Portland Timbers’ MLS Cup 2015: Where are they now?
By Matt Coles
Maximiliano Urruti – Montreal Impact (MLS)
The first substitute on that fateful December day was Maximiliano Urruti, an MLS star in his own right. He made 35 appearances for the Timbers in 2015, scoring five times, and assisting three others.
The attacking midfielder started his professional career with Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina’s top flight, a club where he had come through the youth system from an early age. He made the move to MLS after three seasons with Newell’s, signing for Toronto FC in August 2013. Just a month later, Urruti moved to Portland.
Over his two a and a bit years with the Timbers, he made over 70 league appearances, and helped the team to their MLS Cup success in 2015. The Argentine then signed for FC Dallas ahead of the 2016 season. He made over 100 appearances over three years before moving to Montreal Impact for the 2019 campaign.
Jack Jewsbury – Retired
A man who spent almost the entirety of his career in MLS, Jack Jewsbury was a key part of the Timbers squad for their 2015 glory, playing 32 times over the course of the season. Jewsbury was drafted by the Kansas City Wizards with the 43rd pick of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft, and made his break in the side a year later, as the Wizards won the U.S. Open Cup in 2004.
He played over 200 times for the Wiz before being traded to the Portland Timbers ahead of the 2011 campaign. Jewsbury was immediately given the captain’s armband, becoming the expansion side’s first-ever on-field skipper.
He led the team for six years, playing over 150 times in the league, scoring 14 goals. Jewsbury played in all six post-season games as the Timbers made their way to glory in the 2015 MLS Cup. After the 2016 season, the midfielder announced his retirement from the game.
Dairon Asprilla – Portland Timbers
The first substitute to come on for the Timbers in the 2015 MLS Cup final was Dairon Asprilla, with the forward replacing winger Lucas Melano on the hour mark. The Colombian featured 32 times in the 2015 season, his first with Portland, scoring twice and assisting five other goals that year.
He started his career in his home country, playing for Alianza Petrolera, where he scored 22 in 71 games before moving to MLS with the Timbers. The 2015 campaign was his first in Portland, and he helped the club win the MLS Cup that year. Since then, he has had a spell on loan at Millonarios, back in Colombia, and is now currently with the Timbers 2 squad.
Will Johnson – Orlando City (MLS)
A Canadian international who plays in the heart of the midfield, Will Johnson is something of an MLS journeyman, with two MLS Cup triumphs to his name. He made his debut in the league with Chicago Fire in 2005, before spending two seasons playing in the Netherlands. Johnson played for Heerenveen and De Graafschap before moving back to the States.
After five seasons with Real Salt Lake, where Johnson scored the MLS Goal of the Year in 2008 and then won the MLS Cup a year later, the Canadian moved to Portland. He spent three seasons with the Timbers in a slightly more advanced role, scoring 15 times in 69 league appearances, along with winning a second MLS Cup in 2015.
He then moved to Toronto FC for the 2016 season, where he claimed the Canadian Championship and is now into his third campaign with Orlando City.
Taylor Peay – Louisville City (USL Championship)
After spending some time with Ogden Outlaws and the Seattle Sounders U-23 teams, Taylor Peay was drafted by the Portland Timbers in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. He spent time on loan with Orange County Blues, and the Timbers 2 squad, but become a part of the MLS Cup-winning squad in the 2015 season.
He left the Timbers at the end of the 2016 campaign and spent time with Real Monarchs before signing for Real Salt Lake. Peay made the move back to the Monarchs on loan, before signing for Louisville City ahead of the 2019 USL Championship season.
Jake Gleeson – Unattached
The final man on the bench for the 2015 MLS Cup final was New Zealander Jake Gleeson. The shot-stopper played one of the games in the post-season as Portland went on to lift the MLS Cup. Gleeson started his career in his home country, playing for Western Suburbs FC, before making the move to Team Wellington.
In 2010, the ‘keeper made the move Stateside, joining the Portland Timbers. He remained with the team through to 2018, including that wonderful 2015 season. Gleeson, who has also made eight appearances for the New Zealand national team, was released by Portland at the end of the 2018 campaign.
Norberto Paparatto – Mitre (Primera B Nacional, ARG)
He only spent two seasons with the Portland Timbers, but Norberto Paparetto was a part of their 2015 MLS Cup-winning team. The defender started his career with Lanús and played alongside Valeri in their early days together. He then had a spell at Tiro Federal before a move to Tigre.
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After seven years with the club, Paparetto left his homeland to move to the States, joining the Portland Timbers in 2014. He did not feature regularly but played some important games in their MLS Cup-winning squad. He made a move to FC Dallas for the 2016 season, before a spell with Almagro. The Argentine moved back home in 2018, signing for Mitre.