Martí Cifuentes disembarks in the United States

He Portland Timbers announced on Tuesday the appointment of Marti Cifuentes as his new coach. At 44 years old, the Catalan coach signs for three seasons and arrives at the MLS with more than two decades of experience in Europe. His last team was Leicester, who dismissed him last January after six months at the now English second division club.

Cifuentes replaces Phil Neville who parted ways with the Timbers by mutual agreement at the end of May. The interim coach Jack Cassidy It will remain until the arrival of Cifuentes.

A conscientious search

““This has been by far the most detailed and exhaustive coaching search the Timbers have ever undertaken and we are delighted that the process has culminated in the arrival of Martí Cifuentes to the reins of our club,” declared the owner of the Timbers, Merritt Paulson, in a press release.

“Marti is a young and analytical leader, with an intellectual curiosity about his profession like I have rarely seen in a coach. “He has proven himself in a variety of high-pressure environments and countries, and I have no doubt that, with our support, Marti Cifuentes will build something truly special in Portland,” Paulson remarked.

Since 2018 abroad

Cifuentes has managed clubs in Spain (Rubí, Sant Andreu and L’Hospitalet) and since 2018 uninterruptedly in Norway (Sandejford, Denmark (Aalborg), Sweden (Hammarby) and England (Queens Park Rangers and Leicester).

““I am incredibly excited to become the next coach of this club,” declared Cifuentes. “My conversations with Merritt and general manager Ned Grabavoy were truly inspiring, and their vision aligns perfectly with what I want to be a part of. I have always followed MLS and have long wanted to play in this league. Having the opportunity to do so with a club like Portland, with such an incredible fan base and such an exciting group of players, is truly special. I know how passionate this city is about soccer, and the connection between the club and the city is what makes this opportunity so meaningful.”

Cifuentes highlighted that “We want to build a team with a clear identity, great ambition and a true sense of unity, a team that represents this city and makes our fans proud. Soccer in the United States is entering a new era, with the country hosting the World Cup and the sport growing in many ways. To be part of this journey and contribute to the next chapter of soccer here is a privilege.”

The Timbers returned to MLS last Thursday after the World Cup break and achieved a 5-1 away victory against their rival, the Seattle Sounders. Portland is in 11th place in the Western Conference, currently three points out of the playoff zone.