Galaxy D Franklin named MLS Rookie of Year

Nov 14, 2008 - 1:40 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Los Angeles Galaxy defender Sean Franklin on Thursday was named Major League Soccer's Rookie of the Year.

Franklin, who has spent the week with the United States national team, had one assist and logged a total of 2,385 minutes in 27 games for the Galaxy this season.

"It has been a big week, a very exciting week for me and for my family," Franklin said. "I'm really excited where I'm at right now."

"Sean had a very good season for the Galaxy and is deserving of this award," Galaxy general manager and coach Bruce Arena said. "Despite being played out of position for a majority of the season, Sean was still able to demonstrate his skills and strengths as a player and I'm confident that he will continue to improve in MLS."

The 23-year-old was the fourth overall selection by the Galaxy in the MLS SuperDraft in January.

"I just went out and just played every game hard, whether I was a rookie or not wasn't something that was on the back of my mind," he said. "As the year did go on I was getting more comfortable and used to playing."

Franklin joins some elite company with the honor. Previous Rookie of the Year winners include Maurice Edu (Toronto FC, 2007), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA, 2006), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution, 2005) and Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution, 2004) as well as Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago Fire, 2000) and Ben Olsen (D.C. United, 1998).

"Hopefully there is not pressure," Franklin said of his predecessors. "There might be, there might not be but I'm just hoping that if there are I'll live up to them.

"It's an honor. I was actually this morning at lunch talking to Jonny Bornstein and Michael Parkhurst. It's just awesome to be named with other guys who have won Rookie of the Year."