LOS ANGELES, Oct 6: Landon Donovan captured the Honda Award as US football player of the year in a landslide vote, winning for an unprecedented fourth time.

The 25-year-old Donovan, honoured on Friday as the US national team’s top player, also received the award in 2002, when he was the youngest winner. He took the trophy in 2003 and 2004, becoming the first player to win the award three times.

He received 413 points in the nationwide balloting of reporters and soccer officials. Goalkeeper Tim Howard finished second with 122 and three-time finalist Carlos Bocanegra was third with 105.

Howard plays for Everton, and Bocanegra for Fulham, both in the English Premier League. They each were on the phone during the award ceremony in Los Angeles.

“I’m real proud of you guys,” Donovan said.—AP