PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced the club has signed former midfielder Rodney Wallace to a one-day contract to officially retire as a Timber. Wallace will be recognized on the field prior to Sunday’s match against the Seattle Sounders at Providence Park.
“Thinking back on my career, I realized that retiring as a Timber was the best way for me to respect what the organization has done for me and what I was able to do for the club, the city, and the fans,” said midfielder Rodney Wallace. “Winning an MLS Cup is my biggest accomplishment to date, and I’m proud to have been a part of that.”
Acquired by the Timbers in a trade with D.C. United on Nov. 24, 2010 in exchange for Dax McCarty, Wallace was a member of the Timbers’ inaugural MLS season in 2011. He made 129 appearances (101 starts) for the team over five seasons (2011-2015), tallying 18 goals and 20 assists. Notably, the Costa Rican international was awarded the MLS Comeback Player of the Year in 2014.
"Rodney Wallace gave so much to our club. Having him make the choice to retire a Timber is something that is tremendously meaningful to me personally and is testament to the quality experience many players have with us,” said Timbers owner and CEO Merritt Paulson. “Also doing this before a Seattle game is fitting. Few Timbers ‘gutted the fish’ like Rodney!”
Wallace helped the team to playoff runs in 2013 and 2015. He made a significant impact in the 2015 MLS Playoffs, scoring the first goal in the infamous knockout-round match against Sporting Kansas City that resulted in PKs, and recorded the game winner in the Timbers 2-1 MLS Cup win over the Columbus Crew SC.
“First and foremost, I want to thank Rodney for everything he gave this club and for recognizing the club by deciding to retire a Timbers player,” said Timbers general manager and president of soccer Gavin Wilkinson. “What Rodney brought to the Timbers was all encompassing – his quality, belief, commitment, desire, and swagger helped shape this club. His contributions on the field and in games was obvious for all to see, however the mentality he brought every day to the training ground was equally important. On behalf of all the previous and current staff I want to say thank you Rodney for choosing to be a Timbers player.”
Following his time in Portland, Wallace spent time playing overseas for Arouca and Sport Recife. He returned to the MLS in 2017, playing two seasons with New York City FC and logging five goals and seven assists. Wallace played his final MLS match for Sporting Kansas City on April 7, 2019.
