On Friday, CONCACAF named the 2015 CONCACAF Goalkeeper of the Year for men and women as well as the 2015 CONCACAF Best XI. This was the first time that CONCACAF named Best XI in either the men or women’s side of the game. Coach of the Year and Player of the Year were also named for both men and women.

A semifinal list of maximum 10 nominees in each category was determined by a vote of Technical Directors from each of CONCACAF’s 41 Member Associations and the CONCACAF Technical Study Group, which analyzes tactics and rates performances at all official CONCACAF tournaments.

Solo finished in front of Dinnia Diaz of Costa Rica and Cecilia Santiago of Mexico. She becomes the fourth USWNT player or coach to be named as the best in CONCACAF at their respective positions. Carli Lloyd was named CONCACAF Female Player of the Year while Jill Ellis was named CONCACAF Coach of the year.

Lloyd was also given the honor of CONCACAF Goal of the Year when she scored in the 16’ of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final against Japan just from inside the midfield line. Alex Morgan was also named to the CONCACAF Female Best XI.

CONCACAF Female Best XI

GK: Hope Solo (USA), Seattle Reign FC (USA)
DF: Kenti Robles (MEX), Atletico Madrid (ESP); Becky Sauerbrunn (USA), FC Kansas City FC (USA); Lixy Rodriguez (CRC), UCEM Alajuela (CRC); Diana Saenz (CRC), University of South Florida (USA)
MF: Carli Lloyd (USA), Houston Dash (USA); Shirley Cruz (CRC), Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA); Katherine Alvarado (CRC), Saprissa (CRC); Veronica Perez (MEX), Canberra United FC (AUS)
FW: Alex Morgan (USA), Orlando Pride (USA); Raquel Rodriguez (FCRC), Penn State University (USA)

Tim Howard was named as the best goalkeeper in CONCACAF for a record third straight year. He beat out Jaime Penedo of Panama and Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico. Howard was joined by Michael Bradley as the only two USMNT players up for an award in CONCACAF. Howard was also named to the Male Best XI.

CONCACAF Male Best XI

GK: Tim Howard (USA); Everton FC (ENG)
DF: Roman Torres (PAN), Seattle Sounders FC (USA); Giancarlo Gonzalez (CRC), US Citta di Palermo (ITA); Hector Moreno (MEX), PSV Eindhoven (NED); Miguel Layun (MEX), FC Porto (POR)
MF: Andres Guardado (MEX), PSV Eindhoven (NED); Michael Bradley (USA), Toronto FC (CAN); Joel Campbell (CRC), Arsenal FC (ENG); Jesus Corona (MEX), FC Porto (POR)
FW: Javier Hernandez (MEX), Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER); Bryan Ruiz (CRC), Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)

Here is a full list of players that were nominated and how the voting ended.

CONCACAF Male Player of the Year

1. Javier Hernandez (FW/MEX); Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)
2. Bryan Ruiz (FW/CRC); Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)
3. Andres Guardado (MF/MEX); PSV Eindhoven (NED)    

CONCACAF Female Player of the Year

1. Carli Lloyd
2. Alex Morgan
3. Shirley Cruz (MF/CRC); Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA) 

CONCACAF Male Coach of the Year

1. Hernan Dario Gomez (COL); Panama National Team
2. Caleb Porter (USA); Portland Timbers (USA)
3. Miguel Herrera (MEX); Club Tijuana (MEX)

CONCACAF Female Coach of the Year

1. Jill Ellis (USA); United States Women's National Team
2. Amelia Valverde (CRC); Costa Rica Women's National Team
3. Raiza Gutierrez (PAN); Panama Women's National Team/Panama Women's Under-20 National Team

CONCACAF Male Referee of the Year

1. Joel Aguilar (SLV)
2. Roberto Garcia (MEX)
3. Fernando Guerrero (MEX)    

CONCACAF Female Referee of the Year

1. Kimberly Moreira (CRC)      
2. Lucila Venegas (MEX)      
3. Carol Anne Chenard (CAN)  

CONCACAF Goal of the Year

1. Carli Lloyd (USA); USA vs. Japan (16')
2. Paul Aguilar (MEX); Mexico vs. USA (120+2')
3. Darwin Quintero (COL); Club America vs. Walter Ferretti (13') 

The CONCACAF Awards are designed to honor the year’s outstanding performers and achievements in confederation-sanctioned competitions involving national teams at all levels and age categories, including FIFA World Cup matches and qualifying for both genders.  Performances also eligible for recognition included those achieved in professional club football leagues within the CONCACAF Member Associations, as well as the CONCACAF Champions League.

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About the author
Chris Blakely
Chris is an American sports journalist based out of Seattle, Washington. Co-Editor of the soccer section of VAVEL USA. He also is the leading editor of VAVEL USA's NWSL section.