Chivas USA's Thornton Named Comeback Player of Year
It's one of the more pointless awards MLS hands out, but for what it's worth the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year beat out the Chicago Fire's Brian McBride (who may have stopped playing in MLS, but never stopped playing excellent attacking soccer - is he available next year in South Africa?) and D.C. United's Ben Olsen (who last I heard hadn't really come back and was contemplating retirement because of injury).
But Thornton, 36, is as worthy a winner as they come considering he won his first MLS Goalkeeper of the Year title in 1998 with the Fire, a season in which he also helped the team to both the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup. Thornton won his last significant team honor with the Fire in 2003 when they won the Supporters Shield.
But in 2007 after eight seasons with Chicago, Thornton left and played for three clubs (Colorado, New York and Chivas) in two years and almost found himself out of the game.
Zach is back indeed.
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Flag this messageChivas USA's Zach Thornton named Major League Soccer's Comeback Player of the YearTuesday, November 10, 2009 11:08 AM
From: "David Lindholm"
Contacto | Contact :
Eduard Cauich, ecauich@cdchivasusa.com, +1 (310) 982-3656
David Lindholm, dlindholm@cdchivasusa.com, +1 (310) 974-2987
CHIVAS USA'S ZACH THORNTON NAMED MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER'S COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Thornton wins award after leading MLS in goals against average and shutouts during the regular season
CARSON, Calif. (Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009) - Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton was named Major League Soccer's Comeback Player of the Year today, adding another trophy to his 2009 collection after being named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year last week. The 36 year-old goalkeeper from Edgewood, Md., led Chivas USA to its fourth consecutive playoff berth in 2009 and had the top mark in MLS in both shutouts and goals against average.
Thornton earned the Comeback Player of the Year award due to his strong play throughout 2009 after enduring two difficult seasons in 2007 and 2008. He led Chivas USA to a 13-11-6 record and posted a career best 12 shutouts and 0.87 goals against average, which ranks second all-time in MLS history behind Pat Onstad's 0.82 mark in 2007. His 12 shutouts were one shy of the Chivas USA record, set in 2007 by Brad Guzan, who also earned Goalkeeper of the Year honors in that season. In being named Goalkeeper of the Year last week, Thornton became one of just three players to win the award twice, joining Joe Cannon and Pat Onstad.
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 on Aug. 1 after Brad Guzan's departure for Aston Villa. Thornton took over as the starter, playing seven games before an injury sidelined him until the final regular season match, and posting a 1.80 goals against average in his eight matches played. Thornton worked in the offseason with Chivas USA Goalkeeper Coach Leo Percovich and on his own, entering the year slimmer and fitter, and started the season by leading the Red-and-White to a 7-1-1 record in the team's first nine games.
Thornton was drafted by the MetroStars in the 7th round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft, playing two seasons with the club as a reserve behind Tony Meola before joining the Chicago Fire in the 1998 Expansion Draft. A star with the Fire for the bulk of the next nine seasons, Thornton also spent six months on loan with Benfica in Portugal in 2004. Winning his first MLS Goalkeeper of the Year title in 1998 with the Fire, a season in which he helped the team to both the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup, Thornton won two additional U.S. Open Cups with Chicago in 2000 and 2003, as well as the Supporters Shield in 2003. A six time All-Star (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2009), Thornton ranks second in MLS history in shutouts (70) and wins (125), behind only Kevin Hartman in both categories.
Thornton led the voting for Comeback Player of the Year ahead of Chicago Fire forward Brian McBride and D.C. United midfielder Ben Olsen, the other finalists for the award. It is given to the player who earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, and members of the media.
BTW, here are the other MLS Comeback Player of the Year Winners over the years:
2008: Kenny Cooper - FC Dallas
2007: Eddie Johnson - Kansas City Wizards
2006: Richard Mulrooney - FC Dallas
2005: Chris Klein - Kansas City Wizards
2004: Brian Ching - San Jose Earthquakes
2003: Chris Armas - Chicago Fire
2002: Chris Klein - Kansas City Wizards
2001: Troy Dayak - San Jose Earthquakes
2000: Tony Meola - Kansas City Wizards
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
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