Charles Renken

Renken was acquired on Jan. 31, 2012, via the MLS waiver process. A member of the U.S. U-20 National Team pool in 2011, Renken played his first professional season with the U-19 side for Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim during the 2010-11 campaign. He’s been a standout for U.S. youth international teams since 2005 and has represented the United States at the U-14, U-15, U-17 and U-20 levels.

2012: Appeared in all 10 (four starts) of the Timbers’ MLS Reserve League matches this season, logging two assists in 477 minutes played ... Scored on his first team debut in a penalty-kick shootout after coming on as an 88th-minute sub in an exhibition with Aston Villa FC on July 24 ... Recorded two assists in a MLS Reserve League match on April 22 against Vancouver.

2010-11: Played his first professional season with German Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim’s U-19 team … Saw action in 10 matches, totaling 435 minutes … Came on as a sub and played 20 minutes in a first-team friendly against German club VfR Aalen on July 10.

2009-10: Was enrolled in the Residency program of the Vancouver Whitecaps for a season before making the move to Hoffenheim.

INTERNATIONAL: Was one of 36 players called into camp with the U.S. U-20/U-23 National Team in Duisburg, Ger­many, from Nov. 7-15, 2011 … During the camp, made a substitute appearance in a scoreless draw against Azerbai­jan on Nov. 11 … Came off the bench to play 30 minutes for the U-20s in a 3-0 loss to the U-19 side for German club Bayer Leverkusen on Nov. 15 … First joined the U.S. youth system in 2005 with the U-14 National Team at the age of 12 … Was a member of the U.S. Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., for nearly three years from 2007-09 … Made 11 appearances overall with the U.S. U-17 National Team and scored two goals … During his time with the U-17s, competed in the Mondial Minimes Tournament in France and Toyota International Youth Football Champion­ship in Japan in 2007 … Helped the U-17s win the La Serena Cup in 2009, scoring a goal against host Chile (Feb. 1, 2009) during the tournament … Sustained a torn ACL on March 27, 2009, in a friendly against the Uruguay U-17 National Team, ruling him out of the U.S. squad for the 2009 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Mexico … Has been called into camp on multiple occasions with the U.S. U-20 National Team, earning his first call-up with that team in 2007 … Also represented the U.S. at the U-15 level, and participated in a camp in Argentina in 2007, in which he recorded three goals and an assist over four games.

PERSONAL: Born Charles Bimbe in Kalingalinga, Zambia … Moved to Edwardsville, Ill. in February 2003, where he was raised by his adopted parents Pamela and Seth Ren­ken … Played part of his youth career with St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club, receiving tournament MVP honors with its U-14 team at the Manchester United Premier Cup … Before agreeing to a deal with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, trained with English clubs Arsenal and Reading as well as German side 1860 Munich … Birth parents are mother Margaret and stepfather John Bimbe, who live in Zambia, and also has three brothers, Richard, Steven, and Peter.