Diego Chará
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Diego Ferney Chará Zamora | ||
| Date of birth | April 5, 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Valle del Cauca, Colombia | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Portland Timbers | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Deportes Quindío | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004–2008 | Deportes Quindío | 124 | (2) |
| 2009 | América de Cali | 31 | (1) |
| 2010–2011 | Deportes Tolima | 51 | (5) |
| 2011– | Portland Timbers | 87 | (2) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2010–2011 | Colombia | 2 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of January 18, 2014. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Diego Ferney Chará Zamora (born April 5, 1986 in Valle del Cauca) is a Colombian footballer who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. Chará plays as a holding midfielder, and is known for his creativity in the attack.
Career
Club
Chará began his career in the youth ranks of Deportes Quindío. In 2004 he moved up to the senior side and became an important player for Quindío. The talented midfielder made 124 league appearances and scored 2 goals while with Quindío. As a result of his play he began to draw the attention of the top clubs in Colombia and in 2009 joined América de Cali. In one year with America Chará made 31 league appearances and scored 1 goal. The following season he joined Deportes Tolima and was a key player in his club's run to the quarterfinal of the 2010 Copa Sudamericana. The following season he helped Tolima qualify to the 2011 Copa Libertadores. During the 2011 Copa Libertadores Chará appeared in seven games, and provided an assist in a 2-0 win over Brazilian power Corinthians in the early stages of the tournament.
As a result of his play during the Copa Libertadores run Chará started to receive interest from Major League Soccer side Portland Timbers. In April 2011, Chará signed with Portland and became the club's first ever Designated Player.[1]
On August 20, he scored his first goal in Major League Soccer after just 78 seconds of the home match against Cascadia Cup rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[2] It broke the record for the fastest MLS goal for the club.
International
Chará has capped twice for the Colombian national team.
Personal
Chará's older brother, Felipe Chara, and his younger brother, Jimmy "Yimmy" Chara are also professional footballers.[3]
See also
- List of current MLS players
References
- ↑ http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/2011/04/timbers-sign-diego-char%C3%A1-first-designated-player-club-history
- ↑ http://www.prostamerika.com/2011/08/20/portland-timbers-vancouver-whitecaps-47726/
- ↑ Gruesso, Héctor Fabio (2 July 2009). ""Mi consigna es ganar todo con el Deportivo Cali", dijo Felipe Chará" ["My motto is to win everything with Deportivo Cali", said Felipe Chará] (in Spanish). El Tiempo.
External links
- MLS player profile
- Diego Chará at National-Football-Teams.com
- Transfermarkt profile
- ESPN profile
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