PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella today announced his retirement from professional soccer after a nine-year MLS career, including five years in Portland.
“Playing for the Portland Timbers and representing the organization and the fans, was the privilege of a lifetime. To take the field wearing the crest over my heart was something that I never took for granted, and to be able to retire a Portland Timber is truly an honor,” said Attinella. “I want to thank Merritt, Gavin, Ned and the coaches for allowing me to be a part of this club for the last five years, and for supporting me in my decision to step away from the game to be back home with my family and start the next chapter of my life. Portland will always be a home to me, and I look forward to cheering on the club’s continued success.”
Attinella, 33, concluded his career having made 79 appearances (76 starts) over nine seasons in MLS, posting a save percentage of 67% and 16 clean sheets. He played his final professional match at Providence Park against the Seattle Sounders on May 9, 2021, resulting in a season-ending injury.
“We want to thank Jeff for the incredible impact he’s had in our team and club. We are extremely fortunate to have had him with us for the past five years and he will forever be a part of the Timbers family,” said general manager and president of soccer for the Timbers, Gavin Wilkinson. “He is an outstanding person on and off the field, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
The Timbers acquired Attinella on Dec. 20, 2016, in a trade with Minnesota United FC after they selected him in the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft from Real Salt Lake.
During his five seasons with Portland (2017-2021), Attinella started in 48 of 50 appearances, registering 11 clean sheets and a 68% save percentage. In the 2018 campaign, Attinella recorded a career high 85 saves and seven shutouts for Portland. Notably, Attinella helped guide the Timbers to an MLS Cup appearance that year, in which he started in goal for.
“Throughout his professional career, Jeff has proved to be a first-class professional on and off the field. We are happy to have been a part of his professional development,” said Giovanni Savarese, head coach of the Timbers. “We want to thank him for all his hard work and the role he played with the Timbers. We wish him all the best.”
The Clearwater, Fla., native made his professional debut with the Tampa Bay Rowdies on April 30, 2011, in the North American Soccer League. In his second season with Tampa Bay, Attinella led the team to a 2012 Soccer Bowl victory, earning himself NASL Best XI honors. He was then signed to Real Salt Lake ahead of the 2013 season, where he played four seasons prior to joining Portland.
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