Diego Chará

Diego Chará
Personal information
Full nameDiego Ferney Chará Zamora
Date of birthApril 5, 1986
Place of birthValle del Cauca, Colombia
Height1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Portland Timbers
Number21
Youth career
Deportes Quindío
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2004–2008Deportes Quindío124(2)
2009América de Cali31(1)
2010–2011Deportes Tolima51(5)
2011–Portland Timbers125(5)
National team
2010–2011Colombia2(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 8, 2014.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 12, 2011

Diego Ferney Chará Zamora (born April 5, 1986) 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 been capped twice for the Colombian national team.

Personal

Chará's older brother, Felipe Chara, and his younger brother, Yimmi Chará are also professional footballers.[3] Yimi currently plays for Monterrey in the Liga MX.

Chará holds a U.S. green card which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[4]

See also

References

External links