Real Salt Lake: Life — and soccer — in Portland is good for Nat Borchers

On the chest of a die-hard Portland Timbers supporter is a tattoo of Nat Borchers.

The depiction features the kind of detail synonymous with one of Major League Soccer's best and most recognizable center backs. First and foremost, his fiery red beard. Clutched in Borchers' right hand is an MLS Cup trophy as — and this is where the ink takes a slightly unexpected turn — he commands four pink unicorns in a chariot marked with crossing Timber axes atop a rainbow road.

That's based off the results of one Borchers year in Portland. Because it was a memorable one. Historic, too. The bearded 34-year-old center back started 31 of 34 regular-season matches with the Timbers before appearing in all 570 postseason minutes in Portland's run to the franchise's first MLS Cup trophy.

Hence, celebratory tattoos of a Greek-god-like Borchers riding in a Timbers chariot carried by pink unicorns.

"I feel like a rock star sometimes," the former Real Salt Lake defender admitted this week in an interview with The Tribune.

He looks the part, too.

As the longtime linchpin of RSL's sustained success prepares to face his former team again on Saturday night at Providence Park, he's doing so as a defending MLS Cup champion. Already a soccer-crazed city, Borchers said the reception in Portland since the Timbers won their first title a year ago has grown substantially.

"I think the popularity of the team has skyrocketed since we won the Cup," he said. "You can sense it when you're out in the community, you're out downtown or you're on the field at games. The supporters are that much more into it and support us that much more because of the success."

In retrospect, Portland's acquisition of Borchers in December 2014 might've been the most impactful roster move of 2015 across MLS. RSL dealt Borchers to the Timbers in exchange for allocation money, a move necessitated by the impending MLS Expansion Draft. Portland got him because RSL allowed Borchers — after seven years with the club — to pick his next spot.

The move eventually became a source of public contention.

RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen said in a Facebook post last October that the decision to move Borchers led to the "undoing" of his relationship with former general manager Garth Lagerwey. Hansen's comments came following a 1-0 Portland victory in Sandy. Two months prior, a stoppage-time header by Borchers pushed the Timbers to a dramatic 1-0 win at Rio Tinto Stadium in August.

In an interview with The Oregonian last September, RSL captain Kyle Beckerman said the Borchers deal was "going down right now as one of the worst trades Real Salt Lake has done."

Achieving the ultimate success a year ago helped he and his family grow more acclimated to the club and city in Portland. Borchers said he, wife Crystal and their young son Lincoln feel established after having dealt with the emotion of leaving Salt Lake City in 2015.

"I think time heals a lot," he said.

Friend and former teammate Chris Wingert said a group of RSL players watched Portland's 2-1 loss at San Jose Sunday afternoon. Those who know Borchers well commented that he was looking spry and confident as ever. Wingert joked that Borchers, who turns 35 in April, is playing like he's 25.

As for playing the role of the missing link in Portland, Wingert isn't surprised of the impact Borchers had with the Timbers.

"He's a hard guy not to get along with," Wingert said. "[With] the work ethic, I felt like, he was going to fit right in with them. Plus, I think he was getting paid double: He was not only on the field, but also the mascot as well."

Goalkeeper Nick Rimando said Borchers would've raised the level of any club he went to once his time with RSL was over.

"Obviously he went there and made a big difference and they're lucky to have him," Rimando said.

Before Borchers made the choice to join the Timbers, he studied the roster. He felt like, on paper, the roster was worthy of being an MLS Cup contender. His addition helped push the Timbers over the top.

"It's been a lot of fun to experience what Portland has in terms of a soccer culture and how much they love soccer," Borchers said. "They call it 'Soccer City, USA' for a reason. That's why you have so much love for the Timbers."

The love for the bearded guy is a part of the deal.

ckamrani@sltrib.com

Twitter: @chriskamrani