Major League Soccer announced on Wednesday that the Los Angeles Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez has been named the 2011 MLS Defender of the Year.
Gonzalez, who turned 23 on Oct. 11, became the youngest player to win the award.
Gonzalez appeared in 29 games for the Galaxy this season and helped anchor a defense that conceded only 28 goals during the campaign, the lowest number in the league.
The 23-year-old has continued to develop since earning the 2009 MLS Rookie of the Year award as he was named to the MLS All-Star First XI this season.
Los Angeles posted a 0.82 goals-against average this term, which is third best in MLS history and is bettered only by Real Salt Lake in 2010 (0.67) and Houston Dynamo in 2007 (0.77).
The Galaxy also tied a league record set in 2000 by Kansas City as the club kept 17 clean sheets in the regular season.
Real Salt Lake's Jamison Olave, who won the award last season, finished second in the voting, with RSL teammate Nat Borchers ending up in third place.
