Sports
Diego Chara will end 16-season Timbers career after 2027 spring campaign
Portland captain Diego Chara, 40, says he will retire after the Timbers finish the 2027 MLS Sprint Season in May. His departure will close a career that began with the club’s first MLS season and includes more than 400 appearances.
Portland Timbers captain and midfielder Diego Chara plans to retire in May 2027, when the team completes the MLS Sprint Season, he announced Monday at a press conference in Portland.
Chara, 40, will finish his 16th season with the Timbers before Major League Soccer shifts to a summer-to-spring calendar. He said he had been considering what would come next as he got older, and that he believes the timing is right.
The Colombian joined Portland in 2011, the year the Timbers began playing in MLS, as the club’s first designated player. He has made more than 400 appearances for Portland and holds the league record for most seasons played with one team. Chara was named an MLS All-Star in 2019 and has represented Colombia twice internationally.
During his tenure, Portland won the MLS Cup in 2015 and Western Conference titles in 2015, 2018 and 2021. Head coach Martí Cifuentes said Chara’s long-term commitment was rare in professional soccer and called him an important figure for the club.
Cifuentes said Chara’s early announcement gives the team time to consider who will succeed him as captain, though replacing his leadership will be a challenge. Chara said he hopes to learn new skills after retiring while remaining involved in soccer.