Ex-Leicester boss Marti Cifuentes set for surprise new job six months after being sacked

Former Leicester City manager Marti Cifuentes is set to take over at MLS side Portland Timbers, talkSPORT understands.

Cifuentes was sacked by Leicester in January after barely six months in charge of the Foxes, who ended up being relegated from the Championship last season.

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Cifuentes set for American adventure

But the 44-year-old Spaniard is poised to take his next job across the pond.

The Timbers have been without a manager since parting ways with Phil Neville in May.

Jack Cassidy has taken interim charge in the meantime.

Ex-Manchester United and England man Neville spent just over two-and-a-half years in charge of the Oregon-based club, guiding them to the MLS Cup playoffs in 2024 and 2025.

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However, Neville left after back-to-back defeats to Inter Miami and San Jose Earthquakes before the league took a six-week break for the World Cup.

Managerless Portland returned to action in style last Friday, thrashing bitter rivals Seattle Sounders 5-1 away from home.

Assuming he is appointed, this will be Cifuentes’ 10th managerial job.

Following spells in the youth set-ups of Millwall and Ajax, he coached several lower-league outfits in his native Catalonia.

He then went on to coach in Norway, Denmark and Sweden before being appointed by QPR in October 2023.

Cifuentes led QPR to Championship safety at the end of the 2023/24 campaign but was put on gardening leave the following spring amid reports linking him with the West Brom job.

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He ultimately departed Loftus Road in June 2025, joining Leicester the following month.

In a statement confirming Cifuentes’ sacking in January, Foxes chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “This has been a difficult decision and not one I have taken lightly. I would like to thank Marti for the total commitment he has shown during his time at Leicester City. He gave everything to the role and worked tirelessly to help us achieve our targets.

“However, I believe this is the right step at this time to improve performances and results, and to act in the best interests of Leicester City Football Club. Marti leaves with our thanks and our best wishes for the future.”

Cifuentes’ successor at the King Power Stadium was former Leicester player Gary Rowett, but he’s since been replaced in the dugout by Russell Martin.

Starting again

Leicester dropped into League One just a decade after their fairy-tale Premier League title win, their plight exacerbated by a six-point deduction for breaching EFL financial rules.

The Foxes begin their first third-tier season since 2008/09 – and only the second in their 142-year history – away to newly promoted Notts County on August 15.

Meanwhile, Cifuentes’ first game in charge of Portland Timbers could come at home to FC Dallas on Thursday.