Harvey, who led Seattle to the NWSL regular-season title, was nominated for the World Coach of the Year award for women's soccer.

The winners will be announced on Jan. 12 in Zurich along with the FIFA Ballon d'Or winner, World Coach of the Year award for women's soccer and other winners.

FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year:
Nadine Angerer (Germany)
Veronica Boquete (Spain)
Nilla Fischer (Sweden)
Nahomi Kawasumi (Japan)
Nadine Kessler (Germany)
Marta (Brazil)
Aya Miyama (Japan)
Louisa Necib (France)
Lotta Schelin (Sweden)
Abby Wambach (USA)

FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Soccer:
Philippe Bergeroo (France/France national team)
Peter Dedevbo (Nigeria/Nigeria U-20 national team)
Laura Harvey (England/Seattle Reign FC)
Ralf Kellermann (Germany/VfL Wolfsburg)
Maren Meinert (Germany/Germany U-20 national team)
Norio Sasaki (Japan/Japan national team)
Pia Sundhage (Sweden/Sweden national team)
Asako Takemoto Takakura (Japan/Japan U-17 national team)
Jorge Vilda (Spain/Spain U-17 national team and U-19 national team)
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (Germany/Switzerland national team).
3 comments about "Wambach nominated for Women's Player of the Year".
  1. James e Chandler, October 25, 2014 at 10:56 a.m.

    Sorry, but this doesn't make sense. I don't see Wambach as even the USSF player of the year, but off hand, i don't know who else deserves that distinction. Women's soccer in general has been a disappointment this past year as far as the style, and level of play, though there have been a few bright spots. THe NWSL championship game was played refreshingly well compared to most of the rest of the season.
    Wambach represents to me a style of play, kick the ball long, and outrun, or out-muscle the defense to the ball, the proverbial "ugly American soccer, that some, myself included, would like to see we Americans purge.
    Progress is being made toward joga bonita however slowly as more people learn to appreciate the artistry of the game as much as being a band-wagon jumper.

  2. R2 Dad, October 25, 2014 at 10:53 p.m.

    Megan Rapinoe is the US player that is most deserving of this award. She's not the main goalscorer, but is the most vital cog in the USWNT wheel.

  3. stewart hayes, October 27, 2014 at 10:30 p.m.

    I don't want to see the USA purge a player like Wambach ever or the talent it takes to serve a ball 70 yards to the far post for a strike at goal. That is not to say that we don't need to improve our combination play, dribbling and alternative scoring threats etc... But when you consider the 14 ways goals are scored accurate long serves are vital: corners, flank crosses, through passes, counter attacks, free kicks and long range shots(6). I don't think we want to see all those goal scoring opportunities haphazardly written off.

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