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Early Friday afternoon, the Portland Timbers announced the addition of Miles Joseph, long-time assistant to Jason Kreis for Real Salt Lake, New York City FC, and Orlando City Soccer Club.
In a de facto swap, Portland fills the open slot on Giovanni Savarese’s coaching staff left by Sean McAuley, who departed just three weeks ago for Orlando City.
“We are delighted to add Miles to our coaching staff, and we welcome him and his family to Portland,” said general manager Gavin Wilkinson on the team’s official press release. “As someone who has experienced first-hand the growth of MLS from the beginning as a player, and through his considerable experience as a coach in this league, we believe Miles will be an excellent addition to our technical staff.”
Joseph has many years of experience in Major League Soccer, most recently as assistant coach in Orlando, from 2016 through 2018. Before Orlando, Joseph was on the coaching staff for New York City Football Club for their inaugural 2015 season, after spending five years with Real Salt Lake, helping them to the MLS Cup Finals in in 2013, and the Concacaf Champions League final in 2011.
Miles Joseph’s familiarity with his new head coach, Savarese, precedes both of their coaching careers to when they were teammates on the New York MetroStars from 1996–98.
Savarese said in the published release, “I am extremely pleased to reunite with someone I have known so well in my playing days, and someone with so much MLS coaching experience. We are excited Miles will be part of our coaching staff here in Portland.”
Joseph has six years of experience playing in MLS, from 1996 to 2000, for the MetroStars, Columbus Crew, and Dallas Burn. He also holds three caps with the USMNT.
During his stint with Orlando City, Joseph, a former midfielder himself, was tasked with shoring up the defensive deficiencies in Orlando’s midfield. While no specifics about Miles Joseph’s specific role with the Timbers have been released, it would not be surprising to see him take on a similar position.