Orlando City SC

Association football golf club in Major League Soccer
This article is about the Major League Soccer team. For the USL Pro team, see Orlando City SC ( 2010–2014 )
Football club

Reading: Orlando City SC

Orlando City Soccer Club is an american professional soccer club in Orlando, Florida, that competes as a extremity of the Eastern Conference in Major League Soccer ( MLS ). Orlando City SC began play in 2015 as the 21st franchise in MLS, succeeding the USL Pro team of the same diagnose. [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] In doing sol they became the first MLS team in Florida since Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny both folded following the 2001 season. [ 8 ] The team plays at Exploria Stadium in Downtown Orlando .

history [edit ]

On October 25, 2010, Phil Rawlins and his investor group of Orlando City Soccer Club, announced their intentions of joining Major League Soccer within the future three to five years. [ 9 ] On February 28, 2011, Orlando City announced it met with commissioner Don Garber and league officials concerning expansion. Topics covered included the demographics of the Orlando market, the local corporate and sports fan support for soccer, and developing a roadmap for a future MLS franchise in Orlando. [ 10 ] Orlando City team officials met with Commissioner Don Garber again on November 10, 2011, for far discussions about joining the MLS as its 20th club ( which ultimately went to New York City ). [ 11 ]
On March 1, 2012, Garber visited Orlando to meet with city and county officials. He stated, “ It ‘s not a matter of if, but when ”, when addressing Orlando ‘s chances of joining MLS. [ 12 ] On August 31, 2012, Rawlins told the Orlando Business Journal the team could get the Major League Soccer approval adenine early as belated 2013, and be quick to play in the league by 2014 or 2015. Rawlins said to make that happen, the league had asked the team to explore building a 22,000-seat soccer-specific stadium. “ They did n’t say we had to have a stadium built before we could join, but they at least would like a design that it ‘s happening. ” [ 13 ] On November 19, 2013, Orlando City SC was announced as the league ‘s twenty-first franchise. [ 5 ] The team ‘s raw logo was unveiled in May 2014 [ 14 ] and the team signed their first musician to an MLS contract, former Brazil international Kaká, a calendar month belated. Kaká, who besides became the team ‘s foremost Designated Player after his release from A.C. Milan, was immediately loaned to São Paulo until the beginning of the MLS season. [ 15 ] [ 16 ] In the lapp month, Orlando City announced a partnership with Benfica. [ 17 ] As part of that partnership, Orlando City late signed two players from Benfica U19s – Estrela and Rafael Ramos – to MLS contracts on August 7, 2014. [ 18 ] On November 21, 2014, head bus hadrian Heath signed a contract propagation committing him to the club until the end of the 2017 MLS temper. [ 19 ] As an expansion team, Orlando had the first overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft and used it to select canadian advancing Cyle Larin. [ 20 ]
The team hosted their first MLS game at the Citrus Bowl on March 8, 2015, against fellow expansion team New York City FC, in front man of a crowd of 62,510. Kaká scored in blockage time to earn a 1–1 describe. [ 21 ] In the follow plot, they defeated Houston Dynamo 1–0 on the road to earn their beginning victory. [ 22 ] On March 21, Orlando conceded a late blockage time finish to Octavio Rivero of Vancouver Whitecaps for their first defeat. [ 23 ] In their inaugural temper Orlando City finished 7th in the Eastern Conference and 14th in the overall standings, falling short of the playoffs by one point. Larin scored 17 goals across the season, breaking Damani Ralph ‘s record of 13 as a cub and earned the MLS Rookie of the Year Award. [ 24 ] Midway through the 2016 season, following disappoint results and performance of the team, head coach hadrian Heath was fired in July 2016. [ 25 ] He was replaced by Jason Kreis. however, the Lions ended the season missing the playoffs once again. In 2017, the Lions moved to the determination built Orlando City Stadium. With the team again struggling, they attempted to improve during the summer transfer window by acquiring Sporting Kansas City striker Dom Dwyer who had played for Orlando City ‘s USL Pro team on-loan in 2013, notably scoring four goals in the USL Pro Championship Final. The clubhouse traded incentives totaling to $ 1.6 million, a record deal between two MLS clubs at the time. [ 26 ] The team again failed to reach the postseason. Kaká announced that he would not return for Orlando City and soon after confirmed his retirement. [ 27 ] fifteen games into the 2018 season, Orlando City released head coach Jason Kreis after closely two seasons. [ 28 ] Two weeks belated, USL club Louisville City FC announced head coach James O’Connor, a former defender and adjunct coach of the master Orlando City franchise, was to become Kreis ‘s successor. [ 29 ] however, O’Connor only managed two wins in his 18 games in charge in 2018 as City missed the playoffs for the fourth back-to-back season and besides set a raw MLS record with 74 goals conceded on the year. [ 30 ] O’Connor was fired at the end of the 2019 season with the team missing out on playoffs again and remaining 11th in the Eastern Conference. [ 31 ] ahead of the 2020 season, Orlando hired early Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas oral sex coach Óscar Pareja. [ 32 ] With the season disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Orlando competed in the MLS is Back Tournament held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in July and August. The Lions reached the final, finally losing to the Portland Timbers 2–1. [ 33 ] MLS resumed the regular season on August 12. [ 34 ] After failing to make the postseason the previous five years, Orlando snapped the joint second-longest MLS playoff drought in history under the guidance of Pareja. The Lions reached the conference semi-finals, eliminating New York City FC in a dramatic penalty gunfight in the first base cycle before losing to New England Revolution. On May 12, 2021, Orlando City majority owner Flavio Augusto district attorney silva announced he was in gain negotiations with Zygi and Mark Wilf, owners of the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL, for the sale of the golf club including the Orlando Pride, Exploria Stadium and other associate soccer assets. The combine value of the distribute was estimated at $ 400–450 million. [ 35 ]

