A two-time winner of the Timbers Community MVP Award (2018, 2019), Valentin played four seasons in the Rose City (2016-2019) appearing in 92 regular-season matches and helped the team win 2018 Western Conference Final
Earlier this fall, former Portland Timbers defender Zarek Valentin announced his retirement.
Speaking in a video posted on his Instagram account, the 14-year veteran of Major League Soccer spoke about his career and provided advice to young players.
“It’s time to announce my retirement, he said. “It comes from a place of extreme gratitude.”
Valentin played four seasons in the Rose City (2016-2019), scoring one goal and five assists across 92 regular-season appearances (82 starts). His 92 matches in the Green-and-Gold accounted for nearly half of all his MLS appearances and is more matches than any other stop in his career.
Valentin’s 2018 campaign with Portland saw him make career highs in appearances (32) and starts (30) as the team qualified for the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs where he made six postseason appearances (five starts) on the team’s run to winning the 2018 MLS Western Conference Final. Valentin started and played the full 90 in Portland’s 2-0 loss to Atlanta United FC in the 2018 MLS Cup.
A stalwart in the Portland community, Valentin was a two-time winner of the Timbers Community MVP Award (2018, 2019). He led fundraisers for LGBTQIA+ youth with his RibbonZ campaign as well as created special edition patches with the 107 Independent Supporters’ Trust Patch Patrol that helped raise over $25,000 for those causes. Working with the club’s community outreach platform, Stand Together, Valentin read to children, made hospital visits, helped build houses as well as volunteered at many more organizations and events.
Prior to coming to Portland, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania native starred at the University of Akron where he played two seasons and helped the Zips win the 2010 NCAA College Cup National Championship. Forgoing his final two seasons of college eligibility, Valentin signed a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer and was a first round, fourth overall selection by Chivas USA at the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.
Valentin’s pro career saw him play with five MLS teams – Chivas USA, Montréal Impact, Portland, Houston Dynamo FC and Minnesota United FC – as well as playing two seasons with Bodø/Glimt in the Norwegian second division and later top flight.
A member of the numerous U.S. youth national teams including the U20 and U23 teams, Valentin was later a member of the Puerto Rico national team, scoring his first career international goal against the Cayman Islands in the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League.
Speaking in his video announcement, the charismatic Valentin was grateful for his long career in soccer and to the many fans who cheered for him.
“When I was with your clubs, I wanted to represent them with pride.”
