Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Chara has announced he will retire from the club after Major League Soccer's sprint season next spring, closing out a tenure that already stands as the longest with a single club in MLS history.
Chara, 40, has played 450 league matches for the Timbers since joining them in their inaugural MLS season in 2011. He is now in his 16th season with the club and says he still believes he has more to give before stepping away.
"I think the performance I had during the season gave me that confidence, and as well the support of my teammates, coaching staff, by the club, too, that gave me the strength to continue," Chara said in announcing his decision Monday.
MLS is set to play a 14-game regular season in early 2027 before shifting to a schedule more aligned with other major leagues around the world. The sprint season will run from February to May, with each of the league's 30 teams playing 14 games against conference opponents before single-elimination playoffs. The league will then move into a 2027-28 season starting in July, with the playoffs and league championship taking place in May 2028.
Chara, who arrived in MLS after playing professionally in his native Colombia, is regarded as one of the league's defining figures. He holds the all-time MLS record for career yellow cards, with 130.
"Being for this long with the team, being one of the so-called original Timbers, I think this is the best way to finish this career," Chara said.
During his time in Portland, the Timbers won the 2015 MLS championship, three Western Conference titles and the MLS is Back tournament in 2020. The club has also twice finished as MLS Cup runners-up, in 2018 and 2021.
Timbers coach Martí Cifuentes praised Chara's longevity and professionalism. "Loyalty in football is not easy to achieve, and to do it for that long time speaks by itself," Cifuentes said. "But then having the opportunity to work with him in a daily basis has been fantastic. His level of professionalism, how much he cares for the teammates, for the organization, for the club, on the pitch, he's amazing."
Portland currently sits 10-14-7 and in 11th place in the Western Conference, below the playoff line with three games left in the regular season. The club has gone through changes this year, including the dismissal of coach Phil Neville and the hiring of Cifuentes, with Chara remaining a constant presence throughout.
"I grew up with the team, you know, together from the first year in MLS, making the first final, being a champion with the team. I mean, too many good phases and a lot of good memories," Chara said. "I think it has been a great journey with the team."
