CARSON, Calif. - Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein was today named 2006 Gatorade Rookie of the Year by Major League Soccer. Bornstein joins Chivas USA Head Coach Bob Bradley in claiming year-end honors, as Bradley was today named MLS Coach of the Year.
"We are all very happy for Jonny," said Bradley. "His first season in MLS contributed greatly to the improvement of our club. He is an exciting young player who we're confident will continue to play a big role at Chivas USA."
A Los Alamitos, California native and UCLA product, Bornstein, 21, was a fourth-round pick (37th overall) in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft and was the resounding choice for Gatorade Rookie of the Year. He started every game in his rookie season and logged 2,878 minutes, the third-highest in the league and the most of any field player.
Playing several different positions during the season, Bornstein led all rookies with six goals and recorded four assists, displaying tremendous versatility as a first-year player. He was named MLS Player of the Week for Week 17 and MLS Player of the Month for July. Bornstein beat out teammate Sacha Kljestan and Real Salt Lake's Mehdi Ballouchy for the award.
Chivas USA finished third in the Western Conference regular-season standings, with a 10-9-13 record, claiming a berth in the 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs in the Mexican-owned club's second year of existence after finishing last in the Western Conference with a record of 4-22-6, in 2005, the team's inaugural year.
The Gatorade Rookie of the Year winner was determined by equal voting from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers. All first-year players in MLS without previous professional experience are eligible for the Gatorade Rookie of the Year award.
Gatorade Rookie of the Year Winners
2006: Jonathan Bornstein - Chivas USA
2005: Michael Parkhurst - New England Revolution
2004: Clint Dempsey - New England Revolution
2003: Damani Ralph - Chicago Fire
2002: Kyle Martino - Columbus Crew
2001: Rodrigo Faria - MetroStars
2000: Carlos Bocanegra - Chicago Fire
1999: Jay Heaps - Miami Fusion
1998: Ben Olsen - D.C. United
1997: Mike Duhaney - Tampa Bay Mutiny
1996: Steve Ralston - Tampa Bay Mutiny
