Timbers great Diego Valeri inducted into Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
Timbers great and Ring of Honor member Diego Valeri was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame on Oct. 29 during Sport Oregon's Night of Champions event.
ACQUIRED: Contract purchased from Argentina’s Club Atlético Lanús and signed to a multiyear contract Aug. 6, 2013; first joined the club on loan as a Designated Player from Lanús on Jan. 10, 2013.
2020: Tallied eight goals and seven assists in 22 games played (18 starts) during the 2020 MLS regular season ... Made 27 appearances (22 starts), registering nine goals and 11 assists across all competitions ... Tallied his 100th career assist across all competitions in his career for the Timbers against FC Dallas in the First Round of the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs ... Started and played 90 minutes against RSL on Oct. 14 ... Started and played 74 minutes against San Jose on Oct. 11 ... Started and tallied his seventh goal of the season against the LA Galaxy on Oct. 7 ... Logged 45 minutes off the bench against Vancouver on Sept. 27 ... Started and played 86 minutes against Seattle on Sept. 23 ... Named the MLS Player of the Week after tallying two goals and an assist against San Jose on Sept. 19 ... Registered his fourth assist of the regular season against LAFC on Sept. 13 ... Started and logged his second assist in league play against RSL on Aug. 29 ... Started and logged an assist in the MIB Tournament Final against Orlando on Aug. 11 ... Started and registered two assists against Philadelphia on Aug. 5 ... Tallied the game-winning goal off the bench against NYCFC on Aug. 1 ... Scored his 77th regular-season goal for the Timbers in a 3-1 loss to Minnesota United FC on March 1.
2019: Made an appearance off the bench in a 2-1 playoff loss at Real Salt Lake on October 19 … Was credited with five chances created in a 2-2 home draw against New England Revolution on Sept. 25 … Made an appearance off the bench in a 0-0 home draw against Minnesota United FC on Sept. 22 ... Made his 28th league start of 2019 in a 2-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Sept. 18 ... Made his 200th start in league play in a 1-0 home loss against D.C. United on Sept. 15 … Delivered his 16th assist of the campaign in a 2-1 home win against Sporting Kansas City on Sept. 7, earning MLS Player of Week honors for Week 27 … Tallied a goal in his second straight match in a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Aug. 31 ... Scored his seventh goal of the season in a 2-1 home loss against Seattle Sounders FC on Aug. 23 … Made his 24th league start in a 2-0 home loss against Atlanta United FC on Aug. 18 … Delivered his team-leading 15th assist of the season in a 3-2 home win against Chicago Fire on Aug. 14 … Delivered his MLS-leading 14th assist of the campaign in a 3-1 home win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Aug. 10 … Made a substitute appearance in a 2-1 road loss against Minnesota United FC in the semifinal of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Aug. 7 ... Started and played 90 minutes in a 1-0 road loss to Minnesota United FC on Aug. 3 .. In his 200th league appearance, tallied a goal and an assist in a 4-0 win over the LA Galaxy on July 30 ... Recorded his 11th assist of the season, which ranks as the third-most in MLS in 2019 in a 2-1 away win against Seattle Sounders FC on July 21 ... For the third time in 2019, created nine chances in a 1-1 home draw against Orlando City FC on July 18 ... Scored his fifth goal of the season in a 2-2 home draw against the Colorado Rapids on July 13 ... Made a substitute appearance in a 1-0 away win in the quarterfinal of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against Los Angeles FC on July 10 ... Recorded 90 minutes in a 1-0 away win against New York City FC on July 7 ... Played 90 minutes in a 1-0 home win against FC Dallas on June 30 … Was named MLS Player of Week for Week 16 after scoring a goal and providing three assists in a 4-0 home win against the Houston Dynamo on June 22 ... Made a substitute appearance in a 4-0 home win over the LA Galaxy in the Round of 16 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on June 19 ... Recorded an assist in a 2-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on June 12 ... Logged 90 minutes in a 3-2 home loss against LAFC on June 1 … Recorded his seventh assist and third goal of the season in a 3-1 away win against the Philadelphia Union on May 25 … Played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw against the Houston Dynamo on May 15 … Recorded 90 minutes in a 1-0 away loss at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on May 10 … Notched the game-winning goal for Portland, tallying the 70th goal of his MLS career in a 2-1 away win against Real Salt Lake on May 4 … Logged two assists in a 2-1 away win at Toronto FC on April 27 … Recorded his team-leading fourth assist of the season in a 3-1 away win over Columbus Crew SC on April 20 ... Featured 20 minutes off the bench in a 2-1 loss at FC Dallas on April 13 … Played 90 minutes in a 3-0 loss against the San Jose Earthquakes on April 6 ... Started, tallying an assist in a 2-1 loss at LA Galaxy on March 31 ... Started and played 90 minutes in a 3-0 loss at FC Cincinnati on March 17 ... Started, logging his second assist of the season in a 4-1 loss at Los Angeles FC on March 10 ... Made his first appearance of the season, playing 90 minutes, scoring a goal and adding an assist in a 3-3 draw against the Colorado Rapids on March 2.
