Major League Soccer recently announced details on the league’s 2024 year-end awards, with five Austin FC players listed as nominees for various honors: Brad Stuver (MLS Goalkeeper of the Year), Owen Wolff (MLS Young Player of the Year), Guilherme Biro (MLS Newcomer of the Year), Brendan Hines-Ike (MLS Defender of the Year), and Hector Jimenez (Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award).
Stuver currently leads MLS in both total saves and goals saved above average, a metric which measures the number of goals a goalkeeper saved or conceded relative to expectation. He recently set a new single match career best by making 11 saves in Austin’s 1-0 away win over Portland Timbers. He also leads all Austin FC players with five MLS Team of the Week selections in 2024.
Wolff has tallied 32 MLS appearances (16 starts) in 2024, showcasing his versatility at a variety of positions including central midfielder, winger, and outside back. He scored one (1) goal and added four (4) assists, tied for third most among Austin players.
Biro adjusted quickly to MLS after arriving as a transfer from Mirassol Futebol Clube last January. He scored three goals from the left back spot while appearing in all but two of Austin FC’s MLS matches, including 26 starts. Biro won 30 tackles, made 50 clearances, and created 14 chances across the season.
Fellow offseason signing Brendan Hines-Ike has appeared 27 times for the Verde & Black (25 starts) in MLS play. He led the team with 43 clearances and won 47 aerial duels. His pass success rate of 91.2 percent was the best among all Austin FC players to play at least 1,000 minutes.
Jimenez, a defender for the Club since its inaugural season in 2021, is a nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact award, recognizing players who went above and beyond in serving their community in 2024. He was named 4ATX Foundation Legend of the Year after volunteering for several 4ATX and Austin FC community events held in the past year.
These events include 4ATX Clinics pres. by St. David’s HealthCare events, Verde Leaders practice at Dobie Middle School, Dia de los Niños w/ AVANCE & the Thinkery, and 4ATX Foundation Hat Trick Society Cocktail Hour.
Winners for the awards listed below will be voted on by members of the media, club technical staff, and active MLS players, with each group accounting for 33.3% of the total vote.
