In first campaign with Crew SC, U.S. MNT striker nets career-high 19 goals
NEW YORK
(Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018)
– Major League Soccer announced today that after his breakout regular season, Columbus Crew SC forward Gyasi Zardes has been named the 2018 MLS Comeback Player of the Year.
The 27-year-old Hawthorne, Calif. native was traded to Crew SC in the offseason before posting his strongest campaign yet, including a career-high 19 goals. He capped off the regular season with his first career hat trick on MLS Decision Day presented by AT&T to carry momentum into the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
- Video soundbytes from Gyasi Zardes are available HERE
Under the guidance of Columbus sporting director and head coach Gregg Berhalter, Zardes has thrived all season within the club’s lone-striker formation. Zardes also eclipsed the regular season 50-goal career milestone (53), and in the process rewarded Columbus with the third-highest, single-season goalscoring output in club history. He set personal bests in minutes (2,948) and games played/started (33).
The turnaround season came just one year after posting two goals with the LA Galaxy in 2017 – a year in which he also had multiple injuries in club and international play.
Zardes’ elevated MLS play led to a well-deserved return to the U.S. Men’s National Team camp in September – his first camp since January.
The award was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media and current MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results:
<strong><u>Comeback Player of the Year</u></strong> |
<strong><u>Player Vote %</u></strong> |
<strong><u>Club Vote %</u></strong> |
<strong><u>Media Vote %</u></strong> |
<strong><u>Average %</u></strong> |
<strong>Gyasi Zardes (CLB)</strong> |
<strong>24.85%</strong> |
<strong>30.69%</strong> |
<strong>52.73%</strong> |
<strong>36.09%</strong> |
<div>Zlatan Ibrahimović (LA)</div> |
<div>31.87%</div> |
<div>30.69%</div> |
<div>16.67%</div> |
<div>26.41%</div> |
<div>Osvaldo Alonso (SEA)</div> |
<div>5.26%</div> |
<div>6.93%</div> |
<div>10.30%</div> |
<div>7.50%</div> |
<div>Djordje Mihailovic (CHI)</div> |
<div>7.89%</div> |
<div>8.91%</div> |
<div>4.55%</div> |
<div>7.12%</div> |
<div>Jonathan Osorio (TOR)</div> |
<div>7.02%</div> |
<div>5.94%</div> |
<div>7.58%</div> |
<div>6.85%</div> |
MLS Comeback Player of the Year Winners:
2018: Gyasi Zardes – Columbus Crew SC
2017: Clint Dempsey – Seattle Sounders FC
2016: Chris Pontius – Philadelphia Union
2015: Tim Melia – Sporting Kansas City
2014: Rodney Wallace – Portland Timbers
2013: Kevin Alston – New England Revolution
2012: Eddie Johnson – Seattle Sounders FC
2011: David Beckham – LA Galaxy
2010: Bobby Convey – San Jose Earthquakes
2009: Zach Thornton – Chivas USA
2008: Kenny Cooper – FC Dallas
2007: Eddie Johnson – Kansas City Wizards
2006: Richard Mulrooney – FC Dallas
2005: Chris Klein – Kansas City Wizards
2004: Brian Ching – San Jose Earthquakes
2003: Chris Armas – Chicago Fire
2002: Chris Klein – Kansas City Wizards
2001: Troy Dayak – San Jose Earthquakes
2000: Tony Meola – Kansas City Wizards
