by PegNews wire

This is Cunningham's third career Best XI award.

FRISCO — FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham is among the MLS Best XI for the third time in his career, according to the list MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced today during his annual State of the League address.

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. 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 Best XI members received the most votes from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches, and general managers.

The 2009 Golden Boot winner Cunningham joins his closest suitor in that race, Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids) at forward. Cunningham led the MLS with 17 goals during the 2009 season, scoring 16 in the final 14 games of the season as FC Dallas finished among the hottest teams in the league.

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.

fc.dallas.mlsnet

Jeff Cunningham

The Best XI defense includes Chad Marshall, a two-time Best XI member and this year’s Visa Defender of the Year. Joining Marshall on the back line are two first-time recipients – the Houston Dynamo’s Geoff Cameron and the Chicago Fire’s Wilman Conde.

The star-studded midfield includes two four-time honorees, Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), and Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC). Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy) earned his third selection. MLS Newcomer of the Year finalist Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC) earned MLS Best XI honors for the first time, as did Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo).

This season, 10 clubs are represented on the Best XI. Houston is the only club with two representatives. Of the top 11 players, 10 were members of the 2009 MLS All-Star team, and seven are finalists for the League’s top end-of-season awards, including Volkswagen MLS MVP finalists Cunningham, Donovan and Joseph. Nine members of the Best XI have senior national team appearances. Conde and Cameron are the only two without a full national team cap.

The Volkswagen MLS MVP will be awarded Thursday. ESPNews will broadcast the award ceremony.

Source: FC Dallas

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