MLS History

MLS Defender of the Year winners

2021: Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

FINALISTS:

  • Andreu Fontas (Sporting Kansas City)
  • DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution)
  • Miles Robinson (Atlanta United)
  • Yeimar Gomez (Seattle Sounders FC)
  • Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

2020: Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

FINALISTS:

  • Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union)
  • Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew SC)
  • Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

2019: Ike Opara (Minnesota United FC)

FINALISTS:

  • Ike Opara (Minnesota United FC)
  • Miles Robinson (Atlanta United)
  • Walker Zimmerman (Los Angeles Football Club)

2018: Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls)

FINALISTS:

  • Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls)
  • Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC)
  • Michael Parkhurst (Atlanta United)

2017: Ike Opara (Sporting Kansas City)

FINALISTS:

  • Justin Morrow (Toronto FC)
  • Ike Opara (Sporting Kansas City)
  • Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

2016: Matt Hedges (FC Dallas)

FINALISTS:

  • Matt Hedges (FC Dallas)
  • Axel Sjoberg (Colorado Rapids)
  • Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)

2015: Laurent Ciman (Montreal Impact)

FINALISTS:

  • Laurent Ciman (Montreal Impact)
  • Matt Hedges (FC Dallas)
  • Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

2014: Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC)

FINALISTS:

  • Bobby Boswell (D.C. United)
  • Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
  • Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC)

2013: Jose Goncalves (New England Revolution)

FINALISTS:

  • Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)
  • Jose Gon alves (New England Revolution)
  • Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)

2012: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)

FINALISTS:

  • Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes)
  • Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)
  • Aurelien Collin (Sporting Kansas City)

2011: Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)

FINALISTS:

  • Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake)
  • Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
  • Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake)

2010: Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake)

FINALISTS:

  • Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake)
  • Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
  • Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake)

2009: Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)

FINALISTS:

  • Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo)
  • Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (Seattle Sounders FC)
  • Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)

2008: Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)

FINALISTS:

  • Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards)
  • Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)
  • Bakary Soumare (Chicago Fire)

2007: Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution)

FINALISTS:

  • Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution)
  • Eddie Robinson (Houston Dynamo;
  • Claudio Suarez (Chivas USA)

2006: Bobby Boswell (D.C. United)

FINALISTS:

  • Bobby Boswell (D.C. United)
  • Jose Burciaga Jr. (Kansas City Wizards)
  • Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards)

2005: Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards)

FINALISTS:

  • Danny Califf (San Jose Earthquakes)
  • Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards)
  • Tyrone Marshall (Los Angeles Galaxy)

2004: Robin Fraser (Columbus Crew)

FINALISTS:

  • Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards)
  • Robin Fraser (Columbus Crew)
  • Eddie Pope (MetroStars)

2003: Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago Fire)

FINALISTS:

  • Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago Fire)
  • Eddie Pope (MetroStars)
  • Ryan Nelsen (D.C. United)

2002: Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago Fire)

FINALISTS:

  • Wade Barrett (San Jose Earthquakes)
  • Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago Fire)
  • Alexi Lalas (Los Angeles Galaxy)

2001: Jeff Agoos (San Jose Earthquakes)

FINALISTS:

  • Jeff Agoos (San Jose Earthquakes)
  • Carlos Llamosa (Miami Fusion)
  • Pablo Mastroeni (Miami Fusion)

2000: Peter Vermes (Kansas City Wizards)

FINALISTS:

  • Joe Addo (Tampa Bay Mutiny)
  • Robin Fraser (Los Angeles Galaxy)
  • Peter Vermes (Kansas City Wizards)

1999: Robin Fraser (Los Angeles Galaxy)

FINALISTS:

  • Robin Fraser (Los Angeles Galaxy)
  • Lubos Kubik (Chicago Fire)
  • Jeff Agoos (D.C. United)

1998: Lubos Kubik (Chicago Fire)

TOP THREE IN VOTING:

  • Lubos Kubik (Chicago Fire)
  • Eddie Pope (D.C. United)
  • Robin Fraser (Los Angeles Galaxy)

1997: Eddie Pope (D.C. United)

TOP THREE IN VOTING:

  • Thomas Dooley (Columbus Crew)
  • Richard Gough (Kansas City Wizards)
  • Eddie Pope (D.C. United)

1996: John Doyle (San Jose Clash)

FINALISTS:

  • John Doyle (San Jose Clash)
  • Cle Kooiman (Tampa Bay Mutiny)
  • Robin Fraser (Los Angeles Galaxy)