Press Release
TIMBERS ANNOUNCE 2014 CLUB AWARDS
Valeri, Chara, Ridgewell, Powell named award recipients
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced their club awards for the 2014 Major League Soccer season. In total, eight major awards were announced as the club recognized achievements, performances and moments from the 2014 regular season.
Players’ Player of the Year – Diego Valeri
Midfielder Diego Valeri was named the 2014 Players’ Player of the Year following a campaign that saw him register MLS-club single-season record marks in goals (11) and assists (14). Valeri became the first Timbers MLS player to compile consecutive seasons with at least 10 or more goals and assists, while tying the Timbers all-time single-season record in assists across all eras. Appearing in 33 matches (32 starts), Valeri tallied three multi-assist games, including three assists in a single match twice during the season (June 1 vs. Vancouver, Sept. 7 vs. San Jose). Building an impressive stretch during his second season in MLS, Valeri tied a Timbers MLS-club record by scoring a goal in four straight matches from July 18-Aug. 9 and never went more than two games without at least a goal or an assist from May 3 until the end of the season.
Supporters’ Player of the Year – Diego Valeri
Voted on by supporters and presented at the regular-season home finale on Oct. 17, Valeri was named the 2014 Supporters’ Player of the Year. A contender for MLS Most Valuable Player, Valeri’s 36 points (11g, 14a) ranks as the third-most points in a single season in Timbers history across all eras. Playing a factor in nearly half of Portland’s 31 goals over the last 15 matches of the regular season, Valeri tallied a team high four game-winning goals and notched the game-tying assist for the MLS All-Stars in a 2-1 win over Bayern Munich on Aug. 6 at Providence Park.
Golden Boot – Diego Valeri
Valeri was awarded the Golden Boot as the club’s leading goal-scorer in 2014. It is the second consecutive season in which Valeri has earned the honor, finishing the 2014 campaign with MLS-club single-season record marks in goals (11) and assists (14). With a brace in a 3-0 win over San Jose on Oct. 8 at Providence Park, Valeri surpassed his own Timbers MLS-club single-season mark (10, set in 2013) with his 10th and 11th goals of the season. Valeri finished the year tied with Timbers Ring of Honor member John Bain for the most assists in a single-season (14) across all eras.
Unsung Hero – Diego Chara
Midfielder Diego Chara was awarded the Timbers Unsung Hero. Chara finished the regular season ranked second overall among all MLS players in tackles (138) and tackles won (118). In his fourth MLS season with Portland, Chara set individual MLS career-highs with five assists and nine points, while tying his MLS career high in goals (2) and becoming the first Timbers MLS player to surpass 10,000 minutes played for the club on Sept. 27 against Toronto FC. According to Opta, Chara’s 10 tackles won on March 16 against Chicago and June 1 against Vancouver set the mark for most successful tackles in a regular-season game during the 2014 campaign.
Play of the Year – Diego Valeri volley vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC Sept. 20
The 2014 Timbers Play of the Year was awarded to Valeri’s tremendous left-footed volley from near the penalty spot against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sept. 20 at Providence Park. In the 28th minute, defender Jorge Villafaña whipped the ball into the penalty area from the left flank. In one smooth, fluid movement before the ball even touched the ground, Valeri cleanly volleyed the ball out of the air and into net past goalkeeper David Ousted. Valeri’s goal helped guide the Timbers to a 3-0 win over Whitecaps FC before a nationally televised audience. His goal was voted by fans as the MLS Goal of the Week in Week 28. Coming in a close second-place was midfielder Will Johnson’s left-footed volley off an impressive juggled pass from forward Fanendo Adi on June 1 in a match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Providence Park. The goal was voted MLS Goal of the Week in Week 13.
Defender of the Year – Liam Ridgewell
Defender Liam Ridgewell was named the Timbers Defender of the Year after joining the team on June 25 and making an immediate impact. After making his MLS debut on July 18against the Colorado Rapids, Ridgewell went on to start and play the full 90 minutes in 15 consecutive matches for the Timbers, helping the team to an 8-3-4 record and six clean sheets during that span. Displaying his ability on the offensive end, Ridgewell netted his first career MLS goal, the game-tying goal in a 1-1 draw against the New England Revolution on Aug. 16. He scored his first goal in front of the home fans at Providence Park on Sept. 7 against San Jose and finished the season with two goals and one assist over his 15 games played.
