MLS announces 2009 Best XI

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Thornton tabbed as MLS Goalkeeper of the Year

Major League Soccer announced on Wednesday that Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton was voted the 2009 Goalkeeper of the Year.

Thornton, 36, had arguably the best season of his 13-year MLS career. He led Chivas USA to a 13-11-6 record and posted a career best 12 shutouts and 0.87 goals against average.

His 12 shutouts were one shy of the club record and his goals against average ranks second all-time behind Pat Onstad's 0.82 in 2007 for the Houston Dynamo. Thornton led the league in goals against average, shutouts and ranked second in wins with 12.

Columbus re-signs former MVP Schelotto

The Columbus Crew re-signed former MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto on Tuesday.

Schelotto, who has been with the Crew since 2007, will not occupy a Designated Player slot in 2010. Per club and league policy, no further terms of the deal were disclosed.

Since joining Columbus from Argentine club Boca Juniors, Schelotto has been one of the finest attacking players in the league, earning both league and MLS Cup MVP honors, along with two MLS Best XI selections. He has 26 goals and 39 assists in 78 regular-season and playoff games.

Union acquire goalkeeper Seitz from RSL

Real Salt Lake traded backup goalkeeper Chris Seitz to the Philadelphia Union for allocation money, the Major League Soccer clubs announced on Monday.

"Firstly, we would like to thank Chris for his three years of exemplary service on behalf of Real Salt Lake and wish him all the best on this next step in his career," Real Salt Lake General Manager Garth Lagerwey said. "His professionalism and tremendous talent made this a very difficult move for us to make, however, we felt it was time to do right by Chris and allow him this opportunity to achieve a starting position within Major League Soccer. With the trade also giving our Technical Staff added resources to improve our roster this offseason, we believe the deal is a win for both sides."

Seitz, 22, has been stuck behind 2009 MLS Cup MVP Nick Rimando for the past three seasons in Utah despite being the third overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft.

Olsen officially announces retirement from MLS

Washington, D.C. (Sports Network) - D.C. United midfielder Ben Olsen officially announced his retirement from professional soccer, the Major League Soccer club announced on Tuesday.

"Ben Olsen has been called the heart and soul of D.C. United and, over the years, that is exactly what we've come to expect from him," D.C. United President and CEO Kevin Payne said. "Since he joined our team as the league's first Project-40 player until his last game in the 2009 season, Ben gave all that he had for his team and his teammates. You can't replace a player like Ben, you simply hope that other players can step up and shoulder the mantle that he carried for so long. He's simply one of the greatest players in D.C. United history."

The 32-year-old midfielder won eight total trophies while in DC, including two MLS Cups. He was also a two-time All-Star, the 1998 MLS Rookie of the Year, the 1999 MLS Cup MVP, the 2003 USSF Humanitarian of the Year and was named to the MLS Best XI in 2007.

Arena claims MLS Coach of the Year award

Major League Soccer announced on Wednesday that Los Angeles Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena captured the 2009 MLS Coach of the Year honor after leading his club to its first playoff berth since the 2005 season and a top seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a 12-6-12 record.

Arena, now in his second season as Galaxy head coach, led Los Angeles to one of the most dramatic single season turnarounds in MLS history.

In 2008, the Galaxy finished at the bottom of the Western Conference with an 8-13-9 record while also giving up a league-high 62 goals.