Three Timbers named to MLS 2013 top XI

[DiamondThief]

Timbers midfielders Diego Valeri and Will Johnson and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts were named to Major League Soccer’s 2013 Best XI. 

Valeri, 27, became the first Timbers MLS player to record double-digit totals in goals and assists in a single season, setting the club’s MLS single-season record in both categories.

Johnson, 26, set MLS career numbers in goals (9), assists (5), points (23) and minutes played (2,520), while helping lead the Timbers to a first-place finish in the Western Conference during the regular season and to the conference finals of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Ricketts, 36, becomes just the fourth goalkeeper in MLS history to earn a second selection to the MLS Best XI, joining Tim Howard, Pat Onstad and Zach Thornton. Ricketts, voted by players to the 2013 MLS All-Star inactive roster, set career highs in shutouts (14), saves (92) and minutes played (2,880) during his first full season with the Timbers in 2013.

Click here for the entire press release.

2013 MLS Best XI (listed in alphabetical order within each position)

Goalkeeper – Donovan Ricketts (Portland Timbers)
Defender – Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)
Defender – Jose Goncalves (New England Revolution)
Defender – Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
Midfielder – Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls)
Midfielder – Will Johnson (Portland Timbers)
Midfielder – Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)
Midfielder – Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Forward – Marco Di Vaio (Montreal Impact)
Forward – Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Forward – Mike Magee (Chicago Fire)

[Brian]

That's a great showing. Better than any other team. It's interesting that no one from Real Salt Lake made it given that they won the Western Conference and came so close to winning the championship game. I'm pleased with the Timbers season. They made a lot of great strides and got some valuable playoff experience.