D.C. United's Bill Hamid named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid has been named the 2014 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, the league announced on Wednesday.
This season, Hamid set career-highs in starts, minutes played, shutouts, saves and wins. The U.S. international helped D.C. United finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference a year after the team finished with the worst record in the league.
Hamid, who was also named to the MLS All-Star team and MLS Best XI, finished the season with the league's best save percentage at 75.3. He also finished in the top three in shutouts and goals against average. Hamid was the league's only keeper to finish top three in all categories.
"I am extremely honored to be named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year," Hamid said in a statement. "I have to recognize a great set of goalkeepers, Joe Willis and Andrew Dykstra, along with Coach Preston Burpo, who I work with on a daily basis, a group that pushes each other and helps each other to get better. I also want to thank my team, a group that scraps and competes every day in training, week in and week out, to make sure everyone is at the top of their game. It all ultimately led to our success this season. Thanks for keeping faith in me. Vamos United."
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Hamid was D.C. United's first homegrown player. He also started his first match for the U.S. men's national team against Ireland in Dublin.
“We are very excited and proud of this prestigious award for Bill,” D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper said in a press release. “To see Bill's growth as a homegrown player coming out of our youth Academy and now rising to being named the best goalkeeper in MLS is simply incredible. We wish a big congratulations to Bill and to all of the coaches and staffs of both the First Team and Academy who have helped Bill along the way.”
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