Neil Warnock was branded QPR's "number one target" - they need similarly inspired appointment now | OneFootball

Marti Cifuentes' departure leaves QPR searching for answers, just as they were in 2010. Back then, they made Neil Warnock their "number one target".

When Neil Warnock arrived at Queens Park Rangers in March 2010, he wasn't just another name in the revolving door of Loftus Road Managers, he was the name.

Branded QPR's "number one target" by chairman Gianni Paladini, Warnock's appointment inspired a club that had changed five managers in a year. Fast-forward to 2025, and the need for the same decisiveness is painfully familiar.

Marti Cifuentes leaves a complex legacy

Marti Cifuentes arrived at Loftus Road in October 2023 from Swedish side Hammarby, inheriting a side sitting six points adrift of Championship safety following a six-game losing streak. By the end of the term, he had guided the club to survival, beating champions Leicester and demolishing Leeds 4-0 along the way. His calm authority and playing style earned admiration.

However, in recent months, that goodwill has eroded following a period of frustration. Reports from West London Sport suggest that Cifuentes grew increasingly frustrated with internal operations at Loftus Road, concerns that former captain Shaun Derry revealed were not surprising when speaking to talkSPORT.

"It didn't shock me, personally," said Derry, who made 92 appearances for Rangers. "It's a brilliant football club and one that I feel is still in that rebuild phase, and the talk around the football club, especially with the hierarchy there, was that they wanted to sit with Cifuentes and move forward and build, and I think that this has shocked them inside."

This shock came when representatives opened discussions with West Bromwich Albion, looking to install him as Tony Mowbray's successor.

The Baggies ultimately passed on Cifuentes. But by then, the damage at QPR had been done. In a statement released by the club, CEO Christian Nourry said: "This is naturally a disappointing situation for everyone concerned. We are working to ensure this matter is resolved as swiftly as possible."

Complicating matters further is the factor of compensation. As discussed in West London Sport's piece on the Cifuentes situation, QPR's decision to place Cifuentes on gardening leave rather than outright dismiss him appears to be a calculated legal move. If he is still employed, then the club can claim compensation if he takes another job. However, this strategy also places QPR in a form of limbo; they are unable to properly replace him, and he is unable to freely move on.

A look back at Warnock's arrival

"We needed a manager who is a fighter, someone with great experience and a proven track record," said chairman Paladini upon Warnock's arrival in 2010, as quoted by the BBC. "Neil was always our number one target, and we are delighted to have got our man."

And these were not empty words. Just over a year later, Warnock had turned an underperforming squad into Championship winners. His no-nonsense style, tactical clarity, emotional investment and, of course, the influence of the talismanic Adel Taarabt brought cohesion to a club who were at the time in disarray.

Taarabt is someone in particular synonymous with Warnock's time in West London, with the manager quoted by MyLondon saying: "Tarbs is the sort of exciting player QPR should have."

A stark comparison can be made between Warnock's arrival and QPR's current situation

What makes the current situation at Loftus Road even more striking is how it echoes the chaos of 2010 in how the club has drifted from purposeful leadership. When Warnock arrived in West London 15 years ago, QPR were stuck in a revolving door of managers and muddled ambition. They were 13th in the Championship with unrest in the dressing room and uncertainty in the boardroom following Flavio Briatore's exit in February 2010.

However, crucially, Warnock's appointment brought clarity. The board identified their man and backed him. Warnock understood the chaos of the Championship better than almost anyone. His track record gave him authority, and his personality gave QPR something they desperately lacked in direction. Within months, the club looked completely transformed, not just regarding the league table, but in identity.

Just over a year after his arrival, QPR achieved promotion to the Premier League, going up as well-deserved Championship winners under the guidance of Warnock.

Looking at the 2025 picture, Cifuentes' reign has ended in ambiguity and off-pitch drama. As outlined below, whoever comes in at QPR is entering a club in severe need of direction.

QPR must make a bold, clear appointment again

Back in 2010, QPR knew what they needed and acted upon this. They chose not to settle for a caretaker or gamble on potential. They brought in one of the best leaders in the business.

As he has done across a career spanning over 40 years, Warnock built a team in his image and with this, earned promotion the following season after just over a full year in charge.

As of now, in 2025, QPR cannot afford another drawn-out, experimental project without a plan. They need a manager who can impose structure, unite a splintered squad, and show supporters at Loftus Road that there is a progression pathway.

The club's next appointment must reflect the urgency of the moment. Cifuentes' era showed promise; however, familiar pressures saw the Spaniard's tenure collapse. If QPR want to escape this cycle for good, they need more than a head coach; they need a figurehead. Just like Warnock was.