Major League Soccer announced on Tuesday that Seattle Sounders FC and MLS veteran Chad Marshall has been named 2014 Defender of the Year after leading the Rave Green to their first-ever Supporters’ Shield and their fourth US Open Cup title.
This is Marshall’s third Defender of the Year award – the most any one player has won in MLS history.
In his first year with Seattle, Marshall proved an invaluable part of Seattle’s backline. His imposing 6-foot-4 frame caused problems for opposing squads on both ends of the field, with the California native notching one goal and three assists in his 31 appearances (all starts) for the Cascadia club. He committed just 20 fouls and earned one yellow card in 2,790 minutes of regular-season play.
Dubbed the "Air Marshall" by Seattle fans, the former Columbus Crew star's aerial dominance, vision and composure have been crucial for the Sounders, who are still battling for the MLS Cup title as the LA Galaxy visit CenturyLink Field on Sunday for the second leg of the Western Conference Championship (9:20 pm ET, ESPN, ESPN Deportes in US; TSN.ca, TSN GO, RDS2, MLSsoccer.com in Canada).
The award was voted on by media, MLS players and MLS club management based on regular-season performance. The other two finalists were D.C. United defender Bobby Boswell and LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, while the Columbus Crew's Michael Parkhurst finished in fourth place.
MLS Defender of the Year Winners:
2014: Chad Marshall – Seattle Sounders FC
2013: Jose Goncalves – New England Revolution
2012: Matt Besler – Sporting Kansas City
2011: Omar Gonzalez – LA Galaxy
2010: Jamison Olave – Real Salt Lake
2009: Chad Marshall – Columbus Crew
2008: Chad Marshall – Columbus Crew
2007: Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
2006: Bobby Boswell – D.C. United
2005: Jimmy Conrad – Kansas City Wizards
2004: Robin Fraser – Columbus Crew
2003: Carlos Bocanegra – Chicago Fire
2002: Carlos Bocanegra – Chicago Fire
2001: Jeff Agoos – San Jose Earthquakes
2000: Peter Vermes – Kansas City Wizards
1999: Robin Fraser – Los Angeles Galaxy
1998: Lubos Kubik – Chicago Fire
1997: Eddie Pope – D.C. United
1996: John Doyle – San Jose Earthquakes
