HARRISON, N.J. (December 18, 2015) - New York Red Bulls Homegrown center back Matt Miazga has been voted 2015 U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year, U.S. Soccer announced today. The award caps off a breakout 2015 year for the Red Bulls Academy product, who became a key starter for New York in Major League Soccer and earned his first cap with the U.S. Senior Men’s National Team.
A new voting process was put into place last year for voting on the award. Votes are collected from respective National Team coaches, National Team players who have earned a cap in 2015, American soccer league (MLS, NASL and NWSL) head coaches, select media members, former players and administrators. This was the first nomination for Miazga. Players cannot win the award more than once.
Miazga was called into action for New York on opening day, after Ronald Zubar went down with injury. Miazga played himself into an everyday starting role, and the Red Bulls went 15-6-5 during the regular season with him in the lineup on the way to earning a second Supporters’ Shield in three seasons. Per Opta, the 20-year-old led New York, and finished third in MLS, with 113 aerials won. Miazga was also sixth in the league with 185 clearances, including 113 headed clearances, third-most in MLS.
The Clifton, N.J. native only missed time to play on the international stage, first with the U.S. Under-20 side at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in June. Miazga then transitioned seamlessly into the U.S. U-23s, where he attended a September camp before appearing in Olympic qualifying action in October. In November, Miazga got his first call up to the senior squad, and earned his first cap as a substitute against St. Vincent & the Grenadines on November 13 in St. Louis.
U.S. Soccer also announced today that U.S. Women’s Under-20 National Team midfielder Mallory Pugh, and Kevin Hensley, a key player for the U.S. Paralympic Team, have been named the Young Female and Disabled Player of the Year, respectively.
