Products You May Like
Christian Pulisic has been voted U.S. Soccer’s Male Athlete of the Year for 2019, becoming the youngest two-time winner of the award.
The Chelsea attacker edged out Seattle Sounders midfielder Jordan Morris for the honor, garnering 38% of the vote to Morris’ 35%. Schalke midfielder Weston McKennie finished third with 13% of the vote.
– ESPN Premier League fantasy: Sign up now!
– VAR in the Premier League: Ultimate guide
– When does the transfer window reopen?
– Premier League winter break: All you need to know
Other nominees included New York Red Bulls defender Aaron Long, Fulham defender Tim Ream, and Columbus Crew forward Gyasi Zardes. The six players were nominated for their achievements at both club and international level.
Votes were cast from national team coaches, national team players who have earned a cap in 2019, members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council, American soccer league (MLS and USL) head coaches, select media members and former players and administrators.
Pulisic was already the youngest player to win the award back in 2017. Now at 21 years, 85 days, Pulisic is the youngest two-time winner, bettering Landon Donovan who was 22 years, and 293 days when he won for the second time in 2004.
Pulisic is also the seventh player to have won multiple times, joining Donovan (four), Clint Dempsey and Kasey Keller (three each), as well as Jozy Altidore, Marcelo Balboa and Tim Howard.
Pulisic excelled for both club and country in 2019. He scored five goals and added three assists for the U.S., helping the Americans reach the final of the Gold Cup, where he was named to the tournament’s Best XI.
In August, he moved to Premier League side Chelsea, where he has become a regular in manager Frank Lampard‘s lineup. Pulisic has scored six goals and added five assists in 20 league and cup appearances, including a hat trick against Burnley on Oct. 26.
In the first half of the year, Pulisic was on loan at Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund, where he tallied three goals along with two assists in 13 appearances across all competitions.