Giovanni Savarese, coaching staff signed to multiyear contract extension

The Portland Timbers announced today that Giovanni Savarese and his assistant coaching staff of Carlos Llamosa, Miles Joseph, Guillermo “Memo” Valencia, and Shannon Murray have been signed to multiyear contract extensions. The terms of the deal are unknown, and according to the club’s press release Savarese had been on “a short initial contract” until this extension.

Highlights of Gio’s tenure in Portland so far include helping guide the Timbers to a berth in the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs and all the way to the 2018 MLS Cup Final. He amassed a 15-10-9 regular season record in 2018, where the team tied its record for most regular-season wins. Currently, his team sits at a record of 6-8-2, but are very much on the rise since returning home after starting the season with 12 consecutive away games.

During Gio’s first season in 2018, he was working with a roster of players that were mostly picks by his predecessor, Caleb Porter. After a rocky start to the 2018 season, where he tried unsuccessfully to make the team into a high-pressing unit, Savarese showed his adaptability and turned the team into one that was feared for its lethal counter-attacking. After a largely successful first season, the general consensus was that with time he will be able to build on 2018 and make the team into his own image and style. With him and his staff signing deals to stay on the touchline in Portland for years to come, it looks like time is exactly what he’s getting.