Sporting Kansas City defender Matt Besler was voted the 2012 MLS Defender of the Year, Major League Soccer announced on Tuesday.
“I am very humbled, yet ecstatic, to be honored as MLS Defender of the Year,” Besler said. “To be a part of such a great team and backline, you could make an argument for any of the back four for Sporting Kansas City. All year long our theme has been defending as a team from the forwards on back.
“I want to thank all of my teammates, the coaching staff and my family for their support and sacrifice. I am a player who sets team goals as well as personal goals and the number one priority is always to win MLS Cup. This award will continue to drive and push me to help bring the Cup back to my hometown.”
Besler, an Overland Park, Kan. native and Blue Valley West alum, anchored a Sporting Kansas City defense that allowed 27 goals in 34 MLS matches to lead all MLS teams with the fewest goals conceded. He started 30 of his 31 appearances in 2012 and was part of a smothering team defense that held opponents to the fewest shots (328) and shots on goal (102) of all 19 teams during the regular season.
The 25-year-old was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season and was the highest-ranked defender in this year’s MLS Castrol Index at No. 25 overall. Besler, a 2011 MLS All-Star, also contributed two game-winning assists and Sporting Kansas City went 17-5-8 with a 0.72 goals against average with Besler in the starting lineup.
“Besler is a very steady player, which you need at his position,” Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes said. “Even though some might think he was a bit under-the-radar, he is consistent, a solid defender, very technical and possesses an excellent soccer brain. His top notch work ethic and determination has seen him get better every year.”
Besler was selected by Kansas City in the first round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Notre Dame and has 108 games played in four MLS seasons (including playoffs). His stellar play in 2012 earned an invitation to the U.S. Men’s National Team for the first time at the senior level as part of the 20-player gameday roster for the team’s first-ever win against Mexico at Estadio Azteca in August.
He is the third different Kansas City player to be selected Defender of the Year along with Jimmy Conrad (2005) and Vermes (2000). Sporting Kansas City becomes the first team to have three different players selected Defender of the Year in the League’s 17-year history.
Besler received nearly 50 percent of the media votes, more than three times San Jose Earthquakes defender and Defender of the Year runner-up Victor Bernardez. MLS players and club management also voted on the award (results listed below).
Sporting Kansas City defender Aurelien Collin finished third in Defender of the Year voting. The 2012 MLS All-Star started 28 of his 29 appearances this season and contributed three goals and one assist.
<p>Player</p> |
<p>% of Club Votes</p> |
<p>% of Media Votes</p> |
<p>% of Player Votes</p> |
<strong>Weighted Total</strong> |
<p>Matt Besler (KC)</p> |
<p>10.35</p> |
<p>46.97</p> |
<p>13.19</p> |
<strong>70.51</strong> |
<p>Victor Bernardez (SJ)</p> |
<p>32.76</p> |
<p>15.15</p> |
<p>16.48</p> |
<strong>64.39</strong> |
<p>Aurelien Collin (KC)</p> |
<p>22.41</p> |
<p>13.64</p> |
<p>12.08</p> |
<strong>48.13</strong> |
<p>Jay DeMerit (VAN)</p> |
<p>6.90</p> |
<p>6.06</p> |
<p>9.89</p> |
<strong>22.85</strong> |
<p>Carlos Valdes (PHI)</p> |
<p>6.90</p> |
<p>4.55</p> |
<p>4.40</p> |
<strong>15.85</strong> |
MLS Defender of the Year Winners:
2012: Matt Besler – Sporting Kansas City
2011: Omar Gonzalez – Los Angeles 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 – Los Angeles Galaxy
1998: Lubos Kubik – Chicago Fire
1997: Eddie Pope – D.C. United
1996: John Doyle – San Jose Earthquakes
Sporting Kansas City Award Winners
MLS Most Valuable Player
Preki (2003, 1997)
Tony Meola (2000)
MLS Scoring Champion
Preki (2003, 1997)
MLS Defender of the Year
Matt Besler (2012)
Jimmy Conrad (2005)
Peter Vermes (2000)
MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
Tony Meola (2000)
MLS Coach of the Year
Bob Gansler (2000)
MLS Rookie of the Year
C.J. Sapong (2011)
MLS Comeback Player of the Year
Eddie Johnson (2007)
Chris Klein (2005, 2002)
Tony Meola (2000)
MLS Fair Play Award
Mark Chung (2002)
MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year
Jimmy Conrad (2009)
MLS Best XI
Preki (1996, 1997, 2001, 2003)
Richard Gough (1997)
Mark Chung (1997)
Tony Meola (2000)
Peter Vermes (2000)
Jimmy Conrad (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)
Kerry Zavagnin (2004)
Jose Burciaga, Jr. (2006)
