QPR has chosen Marti Cifuentes as their new head coach, recruiting him from Hammarby, a club co-owned by Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Cifuentes steps in to replace Gareth Ainsworth, who was dismissed last Saturday following the team’s sixth consecutive loss, which left the west London club in 23rd place in the Championship. Cifuentes had been at the helm of the Swedish team for two years, and his association with the club, partly owned by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, enabled him to make the move to England.
The 41-year-old was a candidate for QPR’s coaching position last summer, but they ultimately hired Michael Beale, who left a few months later to take charge at the Scottish side Rangers. Now, Cifuentes has been appointed and will commence his tenure with a match against Rotherham over the weekend.
Lee Hoos, the club’s chief executive, expressed his satisfaction with the appointment, saying, “We are thrilled to welcome Martí, and I would like to extend our gratitude to Hammarby for their excellent cooperation throughout the process. Martí’s appointment is an exciting one, and we eagerly anticipate the impact he can make. Having a succession plan in place is an essential aspect of football, regardless of the team’s performance. We’ve been aware of Martí for some time, so we’re delighted to have secured his services.”
QPR had contemplated the return of Neil Warnock to Loftus Road. The veteran manager, who left Huddersfield earlier in the season, had previously led the club to the Premier League. According to Sky Sports, the Championship strugglers were considering approaching the
74-year-old. Warnock’s initial stint at Loftus Road spanned two years, ending in 2012. He later returned in an advisory capacity in 2015 before assuming the role of caretaker manager for one month. However, a deal never materialized, and Warnock remains without a job, with no plans to retire. Former Southampton boss Nathan Jones also expressed interest in the position. Despite these considerations, Cifuentes received the appointment after nearly a decade of managerial experience in the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
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