Thank You, Diego
On Thursday, January 20th, the Portland Timbers announced they had sold legendary midfielder Diego Valeri to his boyhood team Club Atlético (CA) Lanus in Argentina’s Primera División. This is a memorable moment in MLS history - Valeri is one of the greatest players to ever grace a MLS field. His loss will be felt not only by the Portland Timbers and Timbers Army, but by the whole league. Unfortunately, Valeri’s last season in MLS wasn’t the story book ending he deserved, as the Timbers lost the 2021 MLS Cup to NYCFC in a penalty shootout. However, that should not be how Valeri is remembered. Valeri is a winner, a game changer, a maestro and, at least for me, one of the top 10 players of MLS history.
Valeri’s historic MLS career started in 2013 season, when he arrived on loan from CA Lanus. Valeri helped the Timbers earn a first-place finish in the Western Conference. Though Portland would go on to lose in the MLS Cup Semifinals to RSL, Valeri was named MLS Newcomer of the Year Award and earned a spot on the MLS Best XI, having tallied with 11 goals and 13 assists in his first 35 games. After a successful 2013 campaign, Portland officially bought Valeri from Lanus – little did we know, he was just getting started.
Valeri was named MLS Newcomer of the Year Award and earned a spot on the MLS Best XI, having tallied with 11 goals and 13 assists in his first 35 games.
Though the Timbers failed to make the playoffs the following season, Valeri notched 11 goals and 14 assists in 33 games played, earning another MLS Best XI nod and his first MLS All Star appearance. However, Valeri would tear his ACL on the last play of the 2014 season, leading to a surgery and recovery period that would stretch into 2015. Though Valeri was inconsistent following his return to play midway through the 2015 season, the Timbers would bounce back in 2015, finishing third in the Western Conference. It was in the playoffs that Valeri shined, contributing four assists to the streaking Timbers. Portland would go on to defeat the Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup final 2-1, with Valeri scoring the fastest opening goal in MLS History. Not only did Valeri get to raise the MLS Cup - he was also named the MLS Cup MVP, overcoming injury to lead his team to an amazing triumph.
In the 2016 MLS season, Valeri had a resurgence of his on-field performance, totaling 14 goals and 7 assists over 35 games, leading to MLS Best XI honors yet again. Despite Valeri’s impressive statistics and accolades to this point, he had yet to put in an MVP performance over the course of a whole season. 2017 would change all of that. Valeri finished the 2017 MLS season with a staggering 21 goals and 12 assists over 35 games. Unsurprisingly, Valeri would be named to the MLS All Star team as well as the MLS Best XI. Valeri was an unstoppable force that year, which helped lead the Timbers back to first in the Western Conference, eventually booking a trip to the MLS Cup Quarterfinals. However, more importantly, Valeri earned the MLS MVP award following the 2017 regular season. 2018 and 2019 were two more fantastic years for the Argentine playmaker; in 70 games played, he scored 22 goals and assisted on another 30. Portland would book their second trip to the MLS Cup final in 2018, where they would go on to lose to Atlanta United, 2-0.
Not only did Valeri get to raise the MLS Cup - he was also named the MLS Cup MVP, overcoming injury to lead his team to an amazing triumph.
Valeri would raise his final MLS trophy during one of the most frightening periods of modern history. The global COVID-19 pandemic would cause MLS to suspend its 2020 season just two games in, leading to a lengthy period of uncertainty within MLS and around the world. MLS would eventually return to action in July of that year, starting with the MLS Is Back Tournament in Orlando, Florida. Valeri gave Timbers fans a reason to celebrate, albeit it socially distant, by defeating Orlando City in the MLS Is Back Tournament final. Once MLS regular season play resumed, Valeri would help the Timbers finish third in the Western Conference and yet another 1st round playoff appearance. In 2021, Valeri would go on to make another MLS Cup final appearance, entering the game in the 89th minute, just in time for Portland to notch a late equalizer that would send the final into extra time.
It’s my hope that Portland will honor Valeri in some way once his playing career is officially over. No matter where he eventually retires, Portland Timbers should erect a statue in his name outside of Providence Park. As one of (if not THE) greatest players in Timbers history, it would only be fitting for Valeri to be honored in wood, green and gold outside the pitch that he helped make one of the great American soccer cathedrals.
But for now - thank you, Diego. For everything.
