QPR should eye ex-Norwich City figure after parting ways with Marti Cifuentes | OneFootball

With Marti Cifuentes placed on gardening leave, QPR should target ex-Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup

Queens Park Rangers have moved decisively ahead of their final Championship fixture, placing Marti Cifuentes on gardening leave following reports of a breakdown in communications with the board.

The announcement brings an abrupt pause to a tenure that had initially promised stability and progression after a turbulent 2023.

With interim control handed to assistants Kevin Betsy and Xavi Calm, the focus now shifts to identifying a long-term successor. Amid growing speculation and the likelihood of change, one name worthy of serious consideration is former Norwich City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup.

Though Thorup’s spell at Carrow Road ended in frustration, there are substantial reasons why QPR should regard the 36-year-old as a viable and forward-thinking candidate to lead the club into the 2024–25 season and beyond.

Thorup’s profile aligns with QPR’s stated long-term ambitions

Thorup was appointed by Norwich last summer as part of a strategic reset under sporting director Ben Knapper. His background at FC Nordsjaelland - where he was widely credited for his tactical sophistication, youth development ethos, and collaborative style - made him an archetype for the modern Championship project coach.

Norwich made that appointment with long-term alignment in mind, and while results ultimately did not meet expectations, Thorup’s core principles remain intact.

His Norwich side, for all their flaws, maintained one of the league’s most effective attacking outputs. The Canaries have scored 67 goals across the Championship season - a tally bettered only by Leeds United - and their play was characterised by verticality, structure, and a clear attempt to implement a progressive model.

Critically, Thorup was working under constraints that should not be overlooked. The sale of key players, injuries, disciplinary issues - including a lengthy suspension for Borja Sainz - and a fluctuating form curve created a volatile environment that few coaches would have mastered entirely.

Despite these challenges, Thorup remained consistent in his messaging and philosophical approach.

This profile should appeal to QPR’s executive leadership, who appointed Cifuentes with similar project-based reasoning. If that foundational strategy remains unchanged despite the Spaniard’s exit, then Thorup’s credentials warrant a serious appraisal.

QPR must avoid a reactive appointment and ensure project continuity

Cifuentes’ departure, regardless of the circumstances, leaves behind an identity the club cannot afford to abandon without consideration.

Appointed in October 2023 with the team languishing near the foot of the table, he successfully steered QPR clear of relegation danger while gradually imposing a more structured style of play.

Although results under Cifuentes remained inconsistent - culminating in a damaging 5-0 defeat to Burnley that likely precipitated the board’s action - the underlying tactical framework and cultural shift were tangible.

To now revert to a short-term appointment lacking in cohesion with the existing model would represent a regressive step, undermining months of structural rebuilding.

Johannes Hoff Thorup represents a continuity candidate in the truest sense. Young, analytically driven, and comfortable working within clubs that prioritise youth development and data-informed recruitment, he fits the profile of a head coach capable of developing talent and system over time.

His previous work at Nordsjaelland demonstrates a commitment to long-term planning - precisely what QPR require if they are to avoid another cycle of managerial turnover.

Further, Thorup’s availability makes him an immediately accessible option at a time when clarity and decisiveness will be crucial.

With the summer transfer window approaching and key squad decisions looming, the appointment of a manager with a clear playing philosophy and alignment with club values is imperative.