Photo: Denise McCooey
Sporting Kansas City’s Matt Besler has won the MLS Defender of the Year award. He won a weighted total of 70.51, calculated by adding up his share of the players’, media and clubs votes.
The award was voted on by media, MLS players and MLS club management based on regular season performance, each category carrying a third of the vote.
Besler appeared in 31 matches this season for Sporting Kansas City logging a total of 2,769 minutes. The SKC back line allowed just 27 goals in 2012, the fewest among all MLS clubs this season. The Kansas City native also contributed two assists this season.
Besler took almost half of the media vote winning it comfortably. Among the players, he was second to San Jose Earthquakes’ Victor Bernardez and he finished third among the clubs, who had Bernardez and another SKC defender Aurelien Collin ahead of him.
In two other awards announced today, Silviu Petrescu was voted Referee of the Year and Ian Anderson assistant referee of the year.
Defender of the Year Vote
| Player (Club) | % of Club Votes | % of Media Votes | % of Player Votes | Weighted Total |
| Matt Besler (SKC) | 10.35 | 46.97 | 13.19 | 70.51 |
| Victor Bernardez (SJ) | 32.76 | 15.15 | 16.48 | 64.39 |
| Aurelien Collin (SKC) | 22.41 | 13.64 | 12.08 | 48.13 |
| Jay DeMerit (VAN) | 6.90 | 6.06 | 9.89 | 22.85 |
| Carlos Valdes (PHI) | 6.90 | 4.55 | 4.40 | 15.85 |
2012 Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year
The other two finalists for Referee of the Year were Baldomero Toledo and Armando Villarreal. Below is a breakdown of the voting:
| Referee | % of Club Votes | % of Media Votes | % of Player Votes | Weighted Total |
| Silviu Petrescu | 34.55 | 50 | 36.78 | 121.33 |
| Baldomero Toledo | 38.18 | 30 | 31.03 | 99.21 |
| Armando Villarreal | 27.27 | 20 | 32.18 | 79.45 |
The other two finalists for Assistant Referee of the Year were Gregory Barkey and Corey Parker. Below is a breakdown of the voting:
| Asst. Referee | % of Club Votes | % of Media Votes | % of Player Votes | Weighted Total |
| Ian Anderson | 41.51 | 28.21 | 46.59 | 116.31 |
| Gregory Barkey | 33.96 | 46.15 | 29.55 | 109.66 |
| Corey Parker | 24.53 | 25.64 | 23.86 | 74.03 |
PAST WINNERS
MLS Defender of the Year Winners:
2012: Matt Besler – Sporting Kansas City
2011: Omar Gonzalez – LA Galaxy
2010: Jamison Olave – Real Salt Lake
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
Referee of the Year Winners:
2012: Silviu Petrescu
2011: Mark Geiger
2010: Kevin Stott
2009: Alex Prus
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
Assistant Referee of the Year Winners:
2012: Ian Anderson
2011: Corey Rockwell
2010: Craig Lowry
2009: Greg Barkey
2008: Kermit Quisenberry
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