NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 5, 2021) – Nashville Soccer Club in conjunction with the U.S. Soccer Federation announced today that 2020 Major League Soccer Defender of the Year and Best XI center back Walker Zimmerman will join the U.S. Men’s National Team for its upcoming camp at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Zimmerman will join the U.S. Men’s National Team on Friday, Jan. 9 as they prepare for a 2021 campaign that includes the Concacaf Nations League Final Four, the Gold Cup and the start of 2022 FIFA World Cup™ Qualifying,
The 27-year-old center back has earned 13 caps and recorded two goals with the USMNT. Zimmerman’s last appearance came as a substitute in the 83rd minute in a 6-0 win over El Salvador in an international friendly on Dec. 9, 2020.
Zimmerman has played the full 90 minutes in six of the last seven matches with the USMNT, posting six shutouts, three of them during the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Zimmerman is coming off a groundbreaking campaign in Nashville’s inaugural MLS season in 2020, as he helped guide the Boys in Gold to a historic year. Behind the leadership of Zimmerman, Nashville became the second expansion club in MLS history to reach the Conference Semifinals in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
The veteran also guided Nashville to two Audi MLS Cup Playoff victories, becoming the first expansion team since the 1998 Chicago Fire to win a playoff match in their expansion year.
In the club’s inaugural season, Zimmerman and Nashville posted a goal-against average of 0.96 goals per game, the best of any expansion club in league history, and tied for the league-lead with nine clean sheets this season. The club allowed 22 goals this season, third fewest in the league, and only two goals more than the league leaders.
The MLS Best XI selection was a force on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Zimmerman scored three goals and registered one assist in 22 starts. He scored the first goal in Nashville history on Feb. 29 in the club’s inaugural match. The 27-year-old U.S. Men’s National Team regular led MLS with 69 headed clearances, while his 64 aerials won were tied for sixth-most.
Be sure to follow Nashville SC by visiting www.NashvilleSC.com and the club’s social channels on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
USMNT DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (2): Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 9/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (3): Tristan Blackmon (LAFC; 0/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 18/3), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 13/2)
MIDFIELDERS (3): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 24/2), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 17/4), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 19/0)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 115/42), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 34/6), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 39/10), Chris Mueller (Orlando City SC; 1/2)
