The Portland Timbers have officially named Martí Cifuentes as their new head coach, signing the Catalan tactician on a contract through the 2028-29 season.
The 44-year-old becomes the fifth head coach of the Timbers’ MLS era, taking over following the departure of Phil Neville in May.
Cifuentes brings more than two decades of coaching experience spanning England, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Spain to the role.
Most recently, he managed Leicester City in the EFL Championship after being appointed in July 2025, before being dismissed in January with the club sitting in 14th place.
Following his departure, Leicester lost 14 of their next 15 matches and were subsequently relegated from the Championship.
Prior to Leicester, Cifuentes took charge of Queens Park Rangers in October 2023 with the club in serious danger of relegation from the Championship, and successfully guided them to safety by the end of the 2023-24 season.
Across his eight years of senior management since 2018, Cifuentes has accumulated an impressive overall record of 128 wins, 96 draws and 84 defeats.
Club owner Merritt Paulson described the appointment as the result of the most thorough coaching search in the club’s history, expressing his confidence in the new manager.
“Martí is a young, analytical leader who is as intellectually curious about his trade as I have seen in a coach,” Paulson said. “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.”
Timbers General Manager Ned Grabavoy added that the process made it clear Cifuentes was a strong fit for the club’s sporting project and long-term ambitions.
“His cultural experiences and successes in various leagues speak volumes to his ability to adapt and his ambitions as a manager,” Grabavoy said. “A new era begins now for the Portland Timbers.”
Cifuentes himself expressed genuine enthusiasm for the challenge ahead and for joining one of MLS’s most passionate supporter cultures.
“I have always followed MLS, and it has long been an ambition of mine to experience this league,” the new Timbers boss said. “To have the chance to do so at a club like Portland, with such an incredible fanbase and an exciting group of players, is truly special.”
The Spaniard also outlined a clear vision for how he wants his side to play and what the club should represent to its city.
“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,” he said.
Cifuentes will join the club once his visa is approved, with interim head coach Jack Cassidy continuing to lead the team until his arrival.
