Diego Chara extends Portland Timbers contract thru 2024

The Portland Timbers have prolonged the contract of iconic midfielder and club captain Diego Chara.

Chara has played extra MLS normal-season video games (310) and mins (27,203) than each person else in Timbers records seeing that becoming a member of as the club's first-ever Designated Player in 2011.

During that point, he's helped Portland win MLS Cup in 2015, reach other finals (2018 and 2021), and win the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020.

Despite accomplishing 35 years antique, the Colombian is displaying little signs and symptoms of slowing down. Just remaining season, Chara carried out 717 pressures on competition players - at least 227 greater than any teammate - while popping out second among Portland players for recoveries (218) and interceptions (fifty five).

Chara - whose more youthful brother, Yimmi, additionally performs for the Timbers - has now placed pen to paper on a contract that'll hold him at Providence Park thru 2024.

“We are extremely joyful to extend Diego’s agreement and look ahead to many extra years of his pleasant performances that we've emerge as so aware of,” Timbers preferred manager and president of football Gavin Wilkinson said in a launch.

“The Timbers are pretty lucky to have Diego on this club and admire his vast contributions to this corporation on and off the field. We also want to thank his incredible wife and their circle of relatives for the endless sacrifices they have got made in supporting Diego and the Portland Timbers through the years.”

Head instruct Giovanni Savarese commented at the "immeasurable" impact Chara's leadership has on his aspect.

“The position that Diego Chara has on this team is immeasurable. He is our captain and leader, and we couldn’t be greater excited to have him with us for the subsequent three years,” Savarese said. “We’re fairly grateful for his dedication and ongoing tough paintings to this group.”

With Chara's destiny tied down, the Timbers will keep to prepare for the start of their 2022 campaign, kicking off at home to 2021 Supporters' Shield winners New England Revolution on February 26.