Portland Timbers legend Diego Valeri signed a one-day contract with the club on Friday, the team announced, in order to retire as a Timber.
Valeri, 37, will enter the Timbers ring of honor on Saturday prior to the team’s match against the Columbus Crew. The most decorated player in team history, Valeri will be the first person from the MLS era to enter the team’s ring of honor.
“When I first came to Portland, the most important thing to me was to honor the club’s history and bring the highest prestige to the Timbers,” Valeri said in a release. “Today, returning to retire a Portland Timber, I feel fulfilled about my journey and adventure with the club and am so thankful for the love the city gave to me.”
Valeri spent nine seasons with the Timbers, from 2013-21, winning Portland’s lone MLS Cup in 2015 and earning MLS MVP honors in 2017. He had 100 goals and 104 assists in 306 appearances (265 starts) across all competitions for the Timbers.
At the end of the 2021 season, Valeri was transferred to boyhood club Lanús in Argentina to wrap his playing career. He appeared in nine matches and scored one goal before stepping away from the game.
Valeri told The Oregonian/OregonLive that a testimonial match between Portland and Lanús is now targeted for January 2024, during MLS preseason. Valeri would play one half for each team during the friendly.
“It is only fitting that Diego Valeri will officially retire a Portland Timber,” Timbers owner Merritt Paulson said in the release. “He gave so much to our club and we can never give back what he has given us. It will be amazing for fans to have the opportunity to recognize Diego publicly Saturday when we induct him into the ring of honor.”
Portland vs. Columbus kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Providence Park, with a live stream available on the Apple TV app with a subscription to MLS Season Pass. Valeri’s induction into the ring of honor will occur during a pregame ceremony, and there will be a halftime ceremony honoring Valeri as well.
-- Ryan Clarke, rclarke@oregonian.com, Twitter: @RyanTClarke