DeAndre Yedlin added another accolade to his breakthrough year with the United States national team on Thursday, earning the 2014 U.S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year award.
Yedlin, 21, made his USMNT debut in April and finished the year with 10 appearances, including three during the World Cup in Brazil. A starting right back with the Seattle Sounders who has emerged as one of the best young players in Major League Soccer, he appeared in 25 games for the Sounders during their Supporters’ Shield-winning campaign.
Yedlin also inked a multi-million dollar deal with English Premier League side Tottenham in August. He’s expected to join the club at some point in 2015.
“It’s an absolute honor to win this award,” Yedlin told ussoccer.com. “I would like to thank my teammates, my family, and most of all the fans for the amazing support for our team. It was a tremendous year for a lot of young players, and we all share the dream of continuing to have the opportunity to represent our country.”
Yedlin was named the winner of MLSsoccer.com’s annual 24 Under 24 series after breaking through with the Sounders as rookie in 2014 and eventually winning his way onto US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s team this year.
He made his US debut in a friendly against Mexico in April and less than three months later assisted on the Americans’ second goal of a 2-2 draw against Portgual in Manaus, Brazil. He also appeared in the team’s group-stage loss to Germany and the knockout round loss to Belgium.
