The past year had no shortage of accomplishments for U.S. Women’s National Team and Chicago Red Stars midfielder Julie Ertz.
It was a year that included a World Cup title, the Red Stars’ first NWSL Championship appearance, Ertz being named to the first FIFPro World XI and the NWSL’s best XI.
Now she can add 2019 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year to that list of accomplishments.
“It’s been a whirlwind of a year and one that I’m extremely grateful for,” Ertz said to U.S. Soccer. “My team lifted me up in so many ways, and our experiences on and off the field in 2019 just encapsulate the love I have for the national team and for wearing this crest and what it represents.”
▪️World Cup Champion
— Chicago Red Stars (@chiredstarsPR) December 13, 2019
▪️NWSL Best XI
▪️FIFPro World XI
▪️U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year
Julie Ertz flexed on in 2019 #MKOT
U.S. Soccer didn’t release the voting breakdown, but Ertz beat out Megan Rapinoe, Rose Lavelle, Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan and Red Stars teammate Alyssa Naeher for the award.
Ertz is the 10th player in the history of the award, which was established in 1985, to win multiple times. The first time she was recognized was in 2017. She is the only player, though, who also won the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year award, which she brought home in 2012.
In a year that felt like the year of Megan Rapinoe, who won FIFA’s The Best award, the women’s Ballon d’Or and other personal accolades, including being named Sports Illustrated’s Sports Person of the Year, Ertz more than separated herself as the best.
The 27-year-old started 22 games for Team USA, playing 1,755 minutes, which was third-most on the team. She finished the year with 95 career caps.
Her performance in France, where she started and played in six of the seven matches for a total of 474 minutes, undoubtedly helped lead the U.S. to its record-breaking fourth World Cup title.
She scored her first career World Cup goal in the group stage against Chile on a header with the assist coming from Red Stars teammate Tierna Davidson. Ertz was the leader of a defensive unit that allowed just three goals this summer in France and shut out the Netherlands in the World Cup Final.
“Julie was such a critical part of our success this summer,” former U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis said. “It’s wonderful that she’s being recognized in this way. She’s always a consummate professional regardless of the environment. Whether it’s in training, National Team games or in the NWSL, she always brings a level of professionalism, effort and talent.”
After returning to Chicago and NWSL play, Ertz didn’t let up.
She played every minute of her 14 starts this season for the Red Stars and led a defense that allowed only two goals in the final five games of the regular season.
After the Red Stars’ loss to the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL Championship, coach Rory Dames said of Ertz: “I know I’m biased, but I think Julie Ertz is the best player in the world.”