2018: Started in his second MLS Cup for Portland on Dec. 8, playing 90 minutes in a 2-0 loss against Atlanta United FC …Notched his second brace of the 2018 postseason in a 3-2 win against Sporting Kansas City in the second leg of the Western Conference Championship on Nov. 29 … Made his fourth appearance in the 2018 MLS playoffs, playing 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw against Sporting Kansas City on Nov. 25 ... Recorded the seventh assist of his MLS postseason career in a 4-2 playoff win in penalty kicks against Seattle Sounders FC on Nov. 8 ... Logged an assist in the 2-1 playoff win against Seattle Sounders FC on Nov. 4 ... Scored two goals in a win on the road against FC Dallas, becoming the first Timbers player ever to score a brace in the MLS Cup Playoffs ... Tallied his team-leading 12th assist of the season in a 3-0 home win against Real Salt Lake on Oct. 21 ... Made his 29th start of 2018, tallying a team-high three shots in a 0-0 draw against FC Dallas on Sept. 29 ... Logged 17 minutes off the bench in a 3-2 loss at Minnesota United FC on Sept. 22 ... Started in a 3-2 win over Columbus Crew SC on Sept. 19 ... Started, in a 4-1 loss at the Houston Dynamo on Sept. 15 ... Tallied his 10th goal of the season in a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids on Sept. 8 ... Started in a 2-0 win over Toronto FC on Aug. 29 ... Started played 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Seattle Sounders FC on Aug. 26 ... Logged 81 minutes in a 3-0 loss at Sporting KC on Aug. 18 ... Played 78 minutes in a 4-1 loss against D.C. United on Aug. 15 ... Scored for a second straight game in a 2-1 loss against Vancouver on Aug. 11 ... Recorded his eighth goal and 10th assist of the season in a 3-0 win over the Union on Aug. 4 ... Notched his ninth assist in a 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo on July 28 ... Scored his seventh goal in a 2-2 draw against Montreal on July 21 ... Logged two assists in a 2-1 win over San Jose on July 7 ... Tallied three assists in a 3-2 win over Seattle Sounders FC on June 30 ... Scored for a second straight game in a 1-1 draw against the Galaxy on June 2 ... Scored his fourth goal of the season in a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on May 5 ... Logged an assist for a third straight game in a 3-0 win over NYCFC on April 22 ... Scored for a third straight game in a 3-2 win over Minnesota United on April 14 ... Scored his first goal of the season in a 2-2 draw against Chicago on March 31.
2017: Named the 2017 Landon Donovan MLS MVP after recording 21 goals and 11 assists in league play ... Made his 10th playoff appearance in a 0-0 draw against Houston in the Western Conference Semifinals on Oct. 30 ... Made 32 appearances (32 starts), scoring 21 goals and 11 assists to become the second midfielder in league history to notch at least 20 goals and 10 assists in a season ... Extended his MLS record for consecutive league games (9) with a goal against Orlando City SC on Sept. 24 ... Scored his 50th league goal in a 4-1 loss against Toronto on Aug. 12 ... Scored his 10th goal of the season in a 1-1 draw against Sporting KC on July 1 ... Became the fourth player in Portland’s MLS era to play 10,000 MLS minutes in the team’s match against Sporting Kansas City on April 15 ... Recorded two goals and one assist in the team’s 5-1 win against Minnesota on March 3, earning MLS Player of the Week and Team of the Week honors.
2016: Appeared in 30 regular-season games (30 starts) for the team ... Scored the second-most goals on the team (14), while recording the most assists on the team (7) ... Earned MLS Team of the Week honors three times ... Scored a brace in a 3-1 win against Seattle on July 17 ... Scored a brace and recorded an assist in a 3-2 comeback win against Houston on June 26 ... Scored the opening goal of the season in the team’s 2-1 win against Columbus Crew SC on March 6 ... Started and played 90 minutes in three CONCACAF Champions League matches, scoring two goals.
