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LA Galaxy Defender Omar Gonzalez Wins 2009 MLS Rookie of the Year
Major League Soccer today announced that LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez captured the 2009 MLS Rookie of the Year award. Gonzalez started and played all 30 of the Galaxy’s regular season games and helped the club improve its defense from statistically the worst in 2008 to one of the best during the 2009 season.
The 21-year old defender from Dallas, Texas, becomes the second consecutive Galaxy defender to win the award. Teammate Sean Franklin received the honor in 2008. Gonzalez received the most votes in polling of media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers. All first-year players in MLS without previous professional experience were considered for the Rookie of the Year award.
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Gonzalez, selected with the third overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Maryland, impressed coaches enough during the preseason that they thrust him into the starting role at the center of the backline with veteran Gregg Berhalter. The former NCAA All-American was one of only 14 players in the League to play in all 30 regular season games and ranked second among rookies with 2,672 minutes played, behind only Darrius Barnes (2,700 minutes) of the New England Revolution.
The 6-foot, 5-inch, 210-pound, defender was an imposing force on the backline for the Galaxy this season. His size and range were key factors in the most dramatic defensive turnaround in League history, as the Galaxy allowed only 31 goals in 2009 compared to 62 goals allowed the previous season. Gonzalez also scored one goal and added one assist in his rookie season.
Gonzalez has represented the United States at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels. In 2005, he played at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Peru. He appeared in two games at the tournament as the U.S. team was eliminated in the Quarterfinals by the Netherlands. In 2007 he played for the U.S. Under-20’s at the Pan-American Games. Gonzalez and the Galaxy are in action on Friday when they host the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference Championship at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Gatorade Rookie of the Year Winners
2009: Omar Gonzalez – Los Angeles Galaxy
2008: Sean Franklin – Los Angeles Galaxy
2007: Maurice Edu – Toronto FC
2006: Jonathan Bornstein – Chivas USA
2005: Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
2004: Clint Dempsey – New England Revolution
2003: Damani Ralph – Chicago Fire
2002: Kyle Martino – Columbus Crew
2001: Rodrigo Faria - MetroStars
2000: Carlos Bocanegra – Chicago Fire
1999: Jay Heaps – Miami Fusion
1998: Ben Olsen – D.C. United
1997: Mike Duhaney – Tampa Bay Mutiny
1996: Steve Ralston – Tampa Bay Mutiny
2009 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists
Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
Zach Thornton – Chivas USA
Kasey Keller – Seattle Sounders FC
Donovan Ricketts – Los Angeles Galaxy
Fair Play Finalists - Individual
Kasey Keller – Seattle Sounders FC
Pat Onstad – Houston Dynamo
Steve Ralston – New England Revolution
Visa Defender of the Year Finalists
Geoff Cameron – Houston Dynamo
Jhon Kennedy Hurtado – Seattle Sounders FC
Chad Marshall – Columbus Crew
adidas Referee of the Year Finalists
Alex Prus
Ricardo Salazar
Kevin Stott
adidas Assistant Referee of the Year
Greg Barkey
Nathan Clement
Joe Fletcher
Newcomer of the Year
Kasey Keller – Seattle Sounders FC
Freddie Ljungberg – Seattle Sounders FC
Fredy Montero – Seattle Sounders FC
MLS Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Brian McBride – Chicago Fire
Ben Olsen – D.C. United
Zach Thornton – Chivas USA
MLS Coach of the Year Finalists
Bruce Arena – LA Galaxy
Sigi Schmid – Seattle Sounders FC Robert Warzycha – Columbus Crew
Rookie of the Year Finalists
Stefan Frei – Toronto FC
Omar Gonzalez – Los Angeles Galaxy
Chris Pontius – D.C. United
Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
Jeff Cunningham – FC Dallas
Landon Donovan – Los Angeles Galaxy
Shalrie Joseph – New England Revolution
Awards Announcements Schedule:
Schedule subject to change
Monday, November 16
MLS Best XI
Wednesday, November 18
Goal of the Year presented by AT&T
Save of the Year presented by Degree Men
Thursday, November 19
Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player
Saturday, November 21
MLS Commissioner’s Award
PaddockTalk Perspective
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