For the second season in a row, the Columbus Crew's Chad Marshall was named the best defender in Major League Soccer. Marshall joins Carlos Bocanegra as the only other player to win consecutive MLS Defender of the Year awards. Also on Thursday, MLS announced Alex Prus as the Referee of the Year and Greg Barkey as Assistant Referee of the Year.
Defender of the Year
2009: Chad Marshall – Columbus Crew
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
