PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Pilots Men's Soccer announced on Thursday the addition of Portland Timbers and Major League Soccer legend Diego Valeri to the support staff. Valeri signs on as the Director of Player Development.
"I'm proud to join the Portland Pilots family and support a program with such a strong tradition of excellence," Valeri said on joining the staff. "Portland is a city I deeply love and my home, and soccer has always connected me to its people. I'm excited to stay involved with the community, to help create opportunities for young players to grow on and off the field and to be part of the next generations of the game."
"Diego Valeri is a top-class human being who's always inspired the Rose City," Portland head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt said. "From his magical moments and championship MVP performances to his deeply rooted community involvement, he's ingrained himself in the fabric of the Portland soccer culture. Diego represents all the special things about our wonderful city."
Valeri is one of the most accomplished players in MLS history, having played with the Timbers from 2013 to 2021 and then officially retiring with the club in 2023. He posted 86 goals and 91 assists in 262 career games (230 starts) and another six goals and eight assists in the MLS playoffs across 22 games (18 starts). He is the Timbers all-time leading scorer.
Valeri led the Timbers to their first and only MLS Cup in 2015 as well as Western Conference Titles in both 2018 and 2021. He scored the fastest goal in MLS Cup history, doing so in 27 seconds, helping Portland secure their first and only title. Valeri was also part of the Timbers squad that won the MLS is Back Tournament, which marked the first major tournament following the COVID-19 global pandemic.
He was named the Landon Donovan MLS MVP in 2017 and earned MLS Best XI honors three times in his career. In 2020, he was highlighted as one of the 25 best players in MLS history in celebration of the 25
th season of Major League Soccer.
"As a player, Diego was a leader and match-winner known for his incredible skill and magic. However, I'm most impressed by his humility and team first mentality which fits the values of our program which are rooted in teaching and development," Carlin-Voigt said. "He's already hit the ground running and is a great addition to our staff. Diego has a high soccer IQ and will add enormous value as a special advisor and player development coordinator as we grow our program to become the best version of ourselves. Welcome, Diego, to the Portland soccer family!"
"The first time Nick invited me to a training session, I immediately felt a strong connection with him, his staff and the whole team," Valeri said. "I loved the working environment and the team culture, and I realized it was a place where I'd like to share my experiences, bringing my perspective on the game — to focus on technical details, creativity and decision-making. I believe these are the tools that help players not only to compete, but to enjoy football at the highest level."
The Pilots are off to a hot start this season, currently ranked ninth in the latest United Soccer Coaches Top 25 rankings. They are one of four teams in the nation currently sitting at 5-0-0 and are one of just nine to have not allowed a goal yet this season. They lead the nation in points (57), goals (18) and assists (21) and goal differential (18) and are second and third respectively in assists per game (4.20) and goals per game (3.60). Their 5-0-0 start with all clean sheets is their first since 1988, and their plus-18 goal differential is the best through five games in program history.
The Pilots face a big test on the road against the No. 24 Saint Louis Billikens, taking them on this Friday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.
Get Your Tickets Now!
Secure your spot now for any upcoming Portland Pilots ticketed home event by visiting
PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or by downloading the Portland Pilots App. For group and fan experience package information, email
pilotsboxoffice@up.edu.
Donate Today
Fans interested in making a contribution to University of Portland Athletics can do so by
clicking here. Your gift helps our over 300 student-athletes compete at the highest level – on and off the field - in the rapidly changing world of intercollegiate athletics. All gifts to Pilot Athletics are 100% tax deductible.
Follow Along With the Action
Get the latest news and information about your favorite University of Portland athletic programs by visiting
PortlandPilots.com. You can also follow along for the most dynamic coverage and team-centric content by following us on
Twitter, liking us on
Facebook, and following us on
Instagram.
