November 16, 2024 – United Soccer League One (USL1)
Greenville Triumph SC Press Release
TAMPA, Fla. – USL League One today announced that Greenville Triumph SC forward Liam MacKinnon has been named the 2024 USL League One Player of the Year. The 2024 USL League One Golden Boot winner and All-League First Team selection is the second-youngest player to be named Player of the Year.
Greenville’s all-time leading scorer led the league with 16 goals in 22 games. MacKinnon also led all players with 21 goal contributions, 35 shots on target, four braces and four penalty kick wins. The 25-year-old leads all players with 3.81 goals added this season, according to American Soccer Analysis. This is tied for second-most in a single season in league history behind Trevor Aman’s (Northern Colorado) 5.68 goals-against average. 2023.
“I’m very grateful to my team, my teammates and especially my coaches,” MacKinnon said. “It’s been a year with many challenges and many good and difficult moments. This award reflects the team’s efforts and how they helped me achieve this recognition.”
Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, MacKinnon began his career at the academy of his hometown club FC Lausanne-Sport and captained the club’s U-18 and U-21 teams. MacKinnon moved to the United States in 2019 to play collegiately at Villanova University, where he was a two-time All-BIG EAST second-team selection, recording 17 goals and 14 assists in 56 games for the Wildcats from 2019-22. While in college, MacKinnon also played for USL league sides Reading United AC (2021) and West Chester United SC (2022).
MacKinnon was drafted 84th overall by Nashville SC in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, but did not begin his professional career until March 2023, when he signed with Greenville Triumph SC. Since making his professional debut at Triumph SC a season ago, MacKinnon has scored a total of 30 goals and provided 13 assists in 65 appearances across all competitions for the club.
The first European Player of the Year in league history, MacKinnon is the most prolific Swiss goalscorer in modern American men’s professional soccer history with 16 regular season goals, surpassing former Orange County SC (USL Championship) goalscorer Didier Crettenand.
Greenville manager Rick Wright said: “This is a tremendous award not only for Liam, but for the club itself. “I look at when he joined us right out of college. He had very clear goals he wanted to achieve and we discussed them. He was one of those rare athletes who achieved that. He was dedicated and followed a plan of action. , he is getting rewarded.”
MacKinnon received 45% of the ballots cast for the award. 2024 USL Ligue 1 Defender of the Year Bruno Rendón finished second with eight goal contributions and a league-leading 169 duels won at 30%, while 2024 USL Ligue 1 All-League First Team midfielder Pedro Dolabella (Pedro Dolabella) ranks third at 25% with 14 goal contributions. . A total of 3 players received votes.
MacKinnon’s 45% of the ballots earned is the lowest total for a USL League 1 Player of the Year winner in league history. In addition, the gap between first and third place in the finals is 20%, the smallest in league history.
The 2024 USL League One Awards are voted on by each team’s technical staff and management and apply only to 2024 USL League One regular season play.
USL League Player of the Year
2024 – Liam MacKinnon, Greenville Triumph SC
2023 – Trevor Aman, Northern Colorado Hailstorms FC
2022 – Emiliano Terzaghi, Richmond Kickers
2021 – Emiliano Terzaghi, Richmond Kickers
2020 – Emiliano Terzaghi, Richmond Kickers
2019 – Arturo Rodriguez, North Texas SC
2024 USL League One Awards
Goalkeeper of the Year: Sean Lewis, One Knoxville SC
Defender of the Year: Bruno Rendon, Northern Colorado Hailstorms FC
Young Player of the Year: Alfredo Midence, Central Valley Fuego FC
Coach of the Year: Dominic Casciato (Union Omaha)
Player of the Year: Liam MacKinnon (Greenville Triumph SC)
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