Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro named MLS Newcomer of the Year

Uruguayan international jumpstarted Seattle’s remarkable late season comeback (photo Courtesy: soundersfc.com)
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NEW YORK (Monday, November 21, 2016) – Major League Soccer today announced Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro as the 2016 MLS Newcomer of the Year. The award recognizes the season’s most impactful player who made his debut in MLS but has prior professional experience. 

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After joining Seattle from Argentina’s highly respected Boca Juniors during the summer transfer window, Lodeiro sparked a phenomenal comeback that lifted a struggling ninth-place Sounders FC to a fourth place finish in the Western Conference, while helping the club qualify for the postseason for an eighth consecutive year. Making his MLS debut on July 31, Lodeiro made an immediate impact, helping Seattle go unbeaten in his first five matches (3-0-2) while notching two goals and four assists. Playing and starting in all but one of Seattle’s final 14 regular season games, Lodeiro finished with four goals and a club-high eight assists as Sounders FC posted an 8-2-4 record during that period. 
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• Video soundbytes from Lodeiro are available HERE.

The Uruguayan international has continued to be a difference-maker in the postseason, recording three goals in two matches to help Seattle defeat Supporters’ Shield winners FC Dallas en route to advancing to the Western Conference Championship. Sounders FC will host the Colorado Rapids in the first leg of the series at CenturyLink Field on Tuesday, Nov. 22 (10 p.m. ET, FS1, TSN1/3, RDS2).
 
A two-time FIFA World Cup participant with Uruguay in 2010 and 2014, Lodeiro has 51 career caps with La Celeste, and most recently featured in 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying. The former AFC Ajax player also competed in the Copa America Centenario this summer and won the Copa America title with Uruguay in 2011.
 
The Newcomer of the Year Award recognizes players with previous professional experience, which makes rookies ineligible for consideration. Similarly, players eligible for Newcomer of the Year are ineligible for Rookie of the Year.
 
The award was voted on by MLS club management, media, and current MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results:

​MLS Newcomer of the Year Winners:
2016: Nicolás Lodeiro – Seattle Sounders FC
2015: Sebastian Giovinco – Toronto FC
2014: Pedro Morales – Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2013: Diego Valeri – Portland Timbers
2012: Federico Higuain – Columbus Crew
2011: Mauro Rosales – Seattle Sounders FC
2010: Alvaro Saborio – Real Salt Lake
2009: Fredy Montero – Seattle Sounders FC
2008: Darren Huckerby – San Jose Earthquakes
2007: Luciano Emilio – D.C. United
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By: Editor