By RYAN TOLMICH
Just one year after enduring one of the worst seasons in MLS history, D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid has been recognized for leading his side’s resurgence.
The league announced Monday that Hamid has been recognized as MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, while also revealing that Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Morales has earned the nod as MLS Newcomer of the Year.
Hamid’s award comes on the heels of a season that saw D.C. United leap from worst-to-first, as Hamid posted 10 shutouts and 110 saves. The 24-year-old goalkeeper edged Real Salt Lake veteran Nick Rimando for the award, while the Columbus Crew’s Steve Clark and LA Galaxy’s Jaime Penedo finished a distant third and fourth, respectively.
Morales, who joined the Whitecaps from Spain’s Malaga back in March, led the team with 10 goals and 12 assists while also earning the role of captain of his new team. The Chilean won a runaway vote by besting New England Revolution midfielder Jermaine Jones, LA Galaxy midfielder Stefan Ishizaki and FC Dallas forward Andres Escobar for the award.
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What do you think of the choices for Goalkeeper and Newcomer of the year? Did voters get it right?
Share your thoughts below.
Hamid and Johnson will go back and forth with each other over the course of their careers. They are both excellent prospects. Hamid had the upper hand this season. I will bet you anything Johnson will get it next season. That is just how those two are with each other.
Look at the list of past “MLS Goalkeeper of the Year” winners and one name is shockingly absent: Nick Rimando. I hope that next year MLS plans to award “MLS Goalkeeper of the Decade.”
Good season. Thought he was going to be the US goalie of the future but chokes in big games. Could be Sean Johnson but he hasn’t played in a big game in a long time. Thou he also choked with the U team
Don’t get too far ahead of yourself. GK’s can take a long time to truly hit their stride, and both Hamid and Johnson are still very young.
Tim Howard was shipped out of Man U after he spilled a late free kick against Porto in the Champions League. That moment changed the dynamic of European soccer in spectacular fashion (most notably, it accelerated the rise of Jose Mourinho), but it really didn’t change Tim Howard. He stayed himself, and was loaned and eventually sold to Everton, where he remains. Slow and steady.
“but it really didn’t change Tim Howard.”
it sure didn’t. He’s still prone to blunders and that’s why he’s with Everton and not ManU.
True, ManU goalies never blunder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oek5-KNVN48
Reading comprehension, son. I said he’s prone to blunders and that’s why he’s with Everton and not ManU. Never did I said Man U keepers never blunder
Read twice, comment once.
if either hamid or johnson turn out to be as good as howard, we can consider ourselves very fortunate.