Diego Valeri Inks One-Day Contract To Retire With Timbers

Diego Valeri Inks One-Day Contract To Retire With Timbers

Portland Timbers legend Diego Valeri signed a one-day contract with the club on Friday to retire as a member of the club.

Valeri spent nine seasons in the MLS with the Timbers after joining the club in 2013 from Argentine side Lanús. He went on to become one of the best players in MLS history and is arguably the Timbers’ greatest-ever player.

After finishing his MLS career in 2021, Valeri returned to his boyhood club Lanús where he played one final season. However, due to his accomplished career in Portland, he has decided that he wants to retire a Timber, and when viewing his Timbers statistics and accomplishments, it is easy to understand why.

He made 273 total caps for the Timbers across all competitions, scoring 96 goals and providing 100 assists. In terms of regular-season play, Valeri is also the team’s leading scorer with 86 goals, leading assister with 91 assists and has the most points earned by a Timbers player with 263.

He was also awarded the MLS Newcomer of the Year award in 2013, the MLS Cup MVP in 2015 and the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award in 2017. These awards and his staggering goal and assist numbers highlight just how good Valeri was in Portland. It makes sense that both the player and the organization would want him to retire a Timber after nine incredible years with the club.

“When I first came to Portland, the most important thing to me was to honor the club’s history and bring the highest prestige to the Timbers,” Valeri said. “Today, returning to retire a Portland Timber, I feel fulfilled about my journey and adventure with the club and am so thankful for the love the city gave to me.”

Via ESPN

Valeri will now join the Timber’s distinguished Ring of Honor. The Ring of Honor pays homage to the best players in Timbers history. Other members include club legends Clive Charles, John Bain, Jimmy Conway, Mick Hoban and Timber Jim.

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“It is only fitting that Diego Valeri will officially retire a Portland Timber,” Timbers’ owner Merritt Paulson said. “He gave so much to our club and we can never give back what he has given us. It will be amazing for fans to have the opportunity to recognize Diego publicly Saturday when we induct him into the Ring of Honor.”

Via ESPN

The Timbers will celebrate Valeri’s addition to the Ring of Honor during the pregame and halftime of Saturday’s game against the Columbus Crew.

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