QPR hire Marti Cifuentes as new manager

Queens Park Rangers have announced the appointment of Marti Cifuentes as the club’s new manager following the departure of Gareth Ainsworth. 

The Spanish tactician currently leads Hammarby IF in Sweden’s Allsvenskan but will take on the challenging task of turning the tide for the struggling Championship team.

The 41-year-old is no stranger to QPR, having come close to securing the manager’s position before Michael Beale’s appointment last year. 

However, after an impressive stint with Hammarby and Aalborg in Denmark, he has found his way to Loftus Road.

The timing of this appointment couldn’t be more critical, with QPR languishing in the second-bottom spot in the Championship standings. 

The team has endured a poor start to the season, suffering six consecutive losses and securing only two league victories. 

Cifuentes’ immediate mission will be to rescue QPR from the looming threat of relegation.

QPR CEO Lee Hoos expressed his enthusiasm for the new appointment.

He said (via QPR’s official website): “We are delighted to bring Marti in, and I would firstly like to thank Hammarby for being fantastic to deal with throughout the process. 

“Marti is an exciting appointment, and we look forward to seeing the impact he can have. 

“Having a succession plan in place is a necessary part of football, irrespective of how the team is performing.

“Marti is someone we have been aware of, so we are really pleased to have been able to secure his services.”

Cifuentes boasts an extensive coaching career, having worked in the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

He oversaw his last fixture for Hammarby on Monday and will arrive in London on Tuesday, eager to turn around QPR’s fortunes.