2015: Started and played all six matches in the MLS Cup Playoffs ... Tallied the game-opening goal, the quickest in MLS Cup history, in a 2-1 win over Columbus Crew SC in MLS Cup on Dec. 6 ... Selected as MLS Cup MVP ... Had four assists in five matches in MLS Cup playoffs, tied for the most in the postseason ... Tallied a pair of assists in the second leg of the Western Conference Championship at FC Dallas on Nov. 29 ... Missed the first leg of the Western Conference Championship due to caution accumulation ... Tallied an assist in Portland's 2-0 win over Vancouver in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals on Nov. 8 ... Played 120 minutes in a 2-2 draw (7-6 win on PKs) against Sporting KC in the Western Conference Knockout Round on Oct. 29, tallying an assist on Portland's opening goal ... Missed regular-season finale due to one-game suspension for caution accumulation ... Tallied his eigth assist of the season in a 5-2 win against the LA Galaxy on Oct. 18 ... Recorded an assist in a 2-1 win against Columbus on Sept. 26 ... Tallied an assist in three consecutive matches Aug. 15-30 ... Netted a goal against Vancouver on July 18 ... Registered an assist in a 1-0 win over San Jose on July 5 ... Recorded an assist in a 4-1 win over Seattle on June 28 ... Registered a goal in a 3-1 win over Seattle in the U.S. Open Cup on June 16 ... Tallied an assist on May 16 at Houston ... Made first start and scored first goal, the game winner, in a 2-1 win over Montreal May 9 ... Made his Timbers season debut, playing 38 minutes May 2 against Vancouver ... Missed first eight games while rehabbing off season ACL surgery.
2014: Set Timbers MLS single-season record marks in goals (11) and assists (14) during the 2014 campaign ... Made 33 appearances (32) starts, logging a team-high 2,762 minutes played among field players ... Sustained a torn left ACL in the first half of the last match of the regular season on Oct. 25 against FC Dallas ... Underwent successful surgery and is expected to miss at least five months ... During the season, became the Timbers MLS career leader in goals (21) and assists (27) ... Was named the Players' Player of the Year and Supporters' Player of the Year, along with earning the team's Golden Boot ... Ranked tied for second in the league with 14 assists during the regular season, a mark which tied the Timbers all-time single-season record across all eras with Ring of Honor member John Bain (14, 1980) ... Became the first Timbers MLS player to register double-digit goals and assists in consecutive seasons ... Registered a goal in a Timbers MLS record four consecutive matches (July 18-Aug. 9) ... Was named to the roster for the MLS AT&T All-Star Game and delivered the game-winning assist in a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich on Aug. 6 at Providence Park ... Was named the NASR MLS Player of the Week in Week 31 ... Was a four-time MLS Team of the Week selection (Weeks 22, 26, 28, 31) ... Made CONCACAF Champions League debut, playing 45 minutes at C.D. Olimpia on Oct. 21 ... Tallied an assist in three straight games May 28- June 7 ... Netted the latest goal in Timbers MLS history, scoring the equalizer in the 95th minute of a 1-1 draw against LA May 11 ... From May 3 until the end of the season, never went more than two games without registering at least one point.
2013: Played in 31 games (28 starts) during the regular season - his first in Portland and in MLS - and finished as the club's Golden Boot winner with 10 goals and a league-best 13 assists ... Became the first Timbers MLS player to record double-digit totals in goals and assists, set the club's MLS record for goals, assists and points (33) in a single season ... At season's end was selected to the 2013 MLS Best XI and the league's Newcomer of the Year ... Named an MLS All-Star through a vote of MLS players and was selected to the inactive roster for the 2013 AT&T MLS All-Star Game ... Was a seven-time selection to MLSsoccer.com's Team of the Week in Weeks 1, 11, 15, 25, 26, 30 and 35 ... Matched a Timbers MLS club record by registering an assist in four consecutive games July 27-Aug. 21, which also tied for the longest streak of consecutive games with an assist in MLS in 2013 ... Directly factored in on nine straight goals (2 goals, 7 assists) across all competitions for the Timbers from July 13-Aug. 21 ... Logged four multi-assist performances during the regular season ... Recorded a club-record five points, with two goals and one assist, on Oct. 26 as part of a 5-0 win against Chivas USA ... Recorded the Timbers' 100th assist as an MLS club as part of a 2-1 win against the LA Galaxy on July 13 at JELD-WEN Field ... Became the fourth player in Timbers MLS history to score in his debut game, tallying a goal March 3 in the season opener vs. New York ... His first MLS goal was named the MLS Goal of the Week, the first of four Goal of the Week honors won during the regular season ... His debut goal against New York was also one of four finalists for MLS Goal of the Year ... Played in three matches during the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, helping the club reach the semifinals – its deepest run in the U.S. Open Cup in club history ... Scored the go-ahead goal for the Timbers in a 3-2 road win against FC Dallas on June 26 in the quarterfinal, and scored the club's lone goal in a 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake in the semifinal Aug. 7 ... His two goals in U.S. Open Cup play were second-most on the team ... Started all four of the club's matches in the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs ... Scored a goal in the 44th minute of a 3-2 win against Seattle Sounders FC in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals on Nov. 7 at JELD-WEN Field.
