Rodney Wallace signs a one-day contract to retire with the Portland Timbers on Sunday’s game against the Seattle Sounders

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Michael Parkhurst clears the ball from Rodney Wallace

 

The Portland Timbers have announced that the club has signed former midfielder Rodney Wallace to a one-day contract to officially retire as a Timber. Rodney Wallace will be recognized on the field prior to Sunday’s match against the Seattle Sounders at Providence Park.

As Wallace puts it “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.”

Wallace was acquired by the Timbers in a trade with D.C. United on November 24, 2010, in exchange for Dax McCarty, being a part 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. Among the most notable of achievements, he had with the Timbers, was his MLS Comeback Player of the Year in 2014.

His involvement with the club was very notable, especially in the playoffs in 2013 and 2015. Back in 2015, he scored the first goal in the infamous knockout-round match against Sporting Kansas City in a game that went to penalties. In addition, he scored in the Timbers’ 2-1, 2015 MLS Cup final win over Columbus Crew.

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 Timber’s owner and CEO Merritt Paulson. “Also doing this before a Seattle game is fitting. Few Timbers ‘gutted the fish’ like Rodney!”

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.

“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.

Thank you, Rodney Wallace, for your contributions with the Portland Timbers.

Source: Portland Timbers Communications.

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Freelance Writer based in Portland, Oregon covering the Portland Timbers since 2013. My favorite teams are Dundalk FC, Celtic Glasgow, Manchester United, Pumas UNAM, Cliftonville, Athletic Bilbao and Portland Timbers

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