Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almirón named
MLS Newcomer of the Year
Paraguayan international sparked expansion club’s breakout inaugural year
NEW YORK
(Monday, November 20, 2017)
– Major League Soccer today announced Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almirón as the 2017 MLS Newcomer of the Year. The award recognizes the year’s most impactful new MLS player, who has prior professional experience.
Joining Atlanta United from Argentina’s Primera División, the 23-year-old Almirón became an immediate staple during Atlanta’s inaugural season. Commanding the midfield with speed and creativity, the Paraguayan midfielder contributed nine goals and 14 assists, with four of those helpers setting up game winners. As the heartbeat of Atlanta United’s midfield, he helped the club to a 14-8-8 record in his 30 appearances, establishing an essential playmaking role that spearheaded Atlanta’s path to a fourth-place Eastern Conference finish and a spot in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.
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Prior to debuting in MLS, Almirón led Argentinian club Lanús to two major championships in 2016, including the Copa Bicentenario, and Lanus’ second-ever Primera División title. The crafty midfielder has been a mainstay on Paraguay’s National Team, earning caps in both the 2016 Copa America Centenario and in recent FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The Newcomer of the Year Award recognizes players with previous professional experience, which makes rookies ineligible for consideration. Similarly, players eligible for Newcomer of the Year are ineligible for Rookie of the Year.
The award was voted on by MLS club management, media, and current MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results:
<strong><u>Newcomer of the Year </u></strong> |
<strong><u>Player Vote %</u></strong> |
<strong><u>Media Vote %</u></strong> |
<strong><u>Club Exec Vote %</u></strong> |
<strong><u>Average %</u></strong> |
<strong>Miguel Almirón (ATL)</strong> |
<div>41.38%</div> |
<div>29.09%</div> |
<div>41.67%</div> |
<div>37.38%</div> |
<div>Nemanja Nikolić (CHI)</div> |
<div>18.77%</div> |
<div>35.76%</div> |
<div>20.24%</div> |
<div>24.92%</div> |
<div>Josef Martínez (ATL)</div> |
<div>14.94%</div> |
<div>18.79%</div> |
<div>9.52%</div> |
<div>14.42%</div> |
<div>Víctor Vázquez (TOR)</div> |
<div>5.75%</div> |
<div>11.21%</div> |
<div>9.52%</div> |
<div>8.83%</div> |
<div>Bastian Schweinsteiger (CHI)</div> |
<div>1.92%</div> |
<div>1.82%</div> |
<div>4.76%</div> |
<div>2.83%</div> |
<div>Albert Rusnák (RSL)</div> |
<div>1.92%</div> |
<div>0.30%</div> |
<div>2.38%</div> |
<div>1.53%</div> |
MLS Newcomer of the Year Winners:
2017: Miguel Almirón – Atlanta United
2016: Nicolás Lodeiro – Seattle Sounders FC
2015: Sebastian Giovinco – Toronto FC
2014: Pedro Morales – Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2013: Diego Valeri – Portland Timbers
2012: Federico Higuaín – Columbus Crew SC
2011: Mauro Rosales – Seattle Sounders FC
2010: Álvaro Saborío – Real Salt Lake
2009: Fredy Montero – Seattle Sounders FC
2008: Darren Huckerby – San Jose Earthquakes
2007: Luciano Emílio – D.C. United
