Portland Timbers officially hire Martí Cifuentes as new manager
The 44-year-old Spaniard brings an attacking, possession-based philosophy to Portland after coaching stops in England and Scandinavia.
It’s finally official: The Portland Timbers have hired Martí Cifuentes as the fifth head coach of the club’s MLS era.
Cifuentes, 44, is from Spain and most recently coached Leicester City F.C. in the EFL Championship, winning 10 of his 29 league matches before he was fired in January.
Cifuentes joins the Timbers on a three-year contract through the 2028-29 season.
“This has been by far the most detailed and exhaustive head coaching search the Timbers have ever executed and we are thrilled to have the process culminate in Martí Cifuentes taking the reins of our club,” club owner Merritt Paulson said in a release. “Martí is a young, analytical leader who is as intellectually curious about his trade as I have seen in a coach. He has been tested in a variety of high-pressure environments and countries, and I have no doubt that with our support, Martí Cifuentes will build something truly special in Portland.”
Before Leicester, Cifuentes found success with Hammarby IF in Sweden, leading the club to a Swedish Cup final and European qualification. At Sandefjord in Norway, he was credited with transforming the club’s style and performance.
“His football philosophy is rooted in Cruyffismo — the positional play and fluid style he grew up watching at Camp Nou in the 90s,” Spanish journalist Guillem Balague wrote. “That shaped his belief that football should be expressive, structured, and attacking.
“He believes in clarity. Players must know exactly what’s expected of them. He doesn’t spring surprises at half-time — he prepares them all week. He values intelligent players who can read the game and adapt in real time.”
Cifuentes will take over a Portland club that is 5-8-2 with 17 points and sits 11th in the Western Conference. The Timbers beat Seattle 5-1 on Thursday in their only match under interim coach Jack Cassidy, who took over after the club parted ways with Phil Neville on May 25.
Neville compiled a 27-31-24 record and reached the postseason in each of his first two seasons. While Neville’s Timbers were, at times, electric during his first season with Evander on the roster, his teams struggled to consistently progress the ball and form a cohesive attack.
The Timbers believe Cifuentes can provide counter to that: a coach whose identity is built more around tactics and structure than the passion-and-mentality messaging that defined Neville’s tenure.
That doesn’t mean Cifuentes sees tactics as a substitute for courage or intensity.
“Fearless means brave football,” Cifuentes told The Athletic last year. “It means attacking, non-stop football.
“I believe in the three Ps: Pressure high up the pitch to win the ball back. Possession to dominate the game, which is more than just controlling it — I want us to keep going, to dominate the opposition. And position, because you have more time and options on the ball and the ability to play fast if you understand position.”
Cifuentes is expected to join the club later this month, pending approval of his visa.
“We want to build a team with a clear identity, strong ambition, and a real sense of togetherness, one that represents this city and makes our supporters proud,” Cifuentes said in a release. “Soccer in the U.S. is entering a new era, with the country hosting the World Cup and the sport continuing to grow in so many ways. To be part of that journey and contribute to the next chapter of the game here is a privilege.”
— Tyson Alger, The I-5 Corridor
I like the philosophy. But im concerned about his record in Spain. And if he was a great coach he wouldn't be available?
Hope im wrong!