Impact defender Laurent Ciman named top French-speaking player in MLS

MONTREAL – Montreal Impact defender Laurent Ciman was named francophone player of the year in Major League Soccer on Tuesday.

Ciman, also named defender of the year in his first season in MLS, took 50 per cent of the vote on the MLS website on the league’s top French-speaking player. Tony Tchani of the Columbus Crew was second with 28 per cent and Damien Perrinelle of the New York Red Bulls was third with 22 per cent.

Others receiving consideration included Montreal’s Didier Drogba and Ignacio Piatti, Benoit Cheyrou and Damien Perquis of Toronto FC, Aurelien Collin of Orlando, Sebastien Le Toux of Philadelphia and Soni Mustivar of Kansas City.

The winner is elected in a weighed vote among the panel on MLSsoccer.com’s weekly podcast “Coup Franc” and fans.

MLS named a Latino player of the year on Dec. 4 — midfielder Darwin Ceren of Orlando.

Meanwhile, the Impact announced they will open the 2016 season on March 6 against the Whitecaps at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. Their home opener will be March 12 at Olympic Stadium against the New York Red Bulls. Montreal’s first two home games will be played at the Big O.

The rest of the schedule is to be released in January.