MLS Major League Soccer

Columbus Crew's Chad Marshall Wins Visa Defender of the Year

Published on November 6, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK (Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008) - Major League Soccer announced more major year-end awards today as Columbus Crew defender Chad Marshall was named the Visa® Defender of the Year, and referees Jair Marrufo and Kermit Quisenberry were honored with the adidas Referee of the Year and adidas Assistant Referee of the Year awards.

Marshall started and played 29 games during the regular season and ranked second on the team in minutes played with 2,485. He 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).

Marshall bounced back in 2008 with a stellar season after missing 17 games in 2007 from concussions. The 6-foot, 4-inch, 190-pound, center back made his presence felt on the Crew's backline and in his opponent's penalty area. He scored four goals in 2008, tied for fifth on the team with striker Steven Lenhart.

Now in his fifth MLS season, the 24-year-old Riverside, Calif., native was the second overall pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew. He has widely been regarded as one of the League's top defenders since his rookie season in 2004 when he was a finalist for Rookie of the Year honors. This marks Marshall's first year-end award.

Marrufo was honored with the adidas Referee of the Year award for the first time in his career. He has plied his trade in MLS since 2002 and has been a U.S. Soccer registered referee since 1996. Marrufo is one of four officials hired full-time in early 2007 as part of U.S. Soccer's new program designed to enhance high-level performance, training and development opportunities for the sport's elite officials in the United States. Marrufo was appointed as a FIFA referee in 2007. He served on the officiating staff for MLS Cup 2006 in Frisco, Texas.

Quisenberry has been honored with the adidas Assistant Referee of the Year award in its inaugural year. He is an official FIFA Assistant Referee, and along with Marrufo, was assigned to officiate the 2008 Olympic Games in China.

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.

MLS Defender of the Year Winners:

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

adidas Referee of the Year Winners:

2008: Jair Marrufo

2007: Brian Hall

2006: Brian Hall

2005: Brian Hall

2004: Abiodun 'Abbey' Okulaja

2003: Brian Hall

2002: Kevin Terry

2001: Paul Tamberino

2000: Paul Tamberino

1999: Paul Tamberino

1998: Paul Tamberino

1997: Esse Baharmast

adidas Assistant Referee of the Year Winners:

2008: Kermit Quisenberry

2008 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists

Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists

Jon Busch - Chicago Fire

William Hesmer - Columbus Crew

Matt Reis - New England Revolution

Fair Play Finalists - Individual

Juan Pablo Angel - New York Red Bulls

Michael Parkhurst - New England Revolution

Chris Rolfe - Chicago Fire

MLS Comeback Player of the Year Finalists

Jon Busch - Chicago Fire

Kenny Cooper - FC Dallas

Santino Quaranta - D.C. United

Visa Defender of the Year Finalists

Jimmy Conrad - Kansas City Wizards

Chad Marshall - Columbus Crew

Bakary Soumare - Chicago Fire

adidas Referee of the Year Finalists

Michael Kennedy

Jair Marrufo

Terry Vaughn

Gatorade Rookie of the Year Finalists

Geoff Cameron - Houston Dynamo

Kheli Dube - New England Revolution

Sean Franklin - Los Angeles Galaxy

MLS Coach of the Year Finalists

Dominic Kinnear - Houston Dynamo

Sigi Schmid - Columbus Crew

Frank Yallop - San Jose Earthquakes

Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists

Cuauhtémoc Blanco - Chicago Fire

Landon Donovan - Los Angeles Galaxy

Guillermo Barros Schelotto - Columbus Crew

Newcomer of the Year

Darren Huckerby - San Jose Earthquakes

Claudio Lopez - Kansas City Wizards

Andre Rocha - FC Dallas

Schedule of Awards Announcements:

Tuesday, November 4

Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year

Fair Play Award Individual & Team

Thursday, November 6

Visa Defender of the Year

adidas Referee of the Year

Friday, November 7

US Soccer Foundation & MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year

Tuesday, November 11

MLS Newcomer of the Year

MLS Coach of the Year

Thursday, November 13

Gatorade Rookie of the Year

Wednesday, November 19

Sierra Mist Goal of the Year

Thursday, November 20

Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player

Saturday, November 22

MLS Best XI

MLS Comeback Player of the Year

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