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 27-5-16 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:
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:
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.
