Frank Yallop, Eddie Johnson win MLS awards

(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

NEW YORK (AP) Frank Yallop of the San Jose Earthquakes has been honored as Major League Soccer's coach of the year, and the Seattle Sounders' Eddie Johnson is comeback player of the year.

After the Earthquakes finished with the 14th-best record out of 18 teams in 2011, they went 19-6-9 this season to lead MLS. Yallop easily won over fellow finalists Ben Olsen of D.C United and Peter Vermes of Sporting Kansas City in voting by media, MLS players and club management.

After struggling to find consistency for three years playing in Europe, Johnson returned to MLS this season and scored 14 goals in 28 games. The forward also won comeback player of the year honors in 2007.

Johnson narrowly beat out D.C. United midfielder Chris Pontius. Earthquakes forward Alan Gordon was the other finalist.

Updated November 27, 2012