Major League Soccer announced more major year-end awards on Thrusday as Columbus Crew defender Chad Marshall was named the Visa® Defender of the Year, and referees Jair Marrufo and Kermit Quisenberry were honored with the adidas Referee of the Year and adidas Assistant Referee of the Year awards.
Marshall started and played 29 games during the regular season and ranked second on the team in minutes played with 2,485. He helped the Crew capture the Supporters' Shield trophy, awarded to the team that finishes with the best regular season record (17-7-6, 57 points). Led by Marshall, the Crew's defense allowed the third fewest goals (36) behind only the Houston Dynamo (32) and the Chicago Fire (33).
Marshall bounced back in 2008 with a stellar season after missing 17 games in 2007 from concussions. The 6-foot, 4-inch, 190-pound, center back made his presence felt on the Crew's backline and in his opponent's penalty area. He scored four goals in 2008, tied for fifth on the team with striker Steven Lenhart.
Now in his fifth MLS season, the 24-year-old Riverside, Calif., native was the second overall pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew. He has widely been regarded as one of the League's top defenders since his rookie season in 2004 when he was a finalist for Rookie of the Year honors. This marks Marshall's first year-end award.
Marrufo was honored with the adidas Referee of the Year award for the first time in his career. He has plied his trade in MLS since 2002 and has been a U.S. Soccer registered referee since 1996. Marrufo is one of four officials hired full-time in early 2007 as part of U.S. Soccer's new program designed to enhance high-level performance, training and development opportunities for the sport's elite officials in the United States. Marrufo was appointed as a FIFA referee in 2007. He served on the officiating staff for MLS Cup 2006 in Frisco, Texas.
Quisenberry has been honored with the adidas Assistant Referee of the Year award in its inaugural year. He is an official FIFA Assistant Referee, and along with Marrufo, was assigned to officiate the 2008 Olympic Games in China.
The Visa Defender of the Year earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, and members of the media. The adidas Referee of the Year and adidas Assistant Referee of the Year were earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, referees and members of the media.
MLS Defender of the Year Winners
2008:
Chad Marshall - Columbus Crew
2007:
Michael Parkhurst - New England Revolution
2006:
Bobby Boswell - D.C. United
2005:
Jimmy Conrad - Kansas City Wizards
2004:
Robin Fraser - Columbus Crew
2003:
Carlos Bocanegra - Chicago Fire
2002:
Carlos Bocanegra - Chicago Fire
2001:
Jeff Agoos - San Jose Earthquakes
2000:
Peter Vermes - Kansas City Wizards
1999:
Robin Fraser - Los Angeles Galaxy
1998:
Lubos Kubik - Chicago Fire
1997:
Eddie Pope - D.C. United
1996:
John Doyle - San Jose Earthquakes
adidas Referee of the Year Winners:
2008:
Jair Marrufo
2007:
Brian Hall
2006:
Brian Hall
2005:
Brian Hall
2004:
Abiodun 'Abbey' Okulaja
2003:
Brian Hall
2002:
Kevin Terry
2001:
Paul Tamberino
2000:
Paul Tamberino
1999:
Paul Tamberino
1998:
Paul Tamberino
1997:
Esse Baharmast
adidas Assistant Referee of the Year Winners:
2008:
Kermit Quisenberry
2008 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists
Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
Jon Busch - Chicago Fire
William Hesmer - Columbus Crew
Matt Reis - New England Revolution
Fair Play Finalists - Individual
Juan Pablo Angel - New York Red Bulls
Michael Parkhurst - New England Revolution
Chris Rolfe - Chicago Fire
MLS Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Jon Busch - Chicago Fire
Kenny Cooper - FC Dallas
Santino Quaranta - D.C. United
Visa Defender of the Year Finalists
Jimmy Conrad - Kansas City Wizards
Chad Marshall - Columbus Crew
Bakary Soumare - Chicago Fire
adidas Referee of the Year Finalists
Michael Kennedy
Jair Marrufo
Terry Vaughn
Gatorade Rookie of the Year Finalists
Geoff Cameron - Houston Dynamo
Kheli Dube - New England Revolution
Sean Franklin - Los Angeles Galaxy
MLS Coach of the Year Finalists
Dominic Kinnear - Houston Dynamo
Sigi Schmid - Columbus Crew
Frank Yallop - San Jose Earthquakes
Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
Cuauhtémoc Blanco - Chicago Fire
Landon Donovan - Los Angeles Galaxy
Guillermo Barros Schelotto - Columbus Crew
Newcomer of the Year
Darren Huckerby - San Jose Earthquakes
Claudio Lopez - Kansas City Wizards
Andre Rocha - FC Dallas
Schedule of Awards Announcements
Tuesday, November 4
Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year
Fair Play Award Individual & Team
Thursday, November 6
Visa Defender of the Year
adidas Referee of the Year
Friday, November 7
US Soccer Foundation & MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year
Tuesday, November 11
MLS Newcomer of the Year
MLS Coach of the Year
Thursday, November 13
Gatorade Rookie of the Year
Wednesday, November 19
Sierra Mist Goal of the Year
Thursday, November 20
Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player
Saturday, November 22
MLS Best XI
MLS Comeback Player of the Year
