Michael Bradley named 2015 US Soccer Male Player of the Year

Michael Bradley has been named 2015 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year. This marks the first time that Bradley has earned the United States' top men's soccer award, although he did capture U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year in 2007.

Bradley led the U.S. in minutes in 2015 and earned his 100th career cap. His two-best matches of the year came, not coincidentally, in the Americans' two best performances of the year when he led the U.S. attack against the Netherlands and Germany. He was the team's best player in both, pulling the strings and showing that he is the Americans' most technical and skillful player. In total, he had three goals and six assists this year for the U.S., while also leading Toronto FC to their first ever playoff appearance.

Bradley earned 43 percent of the votes, with Fabian Johnson receiving 33 percent as the runner up. Clint Dempsey was third with 20 percent of the vote.

Johnson was a strong candidate for the award, playing predictably well for the U.S. despite logging time at left back, right back, left midfield and right midfield on the year. He also had the best run of form of any American at the club level, torching the Bundesliga this fall for Borussia Monchengladbach.

This wasn't a strong year for the U.S., as they faltered in the Gold Cup and CONCACAF Cup, while no one was consistently outstanding for their club. Voters didn't have an obvious winner to choose, or even a handful of very good candidates. It was a rough campaign, but Bradley, as the captain and with a few standout performances, earned the honor as the country's best player.