Diego Valeri

Diego Hernan Valeri (born 1 May 1986) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Argentine Primera Division club Club Atletico Lanus.

From 2013 to 2021, Valeri played for Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers, and is regarded as one of the league's greatest players of all time, as well as the greatest player in Portland Timbers history. Valeri was named the MLS Cup Most Valuable Player after he led the Timbers to win MLS Cup 2015. He was later presented as the MLS MVP following his career-setting 2017 season. While in Major League Soccer, Valeri was selected into the MLS All-Star team four times and was included three times in the MLS Best XI.

Valeri began his career with his boyhood club Lanus. Promoted to the first team by head coach Miguel Angel Brindisi, Valeri made his Primera Division debut in September 2003 against Velez Sarsfield. He soon broke into the starting line-up more consistently, having his breakout season in 2007–08, helping Lanus to the Torneo Apertura title. In 2009, Valeri joined Portuguese club Porto on loan for the 2009–10 season, helping the club win the Taca de Portugal. The next season, Valeri was loaned out to Spanish club Almeria, where his loan was eventually ended early in December 2010.

In August 2012, Valeri and his family were victims in an armed robbery in Lanus. The incident lead to Valeri instructing his agent to pursue a move abroad more aggressively. In January 2013, Valeri joined the Portland Timbers on loan for the 2013 season. The deal was eventually made permanent in August 2013. In his debut season, Valeri helped the club top the Western Conference standings, earning him the MLS Newcomer of the Year award. In December 2015, he scored the opening goal for the Timbers' after 27 seconds against the Columbus Crew in MLS Cup 2015.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Диего Валери (russian)