Michael Harrington

Harrington, a versatile, six-year MLS veteran, will play his first season with the Timbers in 2013. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City, Harrington  sits among Sporting KC’s career leaders in regular-season games (149) and minutes played (11,633). He was a former U.S. youth international at the U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels and had a standout collegiate career at North Carolina.

ACQUIRED: Was acquired Dec. 3, 2012, in a trade with Sporting Kansas City in exchange for allocation money.

2013: Started each of the first 11 matches of the regular season ... Helped the backline record a fourth consecutive shutout at home in a 3-0 win over Chivas USA on May 12 ... Has played every minute of the club's current 390-minute home shutout streak at JELD-WEN Field - a Timbers MLS record ... Contributed to back-to-back shutouts in a 2-0 win over Houston on April 6 and a 1-0 victory against San Jose on April 14 at JELD-WEN Field ... Defense held the Dynamo to only two shots on goal, a season-low by an opponent ... Helped limited San Jose to just six total shots in the April 14 matchup, a season-low by an opponent ... Was part of a backline that has allowed just three shots on goal or fewer in four straight matches March 16-April 14 ... Made his Timbers debut March 3 against New York; the season opener also marked his 150th career MLS apperance.

2012: Started nine of the 11 games he appeared in during the 2012 season with Sporting Kansas City … Helped Sporting KC allow the fewest goals in MLS (27) during the regular season … Surpassed 12,000 played in MLS competition, including postseason, on Sept. 22 in a start against the Montreal Impact … Assisted on the game-winning goal by Kei Kamara in a 2-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on May 27 … Finished the season ranked ninth on Sporting KC’s all-time regular-season minutes played chart with 11,633, tied for ninth with Josh Wolff in regular-season games started for the club with 128 and eighth in regular-season games played at 149.

2011: Appeared in a total of 23 matches in 2011, 16 of them starts, helping Sporting KC to a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference during the regular season … Surpassed 10,000 minutes played in Sporting Kansas City career during LIVESTRONG Sporting Park's inaugural match June 9.

2010: Started 29 matches and matched a career-high with four assists for Sporting KC … Was a staple at the team’s left back position as he started every game prior to the season finale … Named the Cauldron’s Man of the Month for June, starting all three matches and contributing to a pair of shutouts during the month … Played the full 90 in a 2-1 win over famed club Manchester United in a summer friendly July 25.

2009: Played 27 matches (17 starts) for Sporting KC, logging 1,682 minutes … Finished tied for third on the team with three assists, including one in the club’s comeback 2-2 draw against the Chicago Fire on April 18 at Toyota Park … Assisted on one of two goals by Josh Wolff in a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake May 16 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

2008: Started all 30 regular-season matches and totaled a career-high 2,597 minutes in his second season with Sporting KC … Contributed two goals and two assists during the regular season … Registered an assist in a season-opening 2-0 win over D.C. United on March 29 … Scored the equalizer in the 48th minute of a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire on Oct. 5 … Started both matches of the club’s postseason series against the eventual MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew.

2007: Selected No. 3 overall by Sporting KC in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft … Named the club’s Rookie of the Year after appearing 29 regular-season matches … Set career-highs with three goals and four assists … Scored his first MLS goal three minutes into his first career MLS start, leading Sporting KC to a 4-2 season-opening win over D.C. United April 14 at RFK Stadium … Logged assists in back-to-back matches, leading to wins over Toronto FC on April 25 and April 28 … His assist April 28 set up the game-winning goal by Eddie Johnson … Started and played 90 minutes in each of match of Sporting KC’s two-game postseason series against Chivas USA.

NATIONAL TEAM: Was one of nine original members of the U.S. U-17 Residency Program at the Bradenton Academy in Bradenton, Fla., in 1999 … Played for the U.S. U-17 National Team in the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championships in Finland … Competed with the U.S. U-20 National Team in the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Youth Championships in Holland under coach Sigi Schmid … Spent time with the U.S. U-23 National Team leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was a alternate on the U.S. Olympic squad.

COLLEGE: Attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill from 2003-06 … Played in 82 games, registering four goals and 14 assists during his collegiate career … Helped the Tar Heels make four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances … Named to the preseason Hermann Trophy watch list prior to his senior season in 2006 … Selected to the All-ACC First Team following his senior campaign … Earned second team All-ACC and NSCAA/adidas All-South Region accolades as a junior in 2005 … Started 20 games as a freshman in 2003, and was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team following the season.

PERSONAL: Majored in exercise and sport science at UNC … Enjoys listening to music (especially R&B), reading, playing poker and working on his golf game during his time off the pitch … Favorite soccer player growing up was Thierry Henry, and favorite club is Arsenal … Best soccer memory is scoring three minutes into his professional career … Always puts left shin guard and left cleat on first when preparing for matches.