Cork’s Alan Kelly named MLS referee of the year

Major League Soccer has selected Irish official Alan Kelly as the 2015 MLS Referee of the Year.

The award was decided by votes from clubs, players and media with Kelly receiving more than double the votes of his nearest competitor.

It is the Cork native’s second season as an MLS referee, taking charge of 21 regular season games in 2015.

Kelly is an alumni of the FAI Referees School of Excellence, graduating in 2000.

He was named FAI Players’ Referee of the Year in 2006 and went on to serve as a UEFA official - refereeing Champions League and World Cup qualifiers, among other competitions.

Congratulations to a regular on our show @alanrefkelly on being named top referee in the MLShttps://t.co/sYDZcg0AyY

— Life FM Sport Cork (@LifeFMsport) November 9, 2015

Alan Kelly, who booked 3 players for simulation in inaugural #NYCFC at #orlandocitysc, was named #MLS Referee of the Year - by a landslide

— Glenn Crooks (@GlennCrooks) November 9, 2015

Alan Kelly named MLS Referee of the Year; #MLS https://t.co/KyN3beGa5o congrats @alanrefkelly amazing achievement.

— Thomas McNally (@TomMcNally3) November 9, 2015