FC Cincinnati's Matt Miazga Named MLS Defender of the Year 2023
November 13, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK - Major League Soccer today announced FC Cincinnati center back Matt Miazga as the 2023 MLS Defender of the Year. Miazga becomes the first Cincinnati defender to receive the honor and the 17th different U.S. International to capture the accolade.
Download Matt Miazga MLS Defender of the Year media assets HERE The 6-foot-4 defender has been an anchor on Cincinnati's back line since arriving at the club on August 5, 2022, starting 37 regular-season matches and logging over 3,100 minutes. When on the field, the Miazga-led defense allowed just 28 goals (1.03 goals per game) in 2023, and he started 10 games in which the club held their opponents scoreless, tied for the fourth-most clean sheets among outfield players in the league.
Playing a key role in FC Cincinnati's dramatic turnaround over the last two seasons, the club holds a 21-4-12 record in matches that Miazga has appeared in and has advanced to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs at the conclusion of both seasons, while capturing the MLS Supporters' Shield in 2023. Miazga was one of three FC Cincinnati players to make the MLS All-Star team in 2023, joined by midfielders Luciano 'Lucho' Acosta and Álvaro Barreal.
A 2013 Homegrown signing by the New York Red Bulls, Miazga appeared in 38 matches for the Red Bulls from 2013-15 before joining Chelsea FC of the English Premier League in January 2016 at the age of 20. He made over 165 appearances across six different clubs in Europe before returning to MLS in the summer of 2022. The Clifton, N.J., native has made 28 appearances with the United States Men's National Team and was a member of the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup and 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League-winning squads.
FC Cincinnati continue their quest for MLS Cup presented by Audi, as they welcome the Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Saturday, November 25 (8 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
The Defender of the Year award was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media, and current MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results:
2023 MLS Defender of the Year Voting Breakdown
Name Player Vote Club Vote Media Vote Average Vote
Matt Miazga (CIN) 16.56% 26.83% 32.95% 25.45%
Tim Parker (STL) 19.11% 2.44% 9.83% 10.46%
Yeimar Gómez Andrade (SEA) 3.82% 7.32% 16.76% 9.30%
A full list of MLS Defender of the Year award winners can be found below:
MLS Defender of the Year Winners
Season Player Club
2023 Matt Miazga FC Cincinnati
2022 Jakob Glesnes Philadelphia Union
2021 Walker Zimmerman Nashville SC
2020 Walker Zimmerman Nashville SC
2019 Ike Opara Minnesota United FC
2018 Aaron Long New York Red Bulls
2017 Ike Opara Sporting Kansas City
2016 Matt Hedges FC Dallas
2015 Laurent Ciman Montréal Impact
2014 Chad Marshall Seattle Sounders FC
2013 Jose Goncalves New England Revolution
2012 Matt Besler Sporting Kansas City
2011 Omar Gonzalez LA Galaxy
2010 Jamison Olave Real Salt Lake
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 LA Galaxy
1998 Lubos Kubik Chicago Fire
1997 Eddie Pope D.C. United
1996 John Doyle San Jose Clash
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