Chara breaks MLS record for most appearances with a single club
April 23, 2011.
That was the date when midfielder Diego Chara first stepped on a pitch in a Portland Timbers uniform.
Announced as the club’s first-ever Designated Player signing only 10 days earlier, the Colombian had starred in the Liga Postobón and was described as having a tireless work ethic, great speed and exceptional technical ability.
John Spencer, the club’s first-ever head coach, said at the time, “I believe that [Chara] will not only make us a better team, but once we get him accustomed to the league, culture and system, I believe he could be one of the best midfielders in the league.”
It was a prescient statement for the player Chara would become.
On Saturday, 376 MLS games later and 14 seasons after Chara appeared as a halftime substitute in a match against the LA Galaxy, the club legend started for the Timbers in a 3-2 away loss to Los Angeles FC, breaking the MLS record for most regular-season appearances with one club (377). Chara also set a new MLS record for most games started for one club in league history (370).
For Chara, despite receiving two yellow cards and an acommpanying red in the match, he was proud of the accomplishment, but also selfless in his thoughts about it.
"Talking about, in particular, this game, I'm a little bit sad because it wasn't the result we were looking for," he said. "But on the other hand, I think in talking about the personal and individual, I feel really proud of myself because it has been a lot of emotion. It has been a lot of different situations along this MLS career with the Timbers and I'm just happy to break the record."
Down 2-0 at the half, Portland fought back to tie the game with two second-half goals before suffering the eventual deciding goal late in second-half stoppage time. Chara was active throughout, with a key moment early in the second half that saw him sprint back some 50 yards to overtake LAFC foward Denis Bouanga and make an adeptly skilled tackle inside Portland's own penalty area.
Timbers head coach Phil Neville called out the play in his postgame comments.
"[It] showed the conviction, the commitment, the discipline and the concentration to get back and take the ball off [Bouanga]," he said of Chara's play. "That’s why he’s played football at the highest level for so long. It’s the difference between good and great.
"It’s an honor to coach him, to have him as part of our group. He’s disappointed, he feels he's let the team down, but he’s carried this football club for the last 10, 12, 13 years."
There’s a unique symmetry that has Chara breaking the records – previously held by San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski (for appearances) and Nick Rimando (for starts) – in the same city where he began his career for Portland. Since that spring evening against the Galaxy in 2011, Major League Soccer has grown to include an entirely new team in the City of Angels.
For Chara, his time in MLS has also grown and expanded to include numerous accomplishments earned in becoming one of the best midfielders in the league.
Western Conference Championships in 2015, 2018 and 2021. An MLS is Back Tournament win in 2020. An MLS All-Star nod in 2019 and an MLS Best XI selection in 2020. Timbers Army’s Supporters’ Player of the Year in 2012 and 2015. And, of course, an MLS Cup title in 2015.
Whether described as a box-to-box midfielder, a destroyer, a six, an eight or all of the above, Chara has been a lynchpin to how the game flows for Portland. The MLS all-time leader in fouls committed, Chara plays with a gritty verve – and an ever-present smile – that compliments his talent and calm demeanor.
That constant quality has made him a crowd favorite in the Rose City while he has also been happy to make Portland a home for his family.
"At the beginning, it was difficult to adapt to the culture, language and everything," he said. "But I think that I found people who helped me, helped my family to adapt to the city, to everything. I think to receive the support from the fans to the team, it makes me really happy and pushes me to give everything on the field."
Chara, now 38, miraculously still plays the game with the same energy and skill without having not missed a step. If anything, he’s gotten better.
Neville – himself no stranger to top central midfielders across his own glittering playing career that saw him star for Manchester United, Everton and England – recognizes Chara’s impact on the game, but also his quiet, workman-like manner in which he goes about his play.
“Diego never speaks about himself or his records or what he's achieved,” he said. “I think that's the biggest thing about Diego – he's so humble.
“He's not in this for personal glory…he puts the team before himself. And I think that's his biggest quality.”
For Chara, it's all part of the job.
"I always just try to do my best on the field," he says. "To just to push my teammates to perform well every game, And in feeling the same passion when I started my professional career until now, I think it's amazing.
"I'm always try to improve myself, and I think that helped me to continue pushing."
