Major League Soccer has announced that goalkeeper Bill Hamid and defender Bobby Boswell were named to the 2014 MLS Best XI, which recognizes the League’s top players at each position. It is the first Best XI selection of Hamid’s career and second of Boswell’s.
“I am extremely grateful and honored to be a part of the Best XI and represent D.C. United,” said Hamid. “I want to thank my teammates, coaches, organization and fans for all their hard work, faith and support. This wouldn’t be possible without such amazing people that are a part of the D.C. United family. Thank you all for the Best XI selection.”
"It's an honor and a reflection of how committed our group was this year to defending," said Boswell. "The guys from front to back put the work in week in and week out. Because of that work, I feel like I am being rewarded. I will celebrate this with my teammates - especially the back line - and goalkeeper Bill Hamid. Without Bill back there making huge saves all year, none of this is possible."
Hamid, United’s first Homegrown player, had a career year in 2014. The 24-year-old finished the season with the best saves percentage in MLS (75.3), second in shutouts (10), third in goals against average (1.13), tied for fourth in wins (14) and fourth in saves (110). He also set career highs for games played and started (30) as well as minutes played (2,700) and was the only goalkeeper in MLS to finish the season in the top three in saves percentage, shutouts and goals against average. During the MLS regular season, Hamid also became the first MLS Homegrown player to reach 100 MLS regular season games.
In his first season with D.C. United since 2007, Boswell was named team captain and was one of only three field players in MLS to start every game (34) in 2014. The veteran centerback anchored a Black-and-Red defense that finished tied for first in goals against average (1.09) and allowed the fewest goals at home in MLS en route to the top seed in the Eastern Conference in the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs. Boswell also recorded one goal and a career-high three assists. This is Boswell’s second Best XI selection, with his first coming in 2006 where he was also named MLS Defender of the Year.
“We would like to congratulate Bill and Bobby for representing D.C. United on the 2014 MLS Best XI,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “It is a well-deserved tribute to the hard work that both players have put in this season, and a reward for their contributions that helped the club win the regular season Eastern Conference and claim the No. 1 seed in next spring's CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.”
Both Hamid and Boswell were selected to the 2014 MLS All-Star Team which played against Bayern Munich on Aug. 6, 2014, at Providence Park in Portland, Ore. They both played the final 45 minutes where Hamid recorded three saves and the duo allowed zero goals in the 2-1 win.
2014 MLS Best XI:
Goalkeeper – Bill Hamid (D.C. United)
Defender – Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
Defender – Bobby Boswell (D.C. United)
Defender – Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC)
Midfielder – Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Midfielder – Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
Midfielder – Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution)
Midfielder – Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)
Forward – Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Forward – Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders FC)
Forward – Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)
