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The Portland Timbers and Mikael Silvestre have agreed to a mutual termination of Silvestre's contract with the team. The move frees up both salary cap space and an international roster spot for the Timbers going into the 2014 season.
After starting the first eight games of the 2013 season for the Timbers and providing a steady presence at the back, Silvestre missed the rest of the season with a torn ACL, his second major injury in the last two years. The Timbers traded a third round draft pick in 2014 and a conditional pick in 2015 to the Seattle Sounders for Silvestre's MLS rights.
Since going out, Silvestre has been all over Oregon and the world, engaging and entertaining his fans via Twitter. Most recently he tweeted about receiving his FIFA B coaching license from US Soccer.
At least a good news today @ussoccer_ynt #Blicense pic.twitter.com/Heejjz6LYr
— Mikael Silvestre (@IamMSilvestre) January 25, 2014
Silvestre joins former Timbers Kris Boyd and Hanyer Mosquera as high profile payers to leave the team this way since the start of the MLS era in Portland.
The Timbers' press release:
TIMBERS, MIKAEL SILVESTRE MUTUALLY AGREE TO PART WAYS
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers and defender Mikael Silvestre have come to a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, it was announced today. Per league and club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"We would like to thank Mikael for his service to the club and we wish him well in his future endeavors," said Gavin Wilkinson, Timbers general manager.
Silvestre, 36, made eight league appearances, logging 633 minutes for the Timbers in 2013. He sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee on May 2 and missed the remainder of the campaign.
"I loved my time with the Timbers," Silvestre said. "My family and I have enjoyed our time in Oregon and we plan to stay here for the foreseeable future. I am excited to stay and seek other opportunities. The fans here have created one of the strongest fan bases I have seen in my career. I would like to thank them for their undying support, they have made my experience here unforgettable. For the Timbers, the squad has momentum after a strong finish last year and I wish them the best for the coming season."