Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter has decided to move on from his position as head coach. The news was released by the club on Friday morning.
Reports, originally at FourFourTwo.com, had the Timbers and Porter parting ways on Thursday night. Porter had been with the Timbers since 2013, winning MLS Cup in 2015 and compiling a record of 68-50-52.
"During Caleb’s five seasons with our club, we reached new heights and accomplished great things together. His commitment, passion and talent were essential in bringing many on-field successes to our supporters, our club and our city, most notably our first MLS Cup. More than that, he has been a friend whom I have enjoyed working with,” said Merritt Paulson, owner of the Timbers. “I respect Caleb’s decision to seek his next challenge. He leaves Portland with a lasting legacy valued by everyone associated with the club, and I wish him nothing but success in the future. With our next on-field leader, we look forward to building on the Timbers’ winning tradition and to setting the course for even greater achievements in the seasons ahead. Caleb leaves a strong club foundation and we are well-positioned to manage this departure.”
Under Porter, the Timbers won one MLS Cup, one Western Conference Championship (2015) and one Cascadia Cup (2017), while twice finishing atop the Western Conference table at season’s end as the conference’s No. 1 seed (2013, 2017) and twice qualifying for CONCACAF Champions League (2014-15, 2016-17).
Porter, who was named the 2013 MLS Coach of the Year following his first season in the league, helped guide the MLS All-Star Team to a 2-1 win over Bayern Munich at Providence Park in 2014. Porter, 42, also was a two-time recipient of the Oregon Sports Awards’ Slats Gill Award for Sportsperson of the Year (2013, 2015).
The club indicated that the identification process for Porter's successor was already underway.
The Timbers finished first in the Western Conference in 2017, in addition to winning the Cascadia Cup. They were knocked out by the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference Semifinals after losing 2-1 in the second leg at Providence Park.
