Apr 14, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; A general view of the Portland Thorns FC logo on the field before the game between the Houston Dash and Portland Thorns FC at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
On Wednesday, March 4, just nine days before the 2026 NWSL season begins, the Portland Thorns finally announced their next head coach — Robert Vilahamn. The Thorns had been without a coach since Nov. 25, when the team dismissed former coach Rob Gale after just one year. Gale’s replacement took so long that some wondered if the team would start the season without a leader at the helm.
But the Thorns came through in the eleventh hour with Vilahamn, a Swede with a background in women’s soccer. He previously managed Tottenham Hotspur Women in England’s Women’s Super League and had earlier success coaching in Sweden, working with both men’s and women’s sides at BK Häcken in Gothenburg, Sweden among other clubs.
“Robert arrives with managerial experience at the highest levels of the women’s game, possesses a strong track record of helping players grow, and will strengthen our team environment by providing new global perspectives and insights” President and General Manager of Soccer Operations Jeff Agoos said in an official statement released by the Thorns on Wednesday.
Vilahamn is expected to arrive in Portland as soon as his visa is finalized, and he is hoping to make an immediate impact. “The club has everything I look for, with a clear ambition to win, an incredible fan base and a strong environment for developing talented players,” Vilahamn said in the Thorns’ official statement.
So far, reactions to Vilahamn’s selection have been mixed. On various internet interfaces like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, some fans have expressed excitement for Vilahamn’s arrival, suggesting that he will bring a fresh start to a team that has an incredibly high standard of success in the league. Other fans, however, point to lackluster results from Tottenham Hotspur Women, questioning if he is up for the task or if the job should have gone to interim head coach Sarah Lowdon.
It’s true that most NWSL coaches have prior U.S. soccer experience, a deep understanding of the league and its rules and a familiarity with U.S. soccer culture that Vilahamn may not have. But, he brings a strong record of developing young players and a willingness to give opportunities to emerging talent. This could make him a good fit for place like Portland, where young talent thrives alongside veterans, or he could be in over his head in a completely new environment. Only time will tell, but luckily that time is only nine days away, when the Thorns open on the road against the Washington Spirit to kick off the 2026 season.
