Seattle Sounders FC today announced its 2020 team award recipients, as voted on by Sounders FC’s players and technical staff at the conclusion of the MLS regular season. Jordan Morris was voted Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season, while Yeimar Gómez Andrade earned the club’s Defender of the Year in his first MLS season. Striker Raúl Ruidíaz took home Seattle’s Golden Boot title for the third consecutive year after leading the club with 12 goals in the regular season, while Cristian Roldan was named Sounders FC Humanitarian of the Year for the first time.
SOUNDERS FC MOST VALUABLE PLAYER – JORDAN MORRIS
Morris wins his second consecutive Team MVP after appearing in all 22 of Sounders FC’s regular-season matches in 2020. His 10 goals were tied for fifth in MLS and his eight assists tied for fourth. His 18 combined goals and assists were tied for second league-wide with MLS Golden Boot winner Diego Rossi, behind only Alejandro Pozuelo’s 19. This marked the Mercer Island native’s second consecutive season with double-digit goals, after tallying 10 strikes and seven assists a year ago. Since signing with Sounders FC prior to the 2016 season, Morris has totaled 35 goals and 20 assists in 105 regular season appearances, in addition to six goals and three assists in 16 postseason matches. Morris was one of three Sounders FC players to be named to the MLS Best XI squad (Nico Lodeiro, Raúl Ruidíaz) and one of two finalists for 2020 Landon Donovan MLS MVP (Lodeiro).
SOUNDERS FC DEFENDER OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR – YEIMAR GÓMEZ ANDRADE
After joining Sounders FC from Argentine side Union de Sante Fe prior to the 2020 season, Yeimar anchored a Seattle backline that allowed just 23 goals in regular-season play, the lowest in the Western Conference and fourth lowest in MLS. The Colombian started all 19 of his regular season appearances, in addition to every minute of Seattle’s four matches in the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, tallying two goals and one assist, including the game-winning strike vs. RSL on October 7. Yeimar led Sounders FC in interceptions (52, fourth in MLS), clearances (68), headed clearances (30) and aerials won (42), while also finishing in the top five in tackles won (17), duels won (93), recoveries (110) and possessions won (110).
SOUNDERS FC GOLDEN BOOT – RAÚL RUIDÍAZ
Leading the Rave Green in goals for the third consecutive season, Ruidíaz joins Fredy Montero (2009-2011) as the only players in club history to win three Sounders FC Golden Boot titles. The Peruvian was tied for second in MLS with a career-high 12 goals in just 17 appearances, while also recording a career-high four assists. Ruidíaz’s four game-winning goals were also tied for second league-wide this season, while his 0.76 goals per 90 minutes was the highest rate in MLS among players with at least 10 goals. He tallied two goals and two assists in Seattle’s run as 2020 MLS Cup runner-up. Since joining Seattle in the summer of 2018, Ruidíaz has recorded a staggering 33 goals in just 53 regular-season appearances, in addition to nine goals and six assists in 10 postseason fixtures.
SOUNDERS FC HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR - CRISTIAN ROLDAN
In 2020, Roldan was dedicated to raising awareness for systemic racism. He was the face of the Sounders FC VOTE initiative, encouraging participation in the census, as well as registering and turning out to vote. Roldan uses his voice to highlight social injustices; in particular, the case of Manny Ellis. As a vocal advocate for supporting Black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) owned businesses, he implemented a local BIPOC caterer to provide a team meal to Sounders FC on a weekly basis. Roldan also serves on the board of America SCORES Seattle, headlined the RAVE Foundation’s annual Rave Green Run and was a vocal supporter of Earth Day 2020 NW’s #VoicesCarry2020 campaign, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
Seattle Sounders FC fell in the 2020 MLS Cup Final on Saturday evening with a 3-0 loss to Columbus Crew SC at MAPFRE Stadium. Lucas Zelarayán scored twice and Derrick Etienne added one for Columbus, as Crew SC won its second league championship in franchise history. The loss snaps an eight-match Seattle winning streak in the MLS Cup Playoffs, as the Rave Green finish their 2020 campaign with a 14-7-8 record across all competitions. It marked the fourth MLS Cup appearance for Sounders FC in the last five seasons, having previously won in 2016 and 2019, and losing in 2017.
SOUNDERS FC HISTORICAL TEAM AWARDS WINNERS
2020
MVP: Jordan Morris
Defender: Yeimar Gómez Andrade
Humanitarian: Cristian Roldan
Golden Boot: Raúl Ruidíaz
2019
MVP: Jordan Morris
Defender: Stefan Frei
Humanitarian: Stefan Frei
Golden Boot: Raúl Ruidíaz
2018
MVP: Stefan Frei
Defender: Chad Marshall
Humanitarian: Stefan Frei
Golden Boot: Raúl Ruidíaz
2017
MVP: Cristian Roldan
Defender: Chad Marshall
Humanitarian: Jordan Morris
Golden Boot: Clint Dempsey
2016
MVP: Osvaldo Alonso
Defender: Chad Marshall
Humanitarian: Jordan Morris
Golden Boot: Jordan Morris
2015
MVP: Obafemi Martins
Defender: Stefan Frei
Humanitarian: Brad Evans
Golden Boot: Obafemi Martins
2014
MVP: Obafemi Martins
Defender: Chad Marshall
Humanitarian: Dylan Remick
Golden Boot: Obafemi Martins
2013
MVP: Osvaldo Alonso
Defender: Leo Gonzalez
Humanitarian: Lamar Neagle
Golden Boot: Eddie Johnson
2012
MVP: Osvaldo Alonso
Defender: Jeff Parke
Humanitarian: David Estrada
Golden Boot: Eddie Johnson
2011
MVP: Osvaldo Alonso
Defender: Jeff Parke
Humanitarian: James Riley
Golden Boot: Fredy Montero
2010
MVP: Osvaldo Alonso
Defender: James Riley
Humanitarian: James Riley
Golden Boot: Fredy Montero
2009
MVP: Kasey Keller
Defender: Tyrone Marshall
Humanitarian: Taylor Graham
Golden Boot: Fredy Montero
