Crew's Marshall named MLS Defender of the Year
Defender second player in MLS history to earn award in back-to-back campaigns
Related
- 2009 MLS Awards: Marshall, CLB
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- Marshall, Warzycha among finalists for 2009 MLS awards
- Marshall voted MLS Player of the Month for August
Marshall, the 2008 Defender of the Year and a 2009 MLS All-Star, anchored a Columbus defense that allowed only 31 goals during the regular season, which was third fewest in the league this season and established a new club record. Marshall started all 18 games in which he played during the regular season, missing four while serving National Team duty with the U.S. and another six with a knee sprain at the end of the season.
Marshall helped the Crew capture its second straight Supporters' Shield title, awarded to the team that finishes with the league's best regular-season record (13-7-10, 49 points), and the 6-4, 190-pounder will lead the Crew into the second leg of its Eastern Conference Semifinals series vs. Real Salt Lake tonight at 8 p.m. at Crew Stadium.
Marshall won MLS Player of the Month honors for August after leading the Crew to a 4-1-0 record during the month, which included four shutouts. He proved again that he's not only an imposing force on defense, but also poses a scoring threat whenever he gets forward. Marshall finished third on the team with four goals scored, including game-winners vs. New York (June 27), Colorado (Aug. 1) and FC Dallas (Aug. 15).
Now in his sixth MLS season, the 25-year-old Riverside, Calif., native was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the Crew. Marshall joins Bocanegra and former Crew defender Robin Fraser as the only two-time Defender of the Year award winners. Marshall led the voting ahead of Seattle Sounders FC defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Houston Dynamo defender Geoff Cameron, the other finalists for the award.
The Visa Defender of the Year earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, and members of the media. The adidas Referee of the Year and adidas Assistant Referee of the Year were earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, referees and members of the media.
Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members, it is the reigning MLS Cup Champion and has also won the 2002 U.S. Open Cup championship and MLS Supporters' Shield titles in 2004, 2008 and 2009. It is currently in its 14th season overall and 11th season in first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium.
MLS Defender of the Year Winners:
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
