November 10, 2009
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Montero takes MLS award

NEW YORK---MLS announced Tuesday that Seattle Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero won the league's newcomer of the year award.

Montero, 22, from Barranquilla, Colombia burst onto the MLS scene this season, leading the expansion team in scoring with 12 goals while recording seven assists to tie for the second highest total on the team with Nate Jaqua.

Montero got off to a blazing start, recording two goals and an assist in the club’s season-opening win over the Red Bulls before a sellout crowd at Qwest Field and live national audience March 19. He was named MLS player of the week for Week 1 and MLS player of the month for March after scoring four goals and registering one assist.

He joined Sounders FC after four seasons with Deportivo Cali in Colombia. He spent the 2006-07 season on loan to Colombian squad Atletico Huila. The 2009 MLS All-Star was a key contributor to a Sounders FC team that found success on and off the field in its first season.

Montero’s 12 goals included four game game-winning goals – against the Red Bulls (March 19), the San Jose Earthquakes (June 13), the Colorado Rapids (June 28) and D.C. United (Sept. 12). Montero led the voting ahead of teammates Kasey Keller and Freddie Ljungberg, the other finalists for the award.

He earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches and members of the media.