USA goalkeeper Tim Howard wins U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year

Published Nov. 20, 2014 5:30 p.m. ET

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Kyle McCarthy

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard has claimed the 2014 U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year award.

Howard, 35, capped perhaps the finest season of his national team career by outlasting five other nominees to secure the title for the second time on Thursday afternoon. He previously won the same honor back in 2008.

The veteran number one joins Marcelo Balboa (1992, 1994), Clint Dempsey (2007, 2011, 2012), Landon Donovan (2003, 2004, 2009, 2010) and Kasey Keller as the only players to win the award on multiple occasions.

“It’s an honor,” Howard told ESPN. “I know the winners on the list who have come before me, so it’s special to have my name up there. The whole ride with the team for about a month and a half, when we got together for training camp and we flew down to Brazil, we had a really good time and that made 2014 so special to me.”

The decision came as little surprise after Howard shined during the Americans’ run to the round of 16 in Brazil this summer. Howard started all four matches in Brazil and made a FIFA World Cup record 15 saves in the 2-1 extra time defeat to Belgium at that stage.

In addition to his heroics in Brazil, Howard also earned his 100th cap and established new program records for career wins (55) and goalkeeper appearances (104). He made eight appearances and eight starts for the national team this year before stepping away from the team in August.

New England Revolution midfielder Jermaine Jones finished second in the voting, while Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman landed in third spot. Nantes midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, Seattle forward Clint Dempsey and Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Fabian Johnson also garnered nominations for their national team accomplishments this year.

U.S. SOCCER MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR VOTING

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