St. Louis CITY SC’s Yoann Damet, Roman Bürki named finalists for MLS year-end awards

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Matrix Midwest) - St. Louis CITY SC Head Coach Yoann Damet and goalkeeper Roman Bürki are in the running for two of Major League Soccer’s top individual honors after helping the club return to the playoffs.

Damet is a finalist for the Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year award, while Bürki is a finalist for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, the league announced Thursday.

The finalists were selected based on average votes from MLS club technical staff, players and select media members.

Damet recognized after CITY’s turnaround

In his first season as CITY’s head coach, Damet led St. Louis to third place in the Western Conference with 54 points and a 15-9-10 record. The club had been 14th in the West after its first 10 matches.

CITY also won its first trophy, the U.S. Open Cup, defeating the Columbus Crew in a penalty shootout. The club went unbeaten in 21 consecutive matches across all competitions, the longest streak in MLS history.

Damet is one of three finalists for Coach of the Year, alongside Nashville SC’s B.J. Callaghan and Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Jesper Sørensen.

Bürki seeks another goalkeeper honor

Roman Bürki, CITY’s captain, is a finalist for an award he previously won in 2023.

He recorded 72 saves and four clean sheets in 28 appearances this season.

Nashville’s Brian Schwake and the New England Revolution’s Matt Turner are the other finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year.

MLS said award winners will be announced throughout the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs.

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