The Major League Soccer Defender of the Year Award is an annual award handed out to the top defender in Major League Soccer annually since the league's inception in 1996.Montreal Impact defender Laurent Ciman named 2015 MLS Defender of the Year , mlssoccer.com The award is decided based on votes from MLS players, MLS coaches and executives and media members."The FC Dallas center back beat out the Galaxy’s Jelle Van Damme for the award", Goal.com, November 11, 2016.
John Doyle won the inaugural award with the San Jose Clash for the 1996 MLS season.
Winners
SeasonWinnerTeamFinalists1996 John DoyleSan Jose Clash1997 Eddie Pope D.C. United1998 Luboš KubíkChicago Fire1999 Robin FraserLos Angeles Galaxy2000 Peter VermesKansas City Wizards2001 Jeff AgoosSan Jose Earthquakes2002 Carlos BocanegraChicago Fire2003 Carlos Bocanegra (2)Chicago Fire2004 Robin Fraser (2)Columbus Crew Jimmy Conrad Eddie Pope2005 Jimmy ConradKansas City Wizards Danny Califf Tyrone Marshall2006 Bobby BoswellD.C. United Jimmy Conrad Jose Burciaga2007 Michael ParkhurstNew England Revolution2008 Chad MarshallColumbus Crew Jimmy Conrad Bakary Soumare2009 Chad Marshall (2)Columbus Crew2010 Jámison Olave Real Salt Lake Omar Gonzalez Nat Borchers2011 Omar Gonzalez Los Angeles Galaxy Jámison Olave Nat Borchers Carlos Valdés2012 Matt Besler Sporting Kansas City Víctor Bernárdez Aurélien Collin Jay DeMerit2013 José Gonçalves New England Revolution Matt Besler Omar Gonzalez Jámison Olave2014 Chad Marshall (3)Seattle Sounders FC Bobby Boswell Omar Gonzalez Michael Parkhurst2015 Laurent CimanMontreal Impact Kendall Waston Matt Hedges Matt Miazga2016 Matt HedgesFC Dallas Jelle Van Damme Axel Sjöberg Walker Zimmerman Steve Birnbaum2017 Ike OparaSporting Kansas City Justin Morrow Kendall Waston Leandro González Pírez Matt Besler2018 Aaron LongNew York Red Bulls Chad Marshall Michael Parkhurst Leandro González Pírez Kemar Lawrence2019 Ike Opara (2)Minnesota United FC Walker Zimmerman Miles Robinson Maxime Chanot Eddie Segura Aaron Long2020 Walker ZimmermanNashville SC Mark McKenzie Jonathan Mensah Anton Tinnerholm Chris Mavinga Richie Laryea2021 Walker Zimmerman (2)Nashville SC Yeimar Gómez Andrade Miles Robinson Andreu Fontàs DeJuan Jones 2022 Jakob GlesnesPhiladelphia Union Kai Wagner Alexander Callens2023 Matt MiazgaFC Cincinnati Tim Parker Yeimar Gómez Andrade2024 Steven MoreiraColumbus Crew Jordi Alba Jackson Ragen2025 Tristan BlackmonVancouver Whitecaps FC Kai Wagner Jakob Glesnes
Wins by club ClubWinsColumbus Crew4Kansas City Wizards/Sporting KC4Chicago Fire3D.C. United2LA Galaxy2Nashville SC2New England Revolution2San Jose Clash/Earthquakes2FC Cincinnati1FC Dallas1Minnesota United FC1Montréal Impact/CF Montréal1New York Red Bulls1Philadelphia Union1Real Salt Lake1Seattle Sounders FC1FC Cincinnati1Vancouver Whitecaps FC1
Wins by nationality NationalityWins25111111
References