What's in a number? Why the Portland Timbers players chose their jersey numbers

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Professional soccer players don’t choose their uniform numbers randomly.

A number can say a lot about a player’s personality and serve to define him to fans.

Many of the Portland Timbers players have worn their numbers since childhood or since their first professional game. Like many soccer players, a handful of the Portland Timbers wear their numbers because of the position they play. But others have chosen their uniform numbers for more personal reasons, whether as a tribute to a childhood hero, a celebration of a birthday or a nod to their spirituality.

Over the last several weeks, I asked the Portland Timbers starters and role players about why each player chose the number they wear. They had a variety of answers.

(*Note: Gaston Fernandez was not available to the media while this story was being produced and is not included in this slideshow. His answer will be added as soon as possible.)

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg

Jamie Goldberg/The Oregonian

What's in a number?

In the slides that follow, the Portland Timbers players explain why they chose to wear their uniform numbers.

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Thomas Boyd

Alvas Powell | 2

Alvas Powell had never worn No. 2 and didn't particularly like the number, but when he arrived in Portland at the age of 18 in 2013, the Timbers handed him a jersey with No. 2 on the back. "I was just given that number and at first when I got it, I had a little problem with it," Powell said. "But now I've grown to love that number."

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Peter Mccabe/Associated Press

Will Johnson | 4

Will Johnson is a huge fan of English Premier League club Liverpool and during his time with Real Salt Lake he wore No. 8 in honor of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who will make the move to MLS with the LA Galaxy in July. But Johnson arrived in Portland at the same time as Diego Valeri, who also wore No. 8. Johnson decided to take No. 4 instead. "Four was available and I just thought it kind of fit my play," Johnson said. "There have been some tough guys and some good, hard, mentally and physically tough players that have worn No. 4."

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Thomas Boyd

Darlington Nagbe | 6

Darlington Nagbe might wear the most coveted number on the team. Both Liam Ridgewell and Nat Borchers said their preferred number is 6. Nagbe actually wore No. 17 in high school and was going to wear No. 23 at the University of Akron because former Zips player Pablo Moreira, who is now the Player Relations Manager for the Timbers, had worn No. 23 at when he played at Akron. It was Caleb Porter, who was the coach at Akron at the time, that stepped in and told Nagbe to take No. 6 instead. Since then, Nagbe has worn No. 6. "I've had it and now I like it," Nagbe said. Nagbe also indicated he'd be willing to give his number to Borchers or Ridgewell, though, if they asked.

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Thomas Boyd

Nat Borchers | 7

Nat Borchers wore No. 6 when he played at Real Salt Lake, but didn't want to ask Darlington Nagbe to give up the number when he arrived in Portland. Borchers said he has worn a lot of different numbers during his playing career and isn't particularly attached to a specific one, though he doesn't like the idea of ever wearing a double-digit number. "I only had two choices for my number in Portland," Borchers said. "It was five or seven and I wasn't going to choose a double-digit number...I think seven felt better than five."

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Randy L. Rasmussen

Diego Valeri | 8

When he played in Argentina, Diego Valeri always wore No. 8 because he played on the right side of the midfield and No. 8 is the number for that position. From a religious perspective, Valeri has also embraced the No. 8 because December 8 is the celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which celebrates the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary. "I like the No. 8 too, because Dec. 8 in Argentina is the [Feast] of the Immaculate Conception," Valeri said. "How about that?"

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Jason DeCrow/Associated Press

Fanendo Adi | 9

Forwards often wear the No. 9 in soccer because they play in the number nine position, but Fanendo Adi had never worn No. 9 before coming to Portland. During his professional career, Adi has been a No 10, a No. 22 and a No. 26, but when he found out the No. 9 was open, he decided he wanted it to be his number in Portland. "For a forward, there are less numbers you can go with," Adi said. "The nine was open and I liked it and I went for it. Nine is a good number for me."

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Jason DeCrow/Associated Press

Dairon Asprilla | 11

Growing up, Dairon Asprilla was a fan of Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla and liked that he had the same last name as the successful Colombian forward. Faustino Asprilla wore No. 11, so, as a young child, Dairon Asprilla decided to start wearing No. 11. He's worn it ever since. "I've always used the 11," said Asprilla, through an interpreter. "I saw Asprilla, who had my last name, and I liked him and since then I always wanted the 11. When I got to Portland, I asked them about the number. Thank god the number was available."

