Chivas USA's Brad Guzan named MLS Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year

Published on October 31, 2007 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007) - Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan, a Chivas USA Original and one of Major League Soccer's most promising young netminders, was today named MLS's Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year for the 2007 season. The award, determined by voting from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers, follows a career season for the 23-year-old fan favorite affectionately known as 'El Guzano', in which Guzan recorded the league's fourth-best goals-against average all-time (0.93 GAA in 27 games played), while registering 13 shutouts - the second highest single-season shutout total by a goalkeeper in MLS history.

"It's an honor to have been chosen Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year," said Guzan. "I want to thank my parents, my coaches and Chivas USA's passionate fans for their support. I especially want to thank my Chivas USA teammates, with whom I share this award, because it is our work together as a group that has allowed us to succeed this season."

On the heels of his Goalkeeper of the Year award, Guzan will give his very first Spanish-language radio interview this Thursday, Nov. 1 on 'Sangre Chiva', Chivas USA's weekly radio program on KTNQ 1020 AM Univision Radio Los Angeles, live from Chivas USA's Playoff Rally at Plaza Mexico in Lynwood, California. Ahead of Chivas USA's decisive MLS Cup Playoff match Saturday at The Home Depot Center, Chivas USA's Playoff Rally will take place Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. PT. Plaza Mexico is located at 3100 E. Imperial Highway in Lynwood, Calif., 90262.

Guzan, a native of Homer Glen, Ill., joined Chivas USA in 2005 as the club's first ever SuperDraft pick, selected No. 2 overall out of South Carolina as the highest-selected goalkeeper in MLS SuperDraft history. Originally projected as a backup to veteran Mexican goalkeeper Martín Zúñiga, Guzan was thrust into the limelight in 2005, the club's inaugural season, following a knee injury suffered by Zúniga in preseason. The rookie goalkeeper, just 20 years old at the time, would go on to record a 1.99 GAA in 24 games played (23 starts) on a team that finished a league-low 4-22-6 (W-L-T).

Guzan continued to improve in the seasons ahead, earning his first of three caps to date with the U.S. National Team in February 2006. He entered Chivas USA's 2006 season as the starter in goal, conceded 12 goals in his first six games, was replaced by Preston Burpo for a 19-game stretch, and then returned for the final stretch of Chivas USA's regular-season campaign, conceding just 8 goals and ending the season with a 1.46 GAA overall. Guzan's timely saves (including a number of key penalty kicks), his leadership on the field and his 2-0 all-time record in Chivas USA friendlies vs. Club América of Mexico have endeared him to Chivas USA's fans.

The 2007 Goalkeeper of the Year Award is Guzan's third piece of individual hardware this season: earlier this month he earned two Chivas USA team awards, as the club's 2007 Honda MVP and U.S. Soccer Humanitarian of the Year. Guzan is the third member of Chivas USA to be named to an MLS year-end award, on the heels of last year's winners Bob Bradley (2006 MLS Coach of the Year) and Jonathan Bornstein (2006 Gatorade Rookie of the Year).

Guzan, who holds 64 all-time regular-season appearances for Chivas USA, is one of four remaining Chivas USA Originals - players who have been with Chivas USA since its inaugural season in 2005. The other three are: midfielder Francisco Mendoza (83 all-time regular-season appearances for Chivas USA), defender Orlando Pérez (65 all-time regular-season appearances for Chivas USA) and midfielder Rodrigo López (8 all-time regular-season appearances for Chivas USA).

Following a 1-0 loss to the Kansas City Wizards in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals, Chivas USA returns to The Home Depot Center this Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. PT for the most important game in the club's young history, when it hosts the Wizards in the decisive Game 2 of its total-goals series. (The team that scores the most goals during the two-game series will advance to the Western Conference Final on Nov. 3.)

For tickets or more information, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.

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