Quioto, Top Impact Player for 2020

With 8 MLS goals (10 in all comps) and 6 assists, it will come as no surprise to anyone that Romell Quioto was yesterday named Montreal Impact MVP for 2020.

The Honduran has been a breath of fresh air for Montreal during MLS’ most difficult-ever season, in which Impact fans saw only two matches in Montreal without crowd restrictions and three with severely limited attendances of only 250.

Quioto, who arrived a year ago with slightly shredded reputation following his time at Houston Dynamo and media doubts ringing in the air, has proven a great success as Montreal’s most potent attacker.

On receiving the award and referring to those media reservations, Romell said, “Everyone is entitled to his own point-of-view. I was happy to prove who I am on the pitch, which is the most important thing, and through hard work and dedication I was able to do so.”

He adds his name onto the the Impact MVP Roll of Honour, and is the second winner from a CONCACAF nation. Quioto is the sixth different winner of the award which was dominated by Ignacio Piatti between the years 2015-18. Other winners were, Patrice Bernier, Marci Di Vaio, Andres Romero and Orji Okwonkwo.

Meanwhile, Luis Binks (19) was named Defensive Player of the Year. The young Englishman may be surprised somewhat by the award, not because his performances didn’t warrant the accolade, but because it’s not an award typically presented in UK football.

Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

He joins former winners in Laurent Ciman, Hassoun Camara, Daniel Lovitz, Evan Bush and Bacary Sagna. No-one has carried off this award, instituted in 2015, on more than one occasion.

Binks acknowledged how much of a learning curve 2020 had been for him and pinpointed one of his main reasons for coming to Montreal was the opportunity to learn from coach. Thierry Henry, who earlier had spoken of times during the season when he’d needed to be tough with the player.

“Obviously he’s a great person to learn from and some of the other members of the coaching staff.

“I have to be thankful to the manager for trusting in me a lot more than I thought this season. Coming to MLS for my first season it was never going to be a given that I would start, so to play in as many games as I have done, I have to thank the manager an awful lot.”

Luis Binks appeared in 25 matches (all comps) for the Impact during the season. He was transferred to Bologna in August and loaned straight back to Montreal, where he will remain throughout 2021.