stadium [edit ]

Exploria Stadium In April 2013, the City of Orlando purchased downtown land for $ 8.2 million to be used towards the construction of a $ 110 million MLS soccer stadium. [ 36 ] however, in May, the Florida House of Representatives failed to vote on a charge that had passed the Senate that would have provided up to $ 30 million in submit funds towards the stadium undertaking. Phil Rawlins responded by expressing his intent to find option fund and keep seeking MLS expansion. [ 37 ] The mechanism to allow for the sales tax rebate for the MLS team was ultimately passed on April 25, 2014. [ 38 ] The Orlando downtown soccer stadium moved closer to securing fund on August 8, 2013, when Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer reached an agreement on a deal to provide fiscal confirm for a variety of Orlando projects including the new MLS soccer stadium. [ 39 ] The last while in stadium fund was an October 2013 vote on using an existing tourism tax to fund the final examination quarter of the $ 80 million stadium project. [ 40 ] On October 22, 2013, the Orange County Board of Commissioners voted 5–2 to approve the manipulation of $ 20 million in tourist development tax funds to build an $ 84 million multi-purpose soccer stadium in downtown Orlando. [ 41 ] On May 29, 2015, after two years trying to get fund from the submit of Florida, Flávio Augusto district attorney silva announced that the stadium would be privately funded in its entirety and would be owned and operated by the cabaret. He besides announced plans to increase capacity to between 25,000 and 28,000 and that the club would buy the initial localization from the City of Orlando. [ 42 ] On March 5, 2017, Orlando City hosted New York City FC in the stadium ‘s inaugural match to begin the 2017 season. Cyle Larin scored the first gear goal in stadium history as Orlando City won 1–0 in front of a sellout crowd of 25,550. [ 43 ] In 2017, Exploria Stadium became the first venue to host an MLS, NWSL, and USL team all in the lapp location. [ 44 ] The stadium has besides played host to several nationally relevant matches. On October 6, 2017, the United States Men ‘s National Team played its 2018 World Cup Qualifier against Panama in the stadium. [ 45 ] The follow workweek the 2017 NWSL Championship game between North Carolina Courage and Portland Thorns was besides played there. [ 46 ] On June 4, 2019, the naming rights to the stadium were sold to Florida-based time contribution and vacation rental caller Exploria Resorts. As a solution, the stadium was renamed Exploria Stadium. [ 47 ] On July 31, 2019, the stadium hosted the 2019 MLS All-Star Game between Atlético Madrid and the MLS All-Stars, which Atlético won 3-0. [ 48 ]

