World Cup champion midfielder Julie Ertz has been officially named U.S. Soccer’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2019, according to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle.
Ertz, 27, won the award for the second time in her career, becoming the 10th player in the award’s history to win multiple times, earning 42% of the vote in a contest that saw her beat out nominees such as Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, and FIFA World Player of the Year Megan Rapinoe.
Ertz is the first to win the award multiple times while also having won the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, which she did back in 2012.
“It’s been a whirlwind of a year and one that I’m extremely grateful for,” Ertz said. “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.”
“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.”
“All of my teammates just had such an amazing year and we all know it takes an entire team to win a World Cup or have a successful club season,” Ertz added. “We are all a sum of the people around us, so I want to especially thank [my husband] Zach and my family, all my coaches for the national team and the Red Stars, and all my teammates for their never-ending support. It’s emotional to be recognized in this way and it’s a cherry on top of a beautiful 2019. It’s incredible.”