Atlanta United’s Robinson finalist for Defender of the Year

Atlanta United’s Miles Robinson is a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year, according to information from the league on Monday.

Robinson is the only of the team’s players to be named a finalist. He is competing against Nashville’s Walker Zimmerman, a Lawrenceville native, and Seattle’s Yeimar Gonzalez.

Nine players were on the original awards lists, including Ezequiel Barco and Marcelino Moreno for MVP, Josef Martinez for Comeback Player, Luiz Araujo and Santiago Sosa for Newcomer, George Bello for Young Player, Brad Guzan for Goalkeeper, Mikey Ambrose for Humanitarian, and Gonzalo Pineda for Coach.

The finalists:

Most Valuable Player Finalists

• Valentin Castellanos (New York City FC)
• Carles Gil (New England Revolution)
• Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC)
• Joao Paulo (Seattle Sounders FC)
• Daniel Salloi (Sporting Kansas City)

Goalkeeper of the Year

• Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)
• Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
• Joe Willis (Nashville SC)

Defender of the Year

• Yeimar Gomez (Seattle Sounders FC)
• Miles Robinson (Atlanta United)
• Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

Newcomer of the Year Finalists

• Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango (Los Angeles Football Club)
• Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
• Eduardo ‘Chofis’ Lopez (San Jose Earthquakes)

Young Player of the Year

For this award, “young player” is defined as a player age 22 (born on or after Jan. 1, 1999).

• Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy)
• Tajon Buchanan (New England Revolution)
• Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas)

Comeback Player of the Year

Honors an MLS player who has overcome injuries and/or adversity in order to achieve success during the 2021 regular season.

• Carles Gil (New England Revolution)
• Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez (LA Galaxy)
• Dániel Salloi (Sporting Kansas City)

Humanitarian of the Year

• Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy)
• Justin Morrow (Toronto FC)
• Brad Stuver (Austin FC)

Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year

• Bruce Arena (New England Revolution)
• Robin Fraser (Colorado Rapids)
• Brian Schmetzer (Seattle Sounders FC)