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Jeff Kassouf
Multiple Authors
The Portland Thorns have appointed Robert Vilahamn as their new head coach, according to multiple sources reported by ESPN, concluding a comprehensive search that extended throughout the off-season.
Previously, Vilahamn led the Tottenham Hotspur women’s team and has also coached at various clubs in Sweden.
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Under Vilahamn’s leadership, Tottenham achieved a sixth-place finish in the Women’s Super League and reached the FA Cup final. However, he was let go last June following an 11th-place league finish, narrowly avoiding relegation.
Before his tenure at Tottenham, Vilahamn coached BK Häcken in Sweden.
Sources indicate that Vilahamn came into the Thorns’ sights later in their coaching search. The team conducted interviews with various candidates from both within and outside the NWSL before ultimately selecting someone with international coaching experience.
The timing of the decision leaves Vilahamn with limited opportunities to work with the squad before the preseason concludes. The Thorns are set to kick off their 2026 campaign in less than two weeks.
It remains uncertain whether Vilahamn will be present on the bench when Portland faces the Washington Spirit in their opening match on March 13, as he is currently awaiting a visa.
Portland dismissed former coach Rob Gale on November 25.
Gale served for only one full season after stepping in as interim coach in 2024 and was later appointed to the full-time role.
Despite facing significant player absences, Portland finished third last season, reaching the semifinals where they were eliminated by the Washington Spirit.
Vilahamn inherits a Portland squad with significant expectations. The Thorns are three-time champions and two-time Shield winners, but their last title was secured in 2022.
Since that championship, the team has experienced inconsistency on the field and changes in ownership off it. They have turned to internal promotions for their head coaching vacancies on two occasions since their last title.
While Vilahamn enters the NWSL without prior league experience, he joins other coaches with Swedish backgrounds in the league, including recent North Carolina Courage head coach Mak Lind, who also coached at BK Häcken.