Nashville SC leads the Major League Soccer award finalists this year with six nominations, including three defenders and coach B.J. Callaghan. The club’s strong showing comes after a record-breaking regular season, with five players named among the finalists and Callaghan up for Coach of the Year.
Captain Hany Mukhtar is a finalist for the Most Valuable Player award, an honour he previously won in 2022. Mukhtar finished the regular season with 17 goals and eight assists, cementing his influence on the team’s offensive output. His inclusion puts him alongside Lionel Messi of Inter Miami, Evander from FC Cincinnati, Guilherme of Houston Dynamo, and Cavan Sullivan of Philadelphia Union.
What sets Nashville SC apart is its defensive recognition. All three finalists for the MLS Defender of the Year award are from the club’s back line: Maxwell Woledzi, Jeisson Palacios, and Andy Najar. This is only the second time in MLS history that a single club has produced all three finalists for a single award, underscoring Nashville’s defensive strength throughout the season.
Goalkeeper Brian Schwake also earned a spot among the finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year after tying Tony Meola’s longstanding MLS record with 16 clean sheets in the regular season. Schwake’s performances have been critical in Nashville’s defensive record, complementing the trio of defenders nominated alongside him.
Callaghan’s nomination for Coach of the Year comes as Nashville SC prepares for the MLS Cup playoffs. The team’s regular-season success has positioned them well ahead of their first postseason matches. Their playoff schedule begins on November 22 against the winner of the Orlando City and FC Cincinnati matchup, with the second leg set for November 28 and a potential third game on December 2 if needed.
Other finalists for Coach of the Year include Yoann Damet of St. Louis City SC and Jesper Sørensen of Vancouver Whitecaps, reflecting a competitive field of managers recognized for their work this season.
The full list of MLS award finalists includes players and coaches from across the league. Besides Nashville’s strong representation, the Newcomer of the Year nominees are Antoine Griezmann from Orlando City, Guilherme from Houston Dynamo, and André Luiz of Sporting Kansas City. The Young Player of the Year candidates are Cavan Sullivan, Adri Mehmeti, and Julian Hall, with the latter two representing Red Bull New York.
Other categories such as Comeback Player of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year feature players from various clubs, including Eduard Löwen of San Jose, Ryan Gauld from Vancouver Whitecaps, and Brad Stuver of Austin FC.
Nashville SC’s dominance in nominations reflects their balanced squad and consistent performances throughout the 2026 MLS season. Mukhtar’s offensive contributions, the defensive trio’s solidity, Schwake’s record-tying clean sheets, and Callaghan’s tactical guidance have all contributed to the club’s standout year.
The team now shifts focus to the playoffs, where they will face Orlando City or FC Cincinnati in a best-of-three series starting later this month. The outcome of these matches will determine if Nashville’s award-winning players and coach can translate regular-season success into postseason glory.
According to Yahoo Sports.
