What Happened to Portland Timbers?
The Portland Timbers are a professional soccer club competing in Major League Soccer (MLS), known for winning the MLS Cup in 2015 and the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020. The club has recently undergone significant leadership changes, including the appointment of Martí Cifuentes as head coach in July 2026, following a period of underperformance and past controversies related to their former co-owned NWSL team, the Portland Thorns.
Quick Answer
The Portland Timbers, an MLS club, have recently appointed Martí Cifuentes as their new head coach on July 21, 2026, signing him to a three-year contract. This change follows the mutual departure of Phil Neville in May 2026 after a disappointing start to the 2026 season, which saw the team in 11th place in the Western Conference. The club is currently navigating a new era under Cifuentes, aiming to improve its standing and build a new team identity.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Founded as MLS Expansion Team
Peregrine Sports, under Merritt Paulson, was awarded an MLS expansion berth, officially founding the Portland Timbers as a professional soccer club.
Began MLS Play at Providence Park
The Portland Timbers commenced their inaugural season in Major League Soccer, playing their home matches at Providence Park, which was converted into a soccer-specific venue.
Portland Thorns FC Founded
Merritt Paulson founded the Portland Thorns FC, a women's professional soccer team, which would later become one of the most successful NWSL franchises.
Won First MLS Cup
The Portland Timbers secured their first major trophy, the MLS Cup, defeating the Columbus Crew 2-1 in the final, marking a historic achievement for the club and the Cascadia region.
Reached MLS Cup Final
The Timbers made their second appearance in the MLS Cup final, ultimately losing 2-0 to Atlanta United FC.
Won MLS is Back Tournament
In a pandemic-affected season, the Timbers emerged victorious in the one-off MLS is Back Tournament.
Reached Third MLS Cup Final
The Portland Timbers made their third MLS Cup appearance, losing to New York City FC.
Executives Fired Amid NWSL Abuse Report Fallout
Following a scathing independent report detailing systemic abuse in the NWSL, President of Soccer Gavin Wilkinson and President of Business Mike Golub were fired from the Timbers and Thorns organization. Owner Merritt Paulson also stepped back from Thorns-related decisions.
Heather Davis Named CEO, Thorns Sale Announced
Heather Davis was appointed CEO of the Timbers and Thorns organization. Owner Merritt Paulson announced his intention to sell the Portland Thorns FC.
Merritt Paulson Sells Portland Thorns FC
Merritt Paulson completed the sale of the Portland Thorns FC to RAJ Sports, fully separating the ownership of the NWSL club from the Timbers.
Phil Neville Hired as Head Coach
Phil Neville was appointed as the head coach for the Portland Timbers, leading the team through the 2024 and part of the 2025 seasons.
Playoff Appearance and Humiliating Loss
The Timbers made the playoffs in 2025 but ended their season with a significant 5-0 defeat in the Western Conference Play-in game against Vancouver Whitecaps.
Phil Neville Departs as Head Coach
Phil Neville and the Portland Timbers mutually agreed to part ways after a poor start to the 2026 season, with the team in 11th place in the Western Conference.
5-1 Victory Over Seattle Sounders
Under interim head coach Jack Cassidy, the Timbers achieved a decisive 5-1 victory over their Cascadia rivals, the Seattle Sounders FC.
Martí Cifuentes Named New Head Coach
The Portland Timbers announced Martí Cifuentes as their new head coach, signing him to a three-year contract through the 2028-29 season, marking a new leadership era for the club.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Portland Timbers, established as an MLS expansion team in 2009 and beginning play in 2011, quickly became a prominent fixture in Major League Soccer, playing their home matches at Providence Park. The club achieved its first major trophy, the MLS Cup, in 2015, becoming the first team from the Cascadia region to do so. They also reached the MLS Cup finals in 2018 and 2021, and won the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020.
A significant turning point for the organization occurred in late 2022, when an independent investigation into systemic abuse within the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) implicated the Portland Thorns, which shared ownership with the Timbers under Merritt Paulson's Peregrine Sports. The report detailed allegations of sexual coercion and harassment against former Thorns coach Paul Riley and highlighted a toxic work environment for women within the broader organization. In the fallout, President of Soccer Gavin Wilkinson and President of Business Mike Golub were fired, and owner Merritt Paulson stepped back from active decision-making related to the Thorns, eventually announcing the sale of the Thorns in December 2022, which was finalized in January 2024. Heather Davis was appointed CEO in January 2023, overseeing significant organizational changes.
On the field, the Timbers have experienced mixed results in recent years. After missing the playoffs in 2023 and 2024, Phil Neville was hired as head coach for the 2024 season. The 2025 season saw the Timbers make the playoffs, but they suffered a humiliating 5-0 loss in the Western Conference Play-in game. The 2026 season started disappointingly, leading to calls for Neville's dismissal. On May 25, 2026, Phil Neville and the Timbers mutually parted ways, with the team having accumulated only 14 points from their first 14 games and sitting 11th in the Western Conference. Jack Cassidy, the Timbers2 coach, was named interim head coach.
As of July 23, 2026, the Portland Timbers have entered a new era with the appointment of Martí Cifuentes as their head coach. Announced on July 21, 2026, Cifuentes signed a three-year contract through the 2028-29 season. He joins the club with extensive European coaching experience, most recently with Leicester City in the EFL Championship. Interim coach Jack Cassidy notably led the team to a 5-1 victory over rivals Seattle Sounders FC just before Cifuentes' appointment. The club is currently 11th in the Western Conference, with Cifuentes expected to lead the team through the remainder of the 2026 MLS campaign upon visa approval.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Portland Timbers made different choices?