Diego Chara

Before signing as the Timbers’ first Designated Player on April 13, 2011, Chara was a dependable playmaker for eight seasons in Colombia’s top flight, the Liga Postobón. With Deportes Tolima, he helped orchestrate one of the most prolific offenses in the league in 2010, as the club tallied a league-best 88 goals.

2012: Started all 28 of his regular-season apearances and logged an MLS-career high 2,473 minutes in his second season in Portland ... At season’s end, was named the Players’ Player of the Year and the Supporters’ Player of the Year ... Chosen as one of 32 finalists for FutbolMLS.com’s 2012 Latino del Ano ... Played the full 90 in all but three of his appearances during the season ... Ranked second among league leaders with 72 fouls committed, setting the Timbers’ MLS club mark for fouls in a single season ... Wore the captain’s armband during a 2-1 victory over Chicago May 20 ... Owns the Timbers’ MLS record for consecutive starts by a field player, starting 27 straight matches from Aug. 14, 2011 to June 30, 2012 ... Earned honorable mention on the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week for his efforts in a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas on Aug. 5 ... Played in his 50th match for the club on Aug. 19 at New York, becoming just the fourth player in the Timbers’ MLS history to reach the milestone ... Missed three matches after sustaining an adductor strain Sept. 15 against Seattle Sounders FC.

2011: Became the first Designated Player in Timbers MLS history, signing April 13 ... Made his club debut April 23 at LA Galaxy, coming on as a second-half sub ... Started his next 27 appearances ... Recorded his first MLS goal in a 2-1 win over Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC, scoring the quickest goal in Timbers MLS history in just the second minute of play ... Finished fourth on the team in points (8) and fifth in minutes logged (2,401) ... Recorded the game-winning assist in the first MLS match at BC Place, setting up Kenny Cooper’s goal to beat Whitecaps FC 1-0 on Oct. 2 ... Prior to joining the Timbers, scored two goals in nine games for Colombia first-division club De­portes Tolima during the 2011 Apertura season ... Played in seven matches in 2011 Copa Libertadores play, recording an assist in a 2-0 win over Brazilian power Corinthians.

2010: Transferred to Deportes Tolima ... Helped orchestrate one of the most prolific offenses in the Liga Postobón (Colombia’s first division) that season, as Tolima scored a league-best 88 goals ... Played in a team-high 42 matches for Tolima, aiding in a first-place overall finish for the club with a combined 25-10-11 record, which subsequently qualified the club for the 2011 Copa Libertadores ... Started six games in the 2010 Copa Sudamericana, as Tolima reached the quarterfinal before falling on penalty kicks to Argentina’s Independiente.

CAREER: Started his professional career at the age of 17 with Deportes Quindío in 2004 and appeared in 206 league matches over eight seasons in Colombia’s first division, playing for Quindío (2004-08), América de Cali (2009) and Tolima (2010-11) ... Played in at least 30 matches in five of his seven seasons in the Liga Postobón ... Paced América de Cali in both games and minutes played during a stand­out season in 2009, while guiding an offense that scored 44 total goals in 36 games ... Appeared in 30 games during his final season with Quindío in 2008, in which he aided in a postseason appearance for the club ... Has competed in two of South America’s top tournaments in the Copa Libertadores – in 2009 with América de Cali and 2011 with Tolima – and the Copa Sudamericana.

INTERNATIONAL: Was recalled by the Colombian National Team for a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bolivia on Oct. 11, 2011, and played the final 21 minutes as a sub in a 2-1 win ... Made his senior international debut for the Colombian National Team on Nov. 17, 2010, starting a friendly against Peru in Bogota, Colombia.

PERSONAL: With the Timbers, is reunited with countryman Jorge Perlaza, whom he has known since he was 12 and has played with previously.