EARNIE STEWART WINS 2001 HONDA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

U.S. Team's Leading Scorer in 2001 Wins a Car in His First Year as a Finalist

LOS ANGELES (December 12, 2001) - Earnie Stewart, the U.S. national team's leading scorer in 2001, has been selected as the 2001 Honda Player of the Year in a vote by the American sports media.

Stewart, 32, received the most prestigious honor in U.S. professional soccer this afternoon in person during a gala luncheon at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. He received very special permission from his club team in Holland, NAC Breda of the Dutch first division, to travel to Los Angeles and attend this afternoon's ceremony. Stewart arrived in Los Angeles with his wife Yvonne after training with his team on Monday and returned to the Netherlands immediately after the festivities concluded in order to play in a game against Fortuna Sittard on Friday.

An 11 year veteran of the U.S. national team, Stewart will now have his name added to the coveted Honda trophy and he will receive a Honda Accord EX. Additionally, $5000.00 will be donated to the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) on Stewart's behalf by the American Honda Motor Company.

"It is great to be recognized as one of the best American players, especially since I have been playing for clubs in Holland my entire career," said Stewart. "The Honda Player of the Year award is the most prestigious honor an American player can receive, and to win it in a World Cup qualifying year really means a lot to me."

A record 251 American sports journalists participated in the voting and selected Stewart, who received 290 total points, as the winner. Claudio Reyna, who won the 2000 Honda Player of the Year award, finished second overall with 205 points. Reyna participated live in the ceremony from Scotland. Jeff Agoos, a first-time finalist who also attended the ceremony in Los Angeles, finished third with 181 points. Each first place vote was worth three points, a second place vote two points and a third place vote one point.

Born in Holland to an American father and Dutch mother, Earnie lived in Point Arena, California for five years as a child. The midfielder/forward is one of the most experienced players on the U.S. national team, playing every game in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups as well as every minute of every World Cup qualifying match in 2001.

Stewart's five goals in 2001 against Mexico, Honduras and Trinidad & Tobago made him the U.S. all-time leading scorer in World Cup qualifying with 11 total goals. Perhaps the most famous goal of his career came in the 1994 World Cup against Colombia, which ultimately propelled the U.S. into the second round.

Created in 1991 by Fútbol de Primera and American Honda, the Honda Player of the Year award is given annually to the best player on the U.S. national team as chosen by the media. To become eligible for the award, a player must play in at least three international matches for the national team during the year.

The previous winners of the Honda Player of the Year award are: Claudio Reyna (2000), Kasey Keller (1999), Cobi Jones (1998), Eddie Pope (1997), Eric Wynalda (1996, 1992), Alexi Lalas (1995), Marcelo Balboa (1994), Thomas Dooley (1993) and Hugo Perez (1991).

Today's Honda luncheon was attended by many top figures in U.S. professional soccer, including US Soccer Past President Alan Rothenberg, previous Honda Players of the Year and other U.S. National Team players.