PORTLAND, Ore. — He is arguably the best Portland Timbers player to put on the uniform in the Major League Soccer era, and soon to join the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. Diego Valeri spent nine years giving his all to the club, coming from his native Argentina in 2013 and quickly earning MLS Newcomer of the Year.
The Timbers were not about to let him go. And for Valeri, his wife and young daughter, Portland felt right.
"The (Pacific) Northwest, we didn't know anything about it. But it was exciting for us to come and see, you know, how was life here,” said Valeri. “And then as soon as we arrived in town, we loved it. We got in love of the city.”
A midfielder who it seemed could do it all, Diego Valeri earned the title "El Maestro" during his nearly decade-long run with the team.
After suffering an ACL injury at the end of the 2014 regular season, Valeri came back in 2015 to lead the timbers to the MLS Cup.
The Portland star scored the first goal of the championship game off the opposing goalkeeper's clearance. It was 27 seconds into the match, the fastest goal ever scored in cup history.
The Portland Timbers went on to win their first-ever MLS Cup Championship, with Valeri named the most valuable player.
There is no denying Valeri’s greatness on the pitch. 2017 was his best season statistically: a career high 27 goals, while also offering up 11 assists — scoring a goal in nine straight matches, a league record.
“And my side was, you know, to create chances and score goals, right? And as I say, that mentality of, 'OK, we are the Portland Timbers and we are going to, we're going to compete.'”
But for Valerie, it's always been about the team, and teamwork.
One of the most rewarding times was in 2020. Portland played in Orlando, Florida as the MLS got back to competing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Valeri captained the Timbers to win the MLS is Back Tournament — with no fans in the stands, but lots of comradery.
“And then we were playing there 45 days or two months in a bubble with the whole team there, tight and committed to win that trophy. And we made it," Valeri recalled.
Valeri remains the club's leading scorer across all competitions, with an even 100 goals. He's also the all-time assist leader, with 100.
After his Timbers career, Valeri spent some time living and playing back in Argentina. But then, he and his family returned and reconnected here.
“We decided to come to Portland and live in this town because we love it," he said. "You know, we decided that this is our city to live in the U.S.”
A Timber’s great, Soccer City USA's Diego Valeri is now a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
“It's an honor for me. It's an honor because I received so much love from this place, from the city," he said. "And I wanted to give it back playing soccer, which is what I know how to do.”
The Night of Champions induction ceremony is next Tuesday, October 29 at 7 p.m. at the Reser Center for the Arts. Tickets are available, while they last, through the Sport Oregon website.