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2009 MLS Newcomer and Comeback Player of the Year
December 8, 2009 | Halftime Report | Add a comment
Fredy Montero of the Seattle Sounder has been awarded the 2009 Major League Soccer Newcomer of the Year. Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thorton won the MLS Comeback Player of the Year as well as Goalkeeper of the Year.
The Newcomer of the Year award honors the player who is in his first season in Major League Soccer, but has prior professional experience, making him ineligible for Rookie of the Year honors. Fredy Montero joined the Sounders after four seasons with Deportivo Cali in Colombia. The 2009 MLS All-Star was a key contributor to a Sounders team with twelve goals and seven assists to tie for the second highest total on the team with Nate Jaqua.
Zach Thorton, battled back from two seasons as a reserve to establish himself as the league’s best goalkeeper, as he was named both the Comeback Player and Goalkeeper of the Year. Thornton had a career-best of 12 shutouts and 0.87 goals against average in 2009 leading Chivas USA to a 13-11-6 record and its fourth consecutive playoff berth. After spending eight years as the starting goalkeeper for the Chicago Fire, Thornton spent the 2007 season with Colorado, playing just one game, and made no appearances with New York in 2008 before being traded to Chivas USA. He led the League in goals against average, shutouts and ranked second in wins.
