Misc Soccer News

Achinioti-Jönsson, Antonoglou, Klomp Nominated for Canadian Premier League’s 2024 Defender of the Year Award

Canadian Premier League

October 30, 2024 – Canadian Premier League (CPL) News Release

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Premier League announced on Wednesday the nominees for the Defender of the Year award, honouring the best defender during the 2024 regular season.

Forge FC’s Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson, Valour FC’s Themi Antonoglou, and Cavalry FC’s Daan Klomp are nominated for the award in 2024. The winner will be decided through voting by technical leadership from all eight CPL clubs as well as by select media members, representing local and national outlets, who consistently covered the 2024 CPL regular season. The winner will be revealed at an in-person ceremony in Calgary, Alta. on Thursday, Nov. 7 as part of the 2024 CPL Final festivities.

The 2024 CPL Awards ceremony will be streamed on CBC Gem and cbcsports.ca and broadcast live on dedicated soccer channel OneSoccer, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT. The show will be hosted by Andi Petrillo with appearances by current and former CPL players and coaches, as well as special guests from the Canadian soccer community.

Voting for the CPL’s Defender of the Year award is based on performances during the 2024 CPL regular season, not including Canadian Championship, Concacaf Champions Cup or 2024 CPL Playoffs action.

Achinioti-Jönsson, 28, continued to cement his reputation as one of the best centre backs in CPL history by once again anchoring Forge’s backline in 2024. He was the only outfield player in the league to play every minute of his team’s campaign and regular season winners Forge finished the 28-game calendar tied for the second-best defensive record in the league thanks in large part to the contributions from the Swedish defender. Achinioti-Jönsson was on the field for Forge’s 10 clean sheets, the most by any player in the CPL. He led the league in successful passes (1,533), finished second among CPL players in blocks (22) and ranked fifth among his peers in aerial duels won (51). This is Achinioti-Jönsson’s second nomination for Defender of the Year since the award was introduced by the league in 2022. He won the inaugural honour that season.

Antonoglou, 23, made a significant impact for Valour FC in his first season in the CPL. An attack-minded defender, the native of Toronto dominated the left side of the field for Valour, making hard work for his opponents because of his pace on the wings and his ability to deliver precise crosses into the box. That delivery helped Antonoglou finish the regular season ranked first…

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