Community Player of the Year – Diego Chara
Chara contributed greatly to the Timbers community outreach efforts in 2014 and was named the Community Player of the Year. He generously lent his time to numerous appearances and camps over the course of the season, participating in a variety of events and activities. Showing commitment to the Portland community through participation in the Somos Timbers Bilingual Reporter program, assistance at a number of soccer camps and speaking to a group of Latino families regarding the importance of education, Chara also spent time supporting his home in Colombia. He met with a group of Colombian coaches visiting Portland through the Mercy Corps Sport 4 Change program and, with the help of adidas, delivered Timbers kits to his local neighborhood teams while helping promote Mercy Corps programs in Bogotá.
Up-and-Coming Player of the Year – Alvas Powell
Defender Alvas Powell was named the club’s Up-and-Coming Player of the Year for the second consecutive year in 2014. Joining the club midway through 2013, Powell appeared in an MLS career-high 15 games (11 starts) in his second season in Portland. Powell tallied his first career MLS goal on Aug. 30 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, becoming the second youngest player to score in the team’s MLS era (20 yrs., 44 days). The Jamaican international finished with two goals and two assists, starting eight of the final nine regular-season matches in 2014.
Timbers U-23s Player of the Year – Kharlton Belmar
Forward Kharlton Belmar was named the 2014 Timbers U-23s Player of the Year. A standout player on a talented squad, Belmar played in a team-high 14 matches during the 2014 Premier Development League (PDL) regular season, scoring eight goals and earning PDL All-Western Conference honors. The Virginia Commonwealth University forward was named to the PDL Team of the Week in Week 7.
Timbers Academy Player of the Year (2013-14) – Jesse Garcia-Aguilar
Midfielder Jesse Garcia-Aguilar was awarded the Timbers Academy Player of the Year for the 2013-14 season. A local Portland product, Garcia-Aguilar played in 23 games (20 starts) for the Timbers U-18 Academy during the 2013-14 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, scoring four goals and helping the side reach the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs for the first time. Signing with the University of Akron, Garcia-Aguilar also appeared in five matches, logging 254 minutes, for the Timbers Reserves during the 2013 MLS Reserve League campaign, and made an appearance for the Timbers first-team during a friendly against Mexican club Monarcas Morelia on July 3, 2013.
Timbers ODP Boys Coach of the Year – Brett Jacobs
Brett Jacobs was named the Timbers ODP Boys Coach of the Year. An outstanding coach, Jacobs helped guide the 2000 Boys ODP squad last year. Two of the players on Jacobs’ team earned call-ups to the Under-14 U.S. National Team training camp in August 2014 and Jacobs had more than 12 players selected to the ODP Region IV Team. His 2000 Boys ODP team also finished third at the ODP Regional Championships in Phoenix and won the Timbers Friendship Cup tournament in May.
Timbers ODP Boys Player of the Year – Adrian Villegas
Adrian Villegas was named the Timbers ODP Boys Player of the Year for 2014. A promising young talent from Hood River, Ore., Villegas was named player of the tournament at the FC Bayern Munich 7v7 Youth tournament in Germany and earned a call-up to the Under-14 U.S. National Team training camp in August after a standout year with the Timbers ODP side. Villegas is now playing with the Timbers U-16 Academy team.
Timbers/Thorns FC ODP Girls Coach of the Year – Kevin Plechl
Kevin Plechl was named the Timbers/Thorns FC ODP Girls Coach of the Year. Plechl has been involved with Timbers/Thorns FC ODP for more than eight years and he took the 1998 Girls ODP group to Phoenix last year and finished in fourth place at the ODP Regional Championships despite having several top players miss the tournament due to injury. Getting the most out of his players each year, Plechl has sent more than 40 players to the ODP regional pool in his time with Timbers/Thorns FC ODP.
Timbers/Thorns FC ODP Girls Player of the Year – Katie Duong
The Timbers/Thorns FC ODP Girls Player of the Year was awarded to Katie Duong. Duong is one of the top 2001 age-group players in the country and is a member of the Under-14 U.S. Girls National Team player pool. Despite playing up with the Timbers/Thorns FC ODP 2000 age group, Duong made the ODP regional pool for the 2000 age group the last two years. She helped the 2000 Timbers ODP group to a third-place finish in Phoenix last year at the ODP Regional Championships and led her team to a first-place finish in the Timbers Friendship Cup in May.
Timbers Camp Coach of the Year – Luis Silva-Lara
Luis Silva-Lara was selected as the Timbers Camp Coach of the Year, coaching close to 10 camps over the course of the year. Silva-Lara’s energy, passion and excellence on the field each day was a great example for all Timbers camp staff coaches and his instruction consistently received great feedback.
Thank you for reading. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and @LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for?
Feel free to discuss this and other footy related articles with thousands at r/football.
