Major League Soccer continues to hand out awards to players who performed the best during the regular season. The league announced that New York Red Bulls’ center back Aaron Long is the winner of the 2018 MLS Defender of the Year Award after helping his team allow a league-low 33 goals. The 26-year-old also contributed three goals and two assists in 34 matches played.
Long received 26.52 percent of the votes to win the award, with Seattle Sounders’ Chad Marshall coming second with 20.93 percent of the votes.
❌ MLS DEFENDER OF THE YEAR: AARON LONG ❌
Congrats, @A_LoLo12!#RBNY pic.twitter.com/mtAQqO2qoD
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) November 7, 2018
“It means a lot,” – said Long according to Red Bulls’ website. “It is judging your body of work for the full season. It shows that I am on the right path, helping my team, doing what I can to help the team win.”
Aaron Long started his MLS career with the Portland Timbers in January 2014 but was released after spending five months with the club. He then signed with the Seattle Sounders, but he ended up being also released without making a single appearance.
After stints in United Soccer League with Seattle Sounders FC 2 and New York Red Bulls II, Long finally received a chance to play in MLS in 2016 by signing with Red Bulls’ first team. He took the most out of his chance and is now considered to be one of the best defenders in the nation.
