Major League Soccer announced Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almiron as the 2017 MLS Newcomer of the Year, recognizing the Paraguayan international’s pivotal contributions to a spectacular inaugural season for the expansion side.
Joining Atlanta from Argentina’s Lanús, the 23-year-old Almiron quickly became a must-see attraction as the playmaker at the heart of the Five Stripes’ dynamic attack, bagging nine goals and 14 assists. He helped the club to a 14-8-8 record in his 30 appearances as Atlanta earned a fourth-place Eastern Conference finish and a spot in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Almiron has been a mainstay on Paraguay’s national team, earning caps in both the 2016 Copa America Centenario and recent FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
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:
Player |
Player vote % |
Media vote % |
Club exec vote % |
Average % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Miguel Almiron (ATL) |
41.38 |
29.09 |
41.67 |
37.38 |
Nemanja Nikolic (CHI) |
18.77 |
35.76 |
20.24 |
24.92 |
Josef Martinez (ATL) |
14.94 |
18.79 |
9.52 |
14.42 |
Victor Vazquez (TOR) |
5.75 |
11.21 |
9.52 |
8.83 |
Bastian Schweinsteiger (CHI) |
1.92 |
1.82 |
4.76 |
2.83 |
Albert Rusnak (RSL) |
1.92 |
0.30 |
2.38 |
1.53 |
MLS Newcomer of the Year Winners
- 2017: Miguel Almirón – Atlanta United
- 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