CAREER: Between 2012-13, he appeared in 16 league matches for Club Atlético Lanús, scoring two goals during the Inicial phase of Argentina’s Primera División … Tallied in the 87th minute of a 2-0 win over Boca Juniors on Sept. 23 … Scored in a 2-1 victory against San MartÃn on Nov. 15, finding the back of the net in the 32nd minute … Lanús finished the tournament in fourth place with a 10-5-4 (34pts) record ... In 2011-12, he played in 28 matches during the season for Lanús … Scored three goals during the Apertura campaign … Logged 75 minutes in the club’s First Stage match of the 2011 Copa Sudamericana against Godoy Cruz on Sept. 7, 2011 … Also played in all eight of the club’s games during the 2012 Copa Libertadores … Scored a goal in a 6-0 victory over Olimpia on April 3, 2012 … Lanús reached the Round of 16 before falling in a penalty-kick shootout to Brazil’s Vasco da Gama. Opened the 2010-11 season on loan to Spanish side UD AlmerÃa and played in nine La Liga matches … Returned to Argentina and captained Lanús to a second-place finish in the Clausura tournament with a record of 10-4-5 (35 pts.) … Started all 18 of his Primera División appearances and matched a career-best with eight goals … Notched four goals in three matches Feb. 14-26, 2011, including a brace in a 2-1 win over Quilmes on Feb. 26 … Tallied in consecutive matches leading to wins over Huracán (3-0) on May 30 and Independiente (2-1) on June 6 ... Spent the 2009-10 season with top-flight Portuguese club FC Porto … Made 12 league appearances (2 starts) in Portugal’s La Liga, contributing to a third-place finish in the table … Appeared in two UEFA Champions League fixtures, both group matches against Spain’s Atlético Madrid … Was a 90th-minute substitute in a 2-0 win on Sept. 30, 2009, and started in a 3-0 victory Dec. 8, 2009 ... Between 2008-09, he appeared in 27 league games for Lanús in the Primera División, registering two goals … Scored the opening goal of a 2-1 win over Colón SF on March 14, 2009 … Contributed to a 5-1 victory over Independiente April 5, 2009, with a goal in the 12th minute … Played in four matches during the 2009 Copa Libertadores, recording one assist ... Had a 2007-08 breakout season, scoring eight goals in 26 matches during league play for Lanús … Aided in Lanús winning its first Primera División championship with a first-place finish in the Apertura tournament at 11-3-5 (38pts) … Recorded one goal and three assists over nine matches during the 2008 Copa Libertadores as Lanús reached the Round of 16 against Mexico’s Atlas … Lanús was the only club to go unbeaten (2-0-4) during the group stage of 2008 tournament ... During the 2006-07 season, he started 14 of his 20 league appearances for Lanús, his fourth season with the club … Appeared in all four of the club’s matches during the 2007 Copa Sudamericana, playing 336 minutes and recording an assist as Lanús reach the tournament’s Round of 16 ... Made just seven league appearances during the 2005-06 season for Lanús … Scored his lone goal of the season Nov. 20, 2005, tallying the third goal of a 3-0 win over Colón SF … Also saw action in four of the club’s six matches during the 2006 Copa Sudamericana, scoring one goal … Lanús reached the tournament’s quarterfinal against Mexican club Pachuca ... In 2004-05, played in 13 league matches for Lanús and scored his first professional goal ... Began his professional career in 2003-04 with his hometown club, Lanús, after spending time in its development system … Made his professional debut Sept. 27, 2003, at the age of 18 in a draw against Vélez Sarsfield and finished the season having played in three matches – all as a substitute.
HONORS: MLS is Back Tournament in 2020 ... MLS Cup with Portland in 2015 ... MLS MVP with Portland in 2017 ... MLS Best XI with Portland in 2013, 2014 and 2017 ... MLS All Star with Portland in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 ... MLS Newcomer of the Year with Portland in 2013.
INTERNATIONAL: Has three caps (all starts) with the Argentina National Team … Earned his first cap March 16, 2011, playing the full 90 of a 4-1 victory in a friendly against Venezuela … Started and played 90 minutes of a friendly against Ecuador on April 20, 2011, which finished in a 2-2 draw … Featured in a 4-2 win over Paraguay on May 25, 2011, helping Argentina win the Copa Chaco – a friendly competition.
PERSONAL: A native of ValentÃn Alsina, Argentina, he and his wife Florencia and daughter Connie, actively participate in charity organizations in the community, such as Portland Timbers' own Stand Together as well as Children’s Book Bank, a project that distributes books for children in need.