MONTREAL – Major League Soccer announced on Wednesday that Impact defender Laurent Ciman has been named the 2015 MLS Defender of the Year.

“I would like to thank all the players, clubs and media for their vote,” said Ciman. “This is a great achievement to win this award, but we have to work harder to get even better next year. This is a nice individual honour, but I have to credit my teammates who were just as good.”

In his first season in the league, Ciman quickly imposed himself on the team’s backline, helping the club to its best showing in its young MLS history with 44 goals allowed this season, five less than 2013 and 14 less than last season.

The Belgian international also tallied two goals and two assists, finishing second on the team with 2,405 minutes and third with 27 starts. He also started all three games for the Impact in the MLS Cup Playoffs, registering one assist and 300 minutes.

He was selected to the 2015 MLS All-Star Game, wearing the captain’s armband during the second half against English club Tottenham Hotspur F.C. He was also named three times to the MLSSoccer.com Team of the Week and six times as the Videotron mobile Player of the Game.

The award was voted on by media, MLS players and MLS club management based on regular season performance. The other two finalists were FC Dallas defender Matt Hedges and Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Kendall Waston.

Impact striker Didier Drogba is also in contention for an league award, MLS Newcomer of the Year. The winner will be named on November 23.

MLS DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

2015: Laurent Ciman – Montreal Impact

2014: Chad Marshall – Seattle Sounders FC

2013: Jose Goncalves – New England Revolution

2012: Matt Besler – Sporting Kansas City

2011: Omar Gonzalez – LA Galaxy

2010: Jamison Olave – Real Salt Lake

2009: Chad Marshall – Columbus Crew

2008: Chad Marshall – Columbus Crew

2007: Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution

2006: Bobby Boswell – D.C. United

2005: Jimmy Conrad – Kansas City Wizards

2004: Robin Fraser – Columbus Crew

2003: Carlos Bocanegra – Chicago Fire

2002: Carlos Bocanegra – Chicago Fire

2001: Jeff Agoos – San Jose Earthquakes

2000: Peter Vermes – Kansas City Wizards

1999: Robin Fraser – Los Angeles Galaxy

1998: Lubos Kubik – Chicago Fire

1997: Eddie Pope – D.C. United

1996: John Doyle – San Jose Earthquakes