MN United’s Mannone named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn.  (October 24, 2019) – Major League Soccer and Minnesota United announced today goalkeeper Vito Mannone has been named the 2019 Goalkeeper of the Year.

Photo by Matt Krohn

The 31-year-old Italian goalkeeper had a memorable 2019 MLS season in which he set a bevy of single-season club records, including wins (15), saves (129) and shutouts (11), as the organization reached the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in its three-year MLS history. Mannone was an integral part of Minnesota’s heavily improved defense and led the team to the final of the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Vito Mannone Highlights

Mannone’s 129 saves ranked second in MLS, and he set a club record with a 259-minute shutout streak. MNUFC’s 43 goals conceded during the regular season ranked third lowest in the Western Conference – a significant accomplishment for a team that conceded a Western Conference-high 71 goals in 2018 and a league-high 70 goals in 2017.

With first-year MLS player Mannone anchoring the roster, Minnesota posted a staggering 28-goal decrease from 2018 to 2019 on the defensive end, which represents the third-best turnaround in MLS history. Mannone becomes the first Minnesota United FC player to win the Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award.

The former Arsenal goalkeeper joined Minnesota United FC on loan from Reading and played in every minute of the MLS regular season and postseason in 2019. Mannone has put together a plethora of noteworthy shutout performances along the way. He posted a 2-0 victory against the Supporters’ Shield-winning Los Angeles Football Club on Sept. 1. Mannone had two clean sheets against 2018 MLS Cup runners-up the Portland Timbers – including an 11-save performance — the fourth-most in 2019 — in a game in which he became the 20th MLS goalkeeper to record a double-digit save clean sheet. Additionally, in late April, Mannone garnered back-to-back shutouts against Zlatan Ibrahimović and the LA Galaxy and Wayne Rooney and D.C. United.

The Loons’ goalkeeper has been a vibrant component of Minnesota’s season, which included the opening of their new stadium Allianz Field, the buzz of the Wonderwall, a deep run to the final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and a top-four finish in the Western Conference.

The award was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media and current MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results:Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the YearPlayer %Club %Media %Final %Vito Mannone (MIN)13.75%25.51%13.74%17.67%Bill Hamid (DC)4.47%12.24%23.28%13.33%Sean Johnson (NYC)14.09%11.22%7.63%10.98%Brad Guzan (ATL)14.78%7.14%7.25%9.72%Matt Turner (NE)2.75%11.22%10.69%8.22%Tyler Miller (LAFC)9.97%6.12%4.58%6.89%Maxime Crépeau (VAN)3.78%6.12%7.63%5.85%