Major League Soccer today announced Seattle Sounders FC forward Eddie Johnson was voted 2012 MLS Comeback Player of the Year.
Johnson finished sixth in the Golden Boot race with a club record 14 goals, and added three assists. The U.S. international playing his first season for Seattle appeared in a career-high 28 matches and helped Sounders FC reach the Western Conference Championship for the first time in club history. He also led the league with nine header goals, and added three goals in outside competitions.
“I would like the entire Sounders organization for giving me this opportunity in Seattle,” said Johnson. “This was a fun and exciting year and I share this award with my coaches and teammates for pushing me to be the best player I can be.”
Johnson, 28, signed with Sounders FC on February 17 after playing four years in Europe. He has been capped 44 times by the US National Team, including two appearances in 2012 World Cup Qualifiers. In his return to the national team, Johnson netted two goals against Antigua and Barbuda and an assist against Guatemala, helping the United States advance to the hexagonal stage. He now has 14 goals for the US National Team, and ranks second all-time with 10 goals in World Cup Qualifiers.
Johnson was named MLS Player of the Week twice this season (Weeks 22 and 27) and was named to the Team of the Week three times. Johnson was also named an MLS All-Star for the third time in his career. He was previously named Comeback Player of the Year with Kansas City in 2007.
