The rest of the soccer world might be building its anticipation for the summer spectacle of the FIFA Men's World Cup this week, but for the Portland Timbers, the focus has been much closer to home.
We have the first reports of whom the Timbers have been interviewing for their currently vacant permanent head coach position, even though that individual landed at another club.
A report yesterday from The Athletic's Tom Bogert revealed that Austin FC has landed Jim Curtin as their new head coach. The previously long-tenured coach of the Philadelphia Union has been out of a job since being let go after the 2024 season, and he has been one of the hottest commodities on the MLS coaching market. El Verde are the ones who finally landed him, with the former Supporter's Shield winning coach set to take charge of Austin after the 2026 MLS season.
So it shouldn't be a surprise that Curtin interviewed with the Portland Timbers as well. He ultimately was hired by Austin, but we can still infer a bit about Portland's coaching search by the report.
Tom Bogert
Why wasn't Curtin hired by Portland?
Everything in this section is of course educated speculation, as I am not Ned Grabavoy nor have the ability to see inside his head. But there are a number of points that could be the sticking ones here.