FC Dallas midfielder David Ferreira is being touted by many as a strong candidate for MVP of the current MLS season.
An MVP award would make for an intriguing offseason in Frisco, with Ferreira’s loan deal from Brazilian club and FC Dallas partner, Atletico Paranaense, expiring in December.
“I hope to stay [with FC Dallas] for many years,” the 31-year-old told MLSsoccer.com. “The decision lies with FC Dallas … I hope the possibility exists to continue.”
His production will make it hard to let him go. With six goals and a team-leading eight assists, he is a primary reason that FCD have the league’s fewest losses and the longest undefeated streak in MLS—11 games.
FC Dallas manager Schellas Hyndman gives Ferreira free reign to be the playmaker. The 5-foot-5 Colombian commands the trigger to unleash the team’s attack when the time is right. However, the manager's is a trust that has been earned over time.
“Last year I was in a new league and no one knew me,” Ferreira said of his MLS debut season in 2009. “Now the team trusts me 100 percent and that is the difference. The players know me and know I can help the team. They know in what moments I can be a leader on the field and I try to do it.”
Ferreira says 2010 is a completely different season for the entire team. He believes Dallas are much more settled and a fixed lineup has helped. But most importantly, he points to the fact that the team’s mentality has changed. The players do not get flustered easily or lose concentration.
On a personal level Ferreira’s emergence has also meant attracting the attention of the new Colombian national team manager, Hernán Darío Gómez, who mentioned that a recall is very much possible for the country’s October exhibition matches in the United States. It would mark the end of a two-year absence from the Tricolor for Ferreira.
He wouldn’t be the first Colombian playmaker in MLS history to be called up to Colombia’s national team. Ferreira happens to come from the same Colombian city which is the home of former MLS great and Colombian World Cup hero, Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama.
Ferreira and Valderrama meet up regularly during the offseason and even play together in local pick-up games. The subject of MLS comes up often and Ferreira says that Valderrama reminds him that it was El Pibe who won that first MVP award in 1996.
The newest Colombian sensation, who goes by “Ricky-Ricky” among friends, is just 10 regular season games away from perhaps matching the feat of his hometown legend. Ferreira could even upstage him by winning the MLS Cup title that eluded Valderrama through the course of his seven-year MLS career.
“If I won [the MVP award], it would be spectacular,” Ferreira said. “I am thankful that people are recognizing the work I’m doing for FC Dallas. But I am trying to help the team reach important goals. We’re going to keep working and trying.”
The march to the playoffs continues with a match in Columbus against the Eastern Conference leading Crew, a fellow contender for the 2010 Supporters Shield.
“We’re going to Columbus to entertain and play good soccer,” Ferreira said. “We need to be intelligent and keep in mind that getting a good result will help us continue to move forward.”
