Former Birmingham City first-team coach and U23s manager Xavier Calm has been appointed to the backroom staff at Queens Park Rangers, following the arrival of Marti Cifuentes.
It was announced last week that the Spanish coach would succeed Gareth Ainsworth in the dugout at Loftus Road, having never coached in England before. In his debut match in charge, the London club shared a point with fellow strugglers Rotherham United.
However, ahead of Rangers’ massive game at home against Bristol City on Saturday, Cifuentes has added Calm to his coaching team, after working with the 42-year-old in Sweden at Hammarby as well as at Unió Esportiva Rubí, UE Sant Andreu and CE L’Hospitalet in Spain.
Unlike the new gaffer, Calm does have experience in the English game, having spent time as the head coach of Birmingham City’s U23s before eventually joining the first-team coaching staff under Pep Clotet, although he lasted just a few months in this role.
Speaking to club media about linking up with Calm once more, Cifuentes described his number two as a ‘skilled coach’:
“Xavi is a skilled coach when it comes to developing young players and he is very sharp on the pitch.
“We have a good balance and work well together. He has the extra plus that as well as his experience in Spain and Sweden with me, he also knows the Championship.
“We see football in a very similar way but he likes to look at the detail on the defensive phase while I usually like more to look forward, so in that sense, we work well.
“We are very lucky to have him on board.”
Writer’s View
This is a smart appointment by Cifuentes and QPR. Having never coached in English football before, it was important to bring someone to the team who has, but who also understands the manager’s demands on the pitch and in training.
It will also help Cifuentes to settle into the job, knowing there is a familiar face at work every day.
Deputy Head of Writing