Camping World stadium [edit ]

Camping World Stadium (pictured), Orlando City’s home venue for their first two seasons. ), Orlando City ‘s home venue for their first two seasons. prior to the completion of Orlando City ‘s soccer specific stadium, the Lions occupied the then-named Citrus Bowl for their first two seasons in Major League soccer, which the team had besides invested in for renovations. In the opening home matches of the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Orlando City ran their “ fill the bowl ” crusade, which led to sell-out herd of over 60,000. [ 49 ] Orlando City averaged over 30,000 in attendance while using the stadium. [ 50 ]

Developmental arrangement [edit ]

MLS dissolved its reserve league in 2014. Like most MLS teams, Orlando now has a USL affiliate by way of Orlando City B, a USL League One team based at Osceola County Stadium. [ 51 ] Orlando City originally had an affiliation agreement with Louisville City FC, the club that bought the USL license from the owners of the Orlando City. The agreement provided that Orlando City will loan at least four players to Louisville City during the season. [ 52 ] In 2016, Orlando City ended their affiliation with Louisville and began its own USL expansion franchise OCB who primitively played at Titan Soccer Complex. [ 53 ] The team played two seasons in USL before going on suspension in 2018. The team returned in 2019 following a league restructure and became a establish member of USL1, the third gear tier of the US Soccer pyramid, contesting two seasons and finishing in last place both years before going on suspension again with a view to joining a likely relaunched MLS substitute league in the future. [ 54 ] [ 55 ] In OCB ‘s absence in 2021, Orlando City resurrected their under-23 team to play in the developmental United Premier Soccer League. [ 56 ] In 2010, the establish year of Orlando City ‘s original USL franchise, the team allied with Central Florida Kraze of the Premier Development League to assist actor development. Following their successful first temper, Orlando City acquired a controlling interest in the Kraze and renamed them Orlando City U-23. The team has a bequest that includes several current and past MLS players, and won the PDL Championship in 2004. In stead of OCB ‘s universe, the U-23 team was folded after the 2015 season. After their 2011 season, Orlando City besides acquired controlling interest in the Florida Soccer Alliance young soccer club, renaming them Orlando City Youth Soccer Club. The golf club is now a member of the Elite Club National League ( ECNL ) and has several boys and girls teams competing at local, country and national level with old age groups from 8 to 18. [ 57 ]

Facilities [edit ]

In May 2019, the team announced plans to move all of Orlando City ‘s development pyramid to one single shared adeptness, creating a 20-acre ( 8.1 hour angle ) discipline complex at Osceola Heritage Park to house the aged MLS team, OCB and Development Academy. [ 58 ] The site, in Kissimmee, Florida, includes four practice fields—three natural eatage and one artificial turf—a fitness, education and recovery plaza ; a players ‘ lounge, meal room and a film room adenine well as 30,000 square feet ( 2,800 m2 ) of function space for working staff and facilities to support media operations. Osceola County Stadium was converted into a soccer-specific stadium and acts as the home stadium of OCB. [ 59 ] It was a vision first set out by executive VP of soccer operations, Luiz Muzzi, upon his appointment in December 2018 as a mean of solidifying the in-house grapevine from youth to professional. [ 60 ] The facility was formally opened on January 17, 2020. [ 61 ]

Colors and badge [edit ]

The logo for Orlando City ‘s expansion team was unveiled in 2014. The main aspects, including the purple coloring material system and leo ident, carried over from the logo of the USL Pro team. New features and changes were introduced to represent the passage of the franchise into a first division team. The logo consists of a gold Lion grimace with 21 sunday flares making up its mane sitting within a purple shield. The number of flares represents the club ‘s position as the twenty-first team in MLS, while the sun-shaped mane is in reference to Florida ‘s nickname as The Sunshine State. The team diagnose is besides seen in the crest in white. [ 62 ]

Uniform development [edit ]

Home

2015–2016

2017–2018

2019–2020
2021–

Away

2015
2016–2017
2018–2019

2020–

Season

Kit manufacturer

Shirt sponsor

Ref.

