Nashville SC center back Walker Zimmerman voted MLS Defender of the Year

Walker Zimmerman didn't see the trade coming. In fact, the center back even joked about it not happening.

Los Angeles Football Club sent its 2019 MLS Best XI honoree to Nashville SC in February. He would soon become the best defender for the league's newest franchise.

That title became official Wednesday, when the league announced that the 27-year-old was voted the 2020 MLS Defender of the Year, anchoring a Nashville backline that allowed the fewest goals per game for an expansion team (0.96) in the regular season and allowed the third-fewest total goals in the league (22).

Zimmerman continues to etch his name in club history. He scored the first Nashville goal in MLS on Feb. 29 off of a Hany Mukhtar free kick, becoming its first Man of the Match. The center back has scored two more since then in 22 total appearances. 

"Sure, this is a major accomplishment for me. I've talked to a lot of my teammates and (coach) Gary (Smith) as well. But it's so much bigger for individual awards. I could have never accomplished this on my own," Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman was quick to mention Nashville's bulk of talent through "the spine" of the team, including MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honorable mention Joe Willis behind him, as well as central defensive midfielder Dax McCarty and Anibal Godoy in front of him.

That's the reason, in Zimmerman's eyes, why he was crowned the best defender in the league. So much so, the center back wasn't satisfied in seeing Willis as an honorable mention. If it weren't for his league-best nine shutouts and aerial presence, Zimmerman didn't think he would be praised as the all-around best defender. 

"I wish he could get more recognition for the work that he's done for us this year," Zimmerman said. "All of those pieces have to come together to be able to win an award like this. I'm really grateful and really excited, and to do it in this year, it just means a lot because we've all worked so hard on our own and there's been a lot of work (done) behind the scenes."

Zimmerman's aerial presence was felt just as much in defense as it was farther up the field for set pieces. Zimmerman led MLS in headed clearances (69) and tied for sixth-most in aerial duels won.

"He's shown his tremendous humility by talking about all the other pieces that have definitely helped him win this award, but I don't think there's any doubt in the minds of the players and the coaching staffs (about) who the best defender in the league is," McCarty said. "It's an honor that is well-deserved for him."

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Zimmerman has become one the club's leaders and plans to continue being that veteran presence, signing an MLS contract extension in August that spans through 2023 season, with a club option for 2024.

Nashville and Zimmerman will enter MLS Cup Playoffs in the Play-In round Friday (8 p.m.; ESPN2) against Inter Miami at Nissan Stadium. 

For stories about Nashville SC or Soccer in Tennessee, contact Drake Hills at DHills@gannett.com. Follow Drake on Twitter at @LiveLifeDrake.