Atlanta United has re-signed free agent defender Michael Parkhurst. The captain for the club and a solid presence since the club entered the MLS last season. No Atlanta player has started more games (70) or logged more minutes (6,311) than Parkhurst.
The defender is a nine-year MLS veteran who made 33 appearances and 32 starts for the club during the 2018 regular season and started all five playoff matches on the team’s run to winning MLS Cup. He was selected to the MLS All-Star team this season, his fifth MLS All-Star selection. He has made 25 appearances with the U.S. Men’s National Team.
“Michael has played an important role for our team over the past two seasons and we’re pleased to have re-signed him. Since joining the club, he has served as an excellent captain and his experience and leadership is invaluable for our group.”
Atlanta United Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra
PLAYER PROFILE
- Position: Defender
- Height: 5-11
- Birthdate: Jan. 24, 1984 (age: 34)
- Hometown: Providence, Rhode Island
- Nationality: USA
- Transaction: Atlanta United signed free agent Michael Parkhurst on Dec. 22, 2018.
The team captian finished third in MLS Defender of the Year voting in 2018, an award which he won in 2007. He started all but two games this season and anchored the defense that finished fourth in fewest goals allowed.
Parkhurst finished with the third-highest passing accuracy (87.7 percent, min. 1,000 passes) and the fourth-most successful passes (1,607) by a defender. He finished fourth in MLS with 154 clearances and committed the third-fewest fouls by a defender (16, min. 30 games played).
