PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri was named to Major League Soccer’s 2014 Best XI, it was announced today.
The recognition marks the second consecutive year in which Valeri has been selected to the MLS Best XI list after earning the league’s Newcomer of the Year award and a Best XI honor during his debut MLS season in 2013.
In his second season with the Timbers, Valeri, 28, established Timbers MLS-club, single-season record marks with 11 goals and 14 assists, including three multi-assist performances. His 14 assists ranked second overall in MLS this season. During the 2014 campaign, Valeri became the Timbers MLS career leader in goals (21) and assists (27) and was named the club’s Players' Player of the Year and Supporters' Player of the Year.
An MLS All-Star selection in each of his first two seasons in MLS, Valeri also became the first Timbers MLS player to compile consecutive seasons with at least 10 or more goals and assists, while his 36 points (11g, 14a) during the regular season ranks as the third-most points in a single season in Timbers history across all eras.
In addition to being named to the Best XI, Valeri is one of three players nominated for the Premios Univision Deportes MLS Player of the Year, which will be announced on Dec. 18.
This year, MLS players, club leadership and media members voted one goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders and three forwards to the Best XI. Listed below, in alphabetical order, are the 2014 Best XI within each position:
Goalkeeper – Bill Hamid (D.C. United)
Defender – Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC)
Defender – Bobby Boswell (D.C. United)
Defender – Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
Midfielder – Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution)
Midfielder – Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Midfielder – Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)
Midfielder – Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
Forward – Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Forward – Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)
Forward – Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders FC)