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Thomas Boyd

Adam Kwarasey | 12

A lot of goalkeepers wear No. 1, but Adam Kwarasey has been No. 12 ever since he was a young child. Kwarasey was born on December 12 and felt that number was a perfect fit. "I've always been No. 12," Kwarasey said. "Always played with 12. I'm born Dec. 12, and that's my number. 12/12."

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

Jack Jewsbury | 13

When Jack Jewsbury entered MLS as a rookie in Kansas City, the lowest available number was No. 14, so he took it. But when Jewsbury was traded to Portland in March 2011, most of the numbers were already taken. Since James Marcelin was wearing No. 14, Jewsbury decided to go with No. 13. He's never considered 13 to be unlucky. "Fourteen never had a meaning to me, so to make (Marcelin) switch his number, so I could have No. 14, didn't make sense," Jewsbury said. "What was left over were high numbers and 13, so I chose 13."

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Thomas Boyd

Jorge Villafana | 19

Jorge Villafana signed with Chivas USA at the age of 17 after winning Sueño MLS. As a rookie, he didn't have many choices when it came to his number and No. 19 was the lowest number available. Villafana grew to love it and has worn it ever since. "It's the number that they gave me when I first became a professional and I liked it and I just kept it," Villafana said. "I've been keeping it and when I came here, I asked if they had that number."

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Jamie Francis

Diego Chara | 21

When Diego Chara played his first professional game as an 18-year-old in Colombia for Colombian side Deportes Quindío, the club gave him a jersey with No. 21. Since then, he has never changed his number. "When it was my first professional game in Colombia, this was my number," Chara said. "For me, it's a special number."

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Thomas Boyd

Rodney Wallace | 22

Rodney Wallace has been wearing No. 22 since he was a 16-year-old playing club soccer. Wallace started wearing the number because he was a big fan of A.C. Milan growing up and liked A.C. Milian midfielder Kaká, who wore No. 22. Wallace has worn No. 22 ever since. "I was a big fan of A.C. Milan and Kaká was my favorite player there," Wallace said. "He wore it and I idolized him, so I've been wearing it since I was a young boy."

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Thomas Boyd

Liam Ridgewell | 24

Liam Ridgewell always wore the No. 6 during his professional career in England. He likes the No. 6 so much that he has it tattooed on his arm. But when he came to Portland, Darlington Nagbe was wearing No. 6 and Ridgewell didn't want to ask one of the Timbers' top players to give up his number. Instead, Ridgwell went with No. 24 because 2 + 4 = 6. "Six has always been my favorite number, so I would love to have had it," Ridgewell said. "But one of our better players, who is far better than me, has got it, so that's good enough for me."

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Thomas Boyd

Lucas Melano | 26

Lucas Melano started wearing No. 26 during his youth career with Argentine club Belgrano and continued to wear the number when he moved to Belgrano's first team and then when he started playing for Argentine club Lanús. Midfielder George Fochive was wearing No. 26 when Melano arrived in Portland, but agreed to switch to No. 5, so that Melano could have his number. "Ever since my first club at Belgrano, I wore 26 and then at Lanús I wore 26 again," said Melano through an interpreter.

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Thomas Boyd

Maximiliano Urruti | 37

When Maximiliano Urruti played his first game for Newell's Old Boys in the Argentine Primera División, the club gave him a jersey with the No. 37. He's worn the number ever since. "When I first went to the first division in Argentina, it was the number I was given," said Urruti, through an interpreter. "I've made the choice to wear it with every club from then on because it's the one that kind of launched my career. I think it's a lucky one."

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Story: Jamie Goldberg / Photo: Randy L. Rasmussen

Caleb Porter | 13

Caleb Porter suffered several serious knee injuries during his professional career and was forced to retire at the age of 25. If he'd worn a different number, things might have gone his way. Porter had been lucky No. 7 in high school and college, but was given the unlucky No. 13 as a pro. "In the pros, I wasn't good enough to wear the 7 shirt," Porter said. "So, one year I got stuck with unlucky No. 13 and that was my doing in because I had a bunch of knee injuries wearing that number."