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Matt Miazga Named MLS Defender of the Year
November 13, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release
FC Cincinnati center back Matt Miazga has been named the 2023 Major League Soccer Defender of the Year, the league announced today. Miazga becomes the first Cincinnati player in club history to receive an individual MLS Year-End award.
The stalwart defender has led an improved Cincinnati back line and defense since joining the Orange and Blue in August 2022 from Chelsea FC in the Premier League. In the 36 games he was on the field for Cincinnati in 2023, the Miazga-led defense allowed just 35 goals (0.97 goals per game). He started 12 games in which the club held their opponents scoreless, and his 10 MLS regular season clean sheets are tied for the fourth-most 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 27-6-15 record in all 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 Acosta and Álvaro Barreal.
The 6-foot-4 defender 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. He becomes the 17th different U.S. International to receive the honor.
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 Gomez Andrade 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
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).
Local radio broadcast details will be confirmed at a later time. Tickets are available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK).
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team's official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. Additionally, fans are encouraged to download the team's new official mobile app on iOS or Android for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.
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Major League Soccer Stories from November 13, 2023
- Three Sounders FC Players Called into International Duty - Seattle Sounders FC
- Four Earthquakes Players Called for International Duty - San Jose Earthquakes
- Nine Loons Called up for International Duty - Minnesota United FC
- Sporting KC Weekly - Sporting Kansas City
- Columbus Crew Forwards Cucho Hernández and Jacen Russell-Rowe Called up to Respective National Teams for November FIFA International Window - Columbus Crew SC
- NYCFC Pair Selected for International Duty - New York City FC
- Seven Philadelphia Union Players Receive International Call Ups - Philadelphia Union
- Revolution Academy Midfielder Cristiano Oliveira Called up for Under-16 U.S. Youth National Team Training Camp - New England Revolution
- Five Chicago Fire FC Players Called to National Team Duty - Chicago Fire FC
- Cade Cowell, Alex Covelo to Join U.S. Men's Olympic Soccer Team for November Matches - San Jose Earthquakes
- Facundo Farías Called up by Argentina U-23 National Team - Inter Miami CF
- Sporting KC to Open SportingStudio in KC Power & Light District - Sporting Kansas City
- New York Red Bulls Defender John Tolkin Named to U.S. Men's Olympic National Team for November Friendlies - New York Red Bulls
- Colorado Rapids Homegrown Midfielder Cole Bassett Named to U.S. Men's Olympic Roster for November International Window - Colorado Rapids
- Charlotte FC's Mark Bodek Speaks at Best Buddies North Carolina Champion of the Year Gala - Charlotte FC
- Robert Taylor Called up by Finland - Inter Miami CF
- Benjamin Cremaschi Called up by U.S. Men's Olympic Team - Inter Miami CF
- Matt Miazga Named MLS Defender of the Year - FC Cincinnati
- FC Cincinnati's Matt Miazga Named MLS Defender of the Year 2023 - MLS
- John Pulskamp Joins U.S. Olympic National Team - Sporting Kansas City
- FC Dallas' Bernard Kamungo Receives U.S. Men's Olympic Team Call-Up - FC Dallas
- George Campbell Called up by U23 United States National Team - Club de Foot Montreal
- Julian Hall, Tanner Rosborough, and Sebasthian Chavez Called in to United States U-16 Youth National Team Training Camp in California - New York Red Bulls
- Houston Dynamo FC Will Host Sporting Kansas City in Western Conference Semifinals on Sunday, November 26 - Houston Dynamo FC
- Crew Earns 4-2 Win Over Atlanta United - Columbus Crew SC
- Atlanta United's Playoff Run Comes to an End, Falls 4-2 to Columbus Crew - Atlanta United FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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