Minnesota United FC's Vito Mannone won the 2019 Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award on Thursday, after leading the Loons to their best season in as an MLS club.

Mannone, 31, finished second in MLS in saves, with 129, while conceding the third-fewest goals in the Western Conference, 43. He posted 11 shutouts and helmed a 259-minute shutout streak during the season, while helping Minnesota reach the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs and the U.S. Open Cup final, each for the first time in team history.

Mannone's impressive season in MLS – his first, in which he played all 34 regular-season games – is all the more impressive because Minnesota United's first two seasons in MLS were among the worst in terms of goals conceded in league history. They allowed 70 and 71 goals, and their +28 goals conceded difference this season compared to 2018 is the third-best turnaround in MLS history.

The Italian, who previously played in England for the likes of Arsenal, Sunderland, Hull City and Reading, edged D.C. United's Bill Hamid for Goalkeeper of the Year, with the vote overall being quite close among the contenders.

Voting Results

Nominee Player

Vote Club

Vote Media

Vote Avg 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%

Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Winners