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“In both life and football, there is always an element of risk,” reflects Martí Cifuentes, the current manager of Queens Park Rangers. He recalls his unique path to his current position and the challenges he faced in his early days at AAB Aalborg. “It wasn’t easy for me in Denmark. In fact, it took six official games before I finally won,” the 41-year-old shares. “The headline in the top sports newspaper read, ‘The Superliga’s Worst Coach in History’.”
Cifuentes was hit with criticism. The Catalan admits, “I am accustomed to being inexperienced or too young.” They continue, “I am simply a very positive person and do not possess any special formula.”
Cifuentes possesses a daring spirit that has guided him through his successful career as a manager. It all started when his mentor, Manolo Fernández, approached him to coach the under-19 team of Sabadell, known as the third strongest team in Catalunya. At the time, Cifuentes was only 21 years old and playing at a lower level, so he was surprised by the offer. He had not planned on pursuing coaching for another 15 years, but Fernández saw potential in him and wanted to accelerate his progress.
Cifuentes recounted, “He noticed my understanding of the game while I was playing. He believed that if I could articulate it, I would make a strong coach.”
Cifuentes was known for ending his time as a player and taking on new challenges. He became the youngest manager in Spain in 2014 when he became the manager of Sant Andreu in the third division. In 2018, he joined the Norwegian team Sandefjord after being a part of AIK Stockholm’s academy, but they experienced relegation.
Currently, Cifuentes is attempting to save QPR’s spot in the Championship league. At the time when Gareth Ainsworth was fired in October, the team was in 23rd place. They were known for their straightforward style of play and had only won two out of 14 games. While it may not have seemed like they desperately needed a Johan Cruyff admirer from Sweden as their next manager, it also may not have been the most strategic career decision for Cifuentes.
Change has followed. Cifuentes, who once spent time studying at Ajax and Millwall, is in the process of revolutionising QPR’s style. “The guys have been excellent,” he says. “They have been open to new ideas. I thought these players could play the game I like.”
The team QPR, who will play against Southampton this Saturday, currently holds the final spot for relegation, but has closed in on Huddersfield and Millwall with only a two-point difference. Supporters are discussing the popular style of play known as tiki-taka. Cifuentes, who speaks highly of Xabi Alonso’s performance at Bayer Leverkusen, remains humble.
“If I had a camera at this moment to see my actions from 20 years ago, I would most likely feel embarrassed,” he explains. “One grows and changes a lot over time. However, it is undeniable that being a successful coach requires different abilities than being a player. It is beneficial to have been a skilled player and be able to effectively convey your experiences.”
Being a great coach does not necessarily require being a skilled player. The key is to have a strong understanding of the players, such as the experience of performing in front of a large audience or dealing with a rough streak. Empathy plays a crucial role in this understanding.
How can one comprehend something they have never encountered? Cifuentes believes that it is crucial to listen and learn from players, as the game ultimately belongs to them. In his experience, he has found that the top figures in football are very humble. He recalls meeting Johan Cruyff, a legendary football player and coach, while studying in Barcelona at his university. Despite his status, every time Cruyff spoke to him, he remained incredibly humble. There is a saying in Spanish that states: the more knowledge one has on a particular subject, the more they realize how much they still have to learn about it.
Cifuentes was raised in Sant Cugat del Vallès, a northern town of Barcelona. His grandfather, who has since passed, played for Barcelona B and his father, also deceased, was a supporter of the club. Cifuentes remains a member of Barça. He fondly recalls attending his first match at Camp Nou, where Atlético Madrid was the opposing team, and witnessing the legendary Dream Team led by Cruyff. He looked up to Michael Laudrup as his idol and this greatly influenced his perspective on football.
“When I transitioned to playing professional football in Spain, as the youngest coach with high expectations, it was a challenging experience,” Cifuentes explains. “I always stick to my principles. However, there were certain things at some of the clubs I worked with that I didn’t agree with, leading to me being let go twice, not due to performance. In Spain, it can be difficult to hold the position of head coach. I was eager for growth and had other opportunities, but when the offer came from Sweden, I saw it as a fantastic opportunity.”
Cifuentes made a bold decision to join AIK. He flourished in the Scandinavian region and honed his skills in offensive football. He takes great pride in leading Sandefjord to promotion and guiding Hammarby to the Europa Conference League, though he is quick to credit his players for their success.
“It’s about understanding the capabilities of the players and trying to pass it on a bit,” Cifuentes says. “That is what coaches do. A guy that is trying to make a puzzle work. Sometimes this piece here doesn’t fit so you need to find a way that the piece works.
“It’s a unique situation where one piece is not only connected to another. The actions of the right-back player impact the left-winger. The game involves 11 players.”
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Cifuentes is constantly pondering the puzzle. However, is he rigid in his beliefs? Is he a coach who will never make concessions on his principles?
Cifuentes says, “I have had a lot of time to think and travel, and I have come to the realization that if I had been doing the same training and playing in Barcelona, I would have struggled in Sweden. As coaches, we often have an ideal way of playing in our minds, but the truth is that we may have to adapt to the reality of the situation, such as having two talented strikers but only being able to play with one.”
The key is to express yourself. My preference for controlling possession will always remain constant. It’s not about being extravagant, but about being in control. It pains me to see my team constantly defending deep inside our own goal area.
I have witnessed successful teams, such as Juventus and Inter, who defend in their own box for the entire 90 minutes and still come out as champions. Personally, I fear that this defensive strategy will result in a loss. However, other coaches believe it is the key to victory. It is wise to acknowledge your own beliefs and convictions. It is often said that players lack intelligence, but I disagree. In fact, players are highly perceptive and can easily detect when someone is being dishonest with them. At the same time, it is important to have the ability to adapt to different situations.
Cifuentes recently relocated to London with his family and fondly recalls his conversations with Cruyff. It took him quite some time to fully grasp the meaning behind Cruyff’s words, as he had a way of speaking that seemed straightforward but was actually quite profound. Cifuentes learned firsthand the power and effectiveness of simplicity while living in Scandinavia.
“Do you have to do a lot of running? It’s more important to focus on improving your running rather than just doing more of it in football. In some cultures, the belief is that we should run more, but when someone suggests we should focus on running better, it can be surprising.”
The focus now shifts to QPR. It was believed that they required someone with experience in the Championship and willingness to play a less attractive style of football. However, they have taken a different approach, although Cifuentes refuses to comment on whether being practical is riskier than being bold.
“If both coaches claim that they will win based on their specific nationality or style…well, history shows that every season, there are surprises and unexpected champions,” Cifuentes explains. “If being successful meant emulating someone like Pep Guardiola and his Catalan background, then everyone would be hiring bold Catalan coaches.”
To be considered unconventional thinking from QPR, I must demonstrate value. My belief lies in competence, diligence, and skilled players. It is not solely based on having more experience in specific countries.
Source: theguardian.com
