MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Officials
* Referee: Kevin Terry
* Assistant referees: Chip Reed and Laszlo Nagy
* Fourth official: Paul Tamberino
Coaches
* Bruce Arena (Washington): Winner of five NCAA titles at Virginia, two MLS Cup victories, a U.S. Open Cup and, this season, the CONCACAF Champions Cup, making D.C. United not only the top team in the United States, but also in all of North and Central America and the Caribbean.
* Bob Bradley (Chicago): Arena’s assistant the last two years with D.C. United and an assistant on Arena’s 1996 U.S. Olympic team. Led the first-year Fire into the championship game and was deservedly named coach of the year as a result.
Previous
Champions
1996 at FOXBORO, MASS.
D.C. United 3
Galaxy 2 (OT)
1997 at WASHINGTON, D.C.
D.C. United 2
Colorado Rapids 1
MLS Cup
MVPs
* 1996: Marco Etcheverry
(D.C. United)
* 1997: Jaime Moreno
(D.C. United)
Award
Winners
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
* 1998: Marco Etcheverry
(D.C. United)
* 1997: Preki
(Kansas City Wizards)
* 1996: Carlos Valderrama
(Tampa Bay Mutiny)
SCORING CHAMPIONS
* 1998: Stern John
(Columbus Crew)
* 1997: Preki
(Kansas City Wizards)
* 1996: Roy Lassiter
(Tampa Bay Mutiny)
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
* 1998: Lubos Kubik
(Chicago Fire)
* 1997: Eddie Pope
(D.C. United)
* 1996: John Doyle
(San Jose Clash)
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
* 1998: Zach Thornton
(Chicago Fire)
* 1997: Brad Friedel
(Columbus Crew)
* 1996: Mark Dodd
(Dallas Burn)
COACH OF THE YEAR
* 1998: Bob Bradley
(Chicago Fire)
* 1997: Bruce Arena
(D.C. United)
* 1996: Thomas Rongen
(Tampa Bay Mutiny)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
* 1998: Ben Olsen
(D.C. United)
* 1997: Mike Duhaney
(Tampa Bay Mutiny)
* 1996: Steve Ralston
(Tampa Bay Mutiny)
GOAL OF YEAR
* 1998: Brian McBride
(Columbus Crew)
* 1997: Marco Etcheverry
(D.C. United)
* 1996: Eric Wynalda
(San Jose Clash)
FAIR PLAY AWARD
* 1998: Thomas Dooley
(Columbus Crew)
* 1997: Mark Chung
(Kansas City Wizards)
FAIR PLAY AWARD (TEAM)
* 1998: Kansas City Wizards
* 1997: Columbus Crew
REFEREE OF THE YEAR
* 1998: Paul Tamberino
* 1997: Esse Baharmast
