MLS

• MLS announces 2009 Best XI

  
  

  New York, NY (Sports Network) - Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced the 2009 Best XI on Monday afternoon.

  The Best XI recognizes the league's top 11 players at each position on the field - one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards.

  Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton earned his third major award of this year and his second career Best XI nod.

  This year's Goalkeeper of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year, Thornton was a Best XI member in 1998 when he helped lead the Chicago Fire to an MLS Cup championship.

  The defense includes Columbus Crew center back Chad Marshall - a two-time Best XI member and this year's Defender of the Year - the Houston Dynamo's Geoff Cameron and the Chicago Fire's Wilman Conde.

  The midfield includes two four-time honorees, New England's Shalrie Joseph and Toronto FC's Dwayne De Rosario. The Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donovan earned his third selection, while Seattle Sounders FC's Freddie Ljungberg and Houston's Stuart Holden earned their first selections.

  Up top, the league's top two goal-scorers, statistically, from the regular season, FC Dallas striker Jeff Cunningham and Colorado Rapids forward Conor Casey earned the honor.

  Six members of the 2009 Best XI are prior recipients of the honor, while five have been named to the squad for the first time. The members received the most votes from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers.

  11/16 16:56:14 ET