Donovan wins 2009 Honda Player of the Decade.

U.S. National Team forward Landon Donovan, made history by winning the 2009 Honda Player of the Year Award, thus becoming the only six time winner of the most coveted prize in U.S. Soccer. For the last 19 years, the award has honored the best player on the U.S. National Soccer Team as chosen by the American sports media. Having earned six out of nine awards during the 2000s, Donovan became the Honda Player of the Decade.

This year, 221 journalists across the nation selected Donovan as the recipient of the most prestigious honor given to an American soccer player, awarding him a total of 424 points. Goalkeeper Tim Howard (age 30), finished second with 267 points and forward Jozy Altidore (age 19) placed third with 175 points. A player receives three points for each first-place vote, two points for each second-place vote, and one point for each third-place vote. In order to be eligible for the Honda Player of the Year Award, a player must play in a minimum of three (3)
games for the U.S. National Team during the calendar year.

Donovan’s history with the Honda Player of the Year Award features a series of unprecedented feats. With his first win in 2002, Donovan became the youngest award winner. Continuing to win the honor for the next two years, Donovan was the only player to receive the award three times in the row. Donovan, 27 years old, repeated this record winning in 2007, 2008 and 2009 becoming the only player to win the award six times.

In recognition of his accomplishment, Donovan was presented with a new Honda Insight during the annual Honda Player of the Year Award luncheon, held at The Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Donovan is the all-time goalscorer for the U.S. National Team having in his career a total of 42 goals during his 120 games.

Created by Fútbol de Primera and sponsored by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., the Honda Player of the Year Award has honored 12 different players in its 19 year history: Landon Donovan (2009, 2008, 2007, 2004, 2003 and 2002), Clint Dempsey (2006), Kasey Keller (2005, 1999), Earnie Stewart (2001), Claudio Reyna (2000), Cobi Jones (1998), Eddie
Pope (1997), Eric Wynalda (1996, 1992), Alexi Lalas (1995), Marcelo Balboa (1994), Thomas Dooley (1993) and Hugo Perez (1991).

In 2000 Eric Wynalda was named as the first Honda Player of the Decade for his achievement with the US National Team during the 1990s.