Queens Park Rangers are close to naming Johannes Hoff Thorup as their new head coach, according to Danish media outlet Tipsbladet.
The Hoops are on the search for a new boss after Marti Cifuentes was put on gardening leave last month. The decision came following reports that representatives of the 42-year-old had held talks with West Bromwich Albion over their vacant managerial position.
In a short statement at the time, QPR said:
“Marti Cifuentes has been placed on gardening leave.
“Assistant coaches Kevin Betsy and Xavi Calm will take charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis and prepare the squad for our final fixture of the 2024/25 campaign against Sunderland.”
The West Londoners eventually finished the campaign in 15th, seven points above the relegation places.
Thorup Heading To The Capital?
According to reports from Denmark, Thorup is on the verge of taking on the reins at the MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium. The 36-year-old was given his first managerial role in England last summer with Norwich City after leaving FC Nordsjælland.
The Canaries harboured ambitions of a top six finish, looking to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2022. However, they spent the majority of the season languishing around mid-table, only briefly flirting with the play-off places.
This led to Thorup’s dismissal in April, shortly after a 3-1 defeat at Millwall saw them pick up just one win in 10 games. It appears as if his stint out of the game will be a short one though, with an imminent return to the Championship on the cards.
It is said that the Dane has held several talks with the club, including face-to-face meetings in the capital. As such, he is expected to be named as Cifuentes’ replacement once his exit is confirmed.
Writer’s View
The situation at Queens Park Rangers continues to be a messy one. Cifuentes has still not been formally dismissed, but this report shows that his exit is a forgone conclusion. Thorup still remains somewhat of an unknown entity in English football. The job he did at Norwich was fairly unspectacular, although his departure from Carrow Road did come as somewhat of a shock. He was less than 12 months into a three-year deal, which shows that clubs still expect instant results. He may now get that opportunity with QPR, where he will be hoping to show his former employers that they were premature in pulling the trigger.
