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Nashville SC's Walker Zimmerman Named MLS Defender of the Year

November 18, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Major League Soccer announced today that Nashville SC center back Walker Zimmerman has been named the 2020 MLS Defender of the Year.

Zimmerman helped guide Nashville SC to a historic year, becoming the sixth expansion club in MLS history to clinch a spot in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in its inaugural season. Nashville SC posted a goals against average of 0.96 goals per game, the best of any expansion club in league history, and tied for the league-lead with nine clean sheets this season. The club allowed 22 goals this season, third-fewest in the league, and only two goals more than the league leaders.

Offensively, Zimmerman scored three goals and registered one assist in 22 starts this season. Zimmerman scored the first goal in Nashville history on Feb. 29 in the club's inaugural match. The 27-year-old U.S. Men's National Team regular led MLS with 69 headed clearances, while his 64 aerials won were tied for sixth-most.

Zimmerman wins his first Defender of the Year award after finishing as runner-up last season while playing with the Los Angeles Football Club. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas also finished fourth in Defender of the Year award voting in 2016 while with FC Dallas.

Nashville SC will host Inter Miami CF at Nissan Stadium in the Play-In Round of the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs on Friday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. CT and will be televised nationally on ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports and broadcasted on ESPN 102.5 The Game and ESPN 94.9 for English radio and El Jefe in Spanish.

Follow Nashville SC in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs by visiting www.NashvilleSC.com and the club's social channels on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

The award was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media, and current MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results:

Defender of the Year Player % Club % Media % Final %

Walker Zimmerman (NSH) 16.82% 34.23% 34.04% 28.37%

Mark McKenzie (PHI) 20.75% 27.03% 21.35% 23.04%

Jonathan Mensah (CLB) 16.67% 14.41% 17.12% 16.07%

Anton Tinnerholm (NYC) 5.50% 5.41% 12.68% 7.86%

Chris Mavinga (TOR) 3.77% 6.31% 1.90% 3.99%

Richie Laryea (TOR) 6.45% 1.80% 0.85% 3.03%

MLS Defender of the Year Winners:

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 - Montreal 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 SC

2008: Chad Marshall - Columbus Crew SC

2007: Michael Parkhurst - New England Revolution

2006: Bobby Boswell - D.C. United

2005: Jimmy Conrad - Kansas City Wizards

2004: Robin Fraser - Columbus Crew SC

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 Earthquakes

Check out the Nashville SC Statistics

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