The Portland Timbers have named Giovanni Savarese as the club’s head coach entering the 2018 MLS season. Savarese, the third head coach in the club’s MLS history, brings over 25 years of professional experience as a player and coach to the Timbers organization, most recently serving as the head coach and sporting director of the New York Cosmos where he led the club to three Soccer Bowl championships in five seasons in the North American Soccer League (NASL).

Savarese, 46, will be formally introduced as the Timbers new head coach during a press conference in early January. “After an intense coach search, I am very pleased to introduce Gio Savarese as the head coach of the Portland Timbers,” said Merritt Paulson, owner of the Timbers.