Crew's Marshall is MLS's top defender
Big, athletic standout on Crew back line caps remarkable comeback season with league's top honor for defenders
Related
- More 2008 MLS Awards
- Defender of the Year: Chad Marshall
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Marshall, 24, returned from an injury-shortened 2007 season to start and play 29 games in 2008, when he ranked second on the team in minutes played with 2,485 and helped the Crew capture the Supporters' Shield trophy, awarded to the team that finishes with the best regular season record (17-7-6, 57 points). Led by Marshall, the Crew's defense allowed the third fewest goals (36) behind only the Houston Dynamo (32) and the Chicago Fire (33).
Now in his fifth MLS season, the 6-4, 190-pound Riverside, Calif., native was the second overall pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew. He has been widely regarded as one of the league's top defenders since his rookie campaign, when he was a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year honors.
After a series of concussions forced him to miss 17 games in 2007 and left his career in jeopardy, Marshall made a stunning return to full fitness and form this season. On the eve of the 2007 season, Marshall suffered a concussion in a preseason match, which caused him to miss significant time on the field, including the first eight games of the 2007 MLS campaign. Marshall returned from his prolonged absence in June and helped spark the club's best run of play in 2007, as the Crew compiled a 5-3-3 record over the next 11 games - all of which he started - including a six-game unbeaten streak and five of the club's eight shutouts on the season. Unfortunately for Marshall and the Crew, his return would be short lived, as he suffered another concussion in mid-August and it was determined that it was best for his long-term health and safety to sit out the remainder of the season. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Aug. 31.
The 2008 season has been a different story and a new beginning for Marshall. Refocused and renewed by his forced time away from the game, he returned with vigor to his regular spot on the backline. A big, athletic defender, Marshall has consistently frustrated the efforts of the opposition's attack in 2008 - thanks to his aerial dominance and well-timed tackles - while only earning two yellow card cautions all season. This season has also seen Marshall utilize his size and leaping ability to get on the end of set pieces, as he has registered a career-high four goals (three of which were game-winners) - good for second in the league among defenders - giving the Crew another dangerous offensive weapon.
