PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri underwent successful surgery to repair a torn left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), it was announced today. Timbers chief medical officer Dr. Richard Edelson performed the procedure Monday evening at the Oregon Outpatient Surgery Center in Tigard, Ore.
Valeri will begin rehabilitation immediately with Timbers sports medicine staff at Providence Park and at the Providence Sports Care Center. He is expected to miss at least five months.
In his second season with the Timbers, Valeri, 28, played in 33 games (32 starts), establishing Timbers MLS-club single-season record marks with 11 goals and 14 assists, including three multi-assist performances. A contender for MLS Most Valuable Player, Valeri was named a 2014 MLS All-Star and delivered the game-winning assist in a 2-1 victory over FC Bayern Munich on Aug. 6 at Providence Park. Valeri was a four-time selection to the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week in 2014 and earned NASR MLS Player of the Week honors in Week 31 following a brace in a 3-0 win against the San Jose Earthquakes on Oct. 8.