2015–present

Adidas
Orlando Health
[63]
Orlando Health has been the official shirt patronize for Orlando City SC since the team ‘s origin as a USL franchise in 2010. In 2013, Orlando Health extended its partnership with the club, becoming the inaugural new jersey partner in MLS history to commit to an expansion clubhouse prior to its admission to the league. Adidas besides signed on as the club ‘s kit provider for the 2015 temper as per the league-wide batch made by MLS. [ 63 ] The softwood means that there are no longer third base kits and merely one kit ( between the home and away ) is permitted to change per season, rotating on an annual footing. [ 64 ]

Supporters [edit ]

The clubhouse had sold over 13,000 season tickets before playing its first pit in March 2015, [ 65 ] selling all 14,000 available season tickets late that calendar month. [ 66 ] As of the 2017 season, Orlando City ‘s season ticket base stands at a cap of 18,000. [ 67 ] On March 8, 2015, 62,510 people were in attendance for Orlando ‘s home undoer versus New York City FC, a read of any expansion team, and finished the year with the second-highest average attendance figures behind merely Seattle Sounders FC, again setting a new record for an expansion team. [ 68 ] [ 69 ] The cabaret has two major active supporters groups, which combine forces on game days to create “ The Wall ” now housed in the safe standing incision : The Ruckus and The Iron Lion Firm. [ 70 ] The Ruckus is the oldest of these groups founded in 2010, master formed in 2009 as the “ Orlando Soccer Supporters Club ” without an affiliation to any finical soccer team. [ citation needed ] The Iron Lion Firm separated from The Ruckus anterior to the start of City ‘s first season. [ citation needed ] The club besides has officially recognized international fan clubs in both Brazil and the United Kingdom. [ 71 ]

mascot [edit ]

Orlando City ‘s mascot is Kingston, an anthropomorphize and “ bulked up ” leo complete with dreadlocks. [ 72 ]

Players [edit ]

roll [edit ]

As of December 1, 2021[73]

Player

Nationality

Out on loan [edit ]

No.

Pos.

Player

Nationality

staff [edit ]

As of July 28, 2021[74][75]

Executive

Majority owner and chairman

Mark Wilf

Majority owner and vice-chair

Zygi Wilf

Majority owner and vice-chair

Leonard Wilf

Executive VP of soccer operations

Luiz Muzzi

Director of soccer and scouting

Ricardo Moreira

Coaching staff

Head coach

Óscar Pareja

Assistant coach

Jose Bazán

Assistant coach

Diego Torres Ortiz

Strength and conditioning coach

Fabián Bazán

Goalkeeping coach

César Baena

Affiliated clubs [edit ]

Orlando City SC
Technical partnerships

team records [edit ]

number of seasons [edit ]

This is a complete list of seasons for the MLS franchise. For a season-by-season history including the preceding Orlando City SC ( 2010–2014 ) USL franchise, see List of Orlando City SC seasons .
source

head coaches [edit ]

Only competitive games counted. Includes MLS regular season, MLS playoffs, MLS is Back Tournament, and U.S. Open Cup.

As of matches played November 23, 2021

All-time Orlando City SC coaching stats

Name

Nationality

From

Win%[nb 1]
Adrian Heath

November 21, 2014

July 6, 2016

55
18
17
20

Orlando City SC

history [edit ]

stadium [edit ]

Camping World stadium [edit ]

Developmental arrangement [edit ]

Facilities [edit ]

Colors and badge [edit ]

Uniform development [edit ]

Supporters [edit ]

mascot [edit ]

Players [edit ]

roll [edit ]

Out on loan [edit ]

staff [edit ]

Affiliated clubs [edit ]

team records [edit ]

number of seasons [edit ]

head coaches [edit ]

club captains [edit ]

See besides [edit ]

References [edit ]