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Major League Soccer have announced Atlanta United forward Giorgos Giakoumakis as the 2023 MLS Newcomer of the Year. The award recognizes the year’s most impactful player who had prior professional experience and made their MLS debut during the 2023 regular season.
Giakoumakis joined Atlanta United as a Designated Player on February 8, 2023, and went on to score 17 goals in just 1,792 regular-season minutes. His 17 goals tied for the second-most in the league, while his 0.85 goals per 90 minutes average was the best mark among all players (minimum 1,500 minutes played) in regular season play. The Greek international raced out to a quick start in league play, scoring 10 goals in his first 766 minutes of action to become the second-fastest player in league history to reach double-digit goals from the start of his MLS career (Mamadou Diallo, 750 minutes).
He also continued to hit the back of the net after Leagues Cup 2023, scoring both of Atlanta’s goals in the club’s 2-0 victory on the road against Seattle Sounders FC on August 20, which earned him MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire honors. Giakoumakis’ 17 goals in 2023 were the fourth-most in Atlanta United history, trailing only Josef Martínez (2017-19). Of his 17 goals, six came via headers, marking the second-most headed goals in MLS this season.
Giakoumakis’ strong MLS play carried over to international duty for Greece, as he has seen action in eight matches since joining Atlanta United. In UEFA Euro Championship 2024 qualifying, Giakoumakis scored the game-winning goal in his country’s 2-0 win against Ireland on October 13 along with providing an assist in the 5-0 victory over Gibraltar on September 10. Thanks to his dynamic play, Greece is assured of at least a play-off spot in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying.
Giakoumakis becomes the second-consecutive Atlanta United player to earn this award after Thiago Almada did so in 2022. Atlanta is the first club to have back-to-back winners of the honor and the second to have three different players earn the accolade (Seattle Sounders FC), as Miguel Almirón also won the award in 2017. Giakoumakis took home the award over fellow finalists and standout newcomers Eduard Löwen (St. Louis CITY SC) and Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF).
The Newcomer of the Year award was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media, and current MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results.
