MLS said in a statement that Gonzalez beat out fellow finalists Jamison Olave, who collected the honor in 2010 and finished second this year, and Nat Borchers of Real Salt Lake to earn the award given to the league's top defender.

　　The year-end MLS award was voted by MLS players, general managers, coaches, referees and members of the media.

　　The 23-year-old Gonzalez garnered 33 percent of votes from MLS club management, 40 percent from media and 21 percent from MLS players to win the award by a wide margin.

　　Gonzalez started 29 games at center back for Galaxy in 2011, his third-straight season as a starter after being drafted out of Maryland with the third pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. He scored two goals and added an assist for the Galaxy while committing just 16 fouls in 2,599 minutes and collecting only three yellow cards.

　　MLS said Gonzalez had contributed a lot to Galaxy which posted the best defensive record in MLS in 2011, allowing 28 goals and posting a goals-against-average (0.82) that was the third lowest in MLS history. Their 17 regular-season shutouts also tied the MLS record set by Kansas City in 2000, when the Wizards won MLS Cup.

　　Gonzalez was awarded the MLS Rookie of the Year Award for his performances in the 2009 season, and named to the 2010 MLS All Star team. He continued his fine form in the 2011 MLS season, forming the heart of the Galaxy's league-best defense, along with goalkeeper Josh Saunders.

　　Gonzalez has collected two caps with the U.S. National Team, making his debut in a friendly against Brazil on August 10, 2010. He played 90 minutes in central defense in that game, which was the National Team' s first since the end of the World Cup. He earned his second cap in January, starting and playing the opening 45 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Chile at The Home Depot Center.

　　As a youth, Gonzalez represented the U.S. at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels. In 2005 he played at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Peru, and in 2007 he played for the U.S. Under-20's at the Pan-American Games, scoring twice in the USA's 4-2 loss to Bolivia.