Orlando City Soccer Club
The Orlando City Soccer Club is an American soccer team from Orlando, Florida. The team was founded in 2010 and has been increasing since 2011 in the USL Professional Division, the third division in the league system of the United States, in part.
In November 2013, the franchise owner announced, which was accepted, the planned expansion MLS for the 2015 season of Major League Soccer. The new franchise will have the same name.
- 7.1 record this season
History
In October 2010, bought the Englishman Phil Rawlins, a board member of the English football club Stoke City, the USL rights of the owner group Orlando Pro Soccer. This allowed the organization of the Austin Aztex to Orlando Change. The Aztex were thereupon be dissolved. The new team was introduced on October 25, 2010.
Rawlins is the president and majority shareholder at the Orlando Sports Holdings, which holds the franchise rights to Orlando City. Also part of the group of owners is Brendan Flood, board member at FC Burnley. To the Chief Executive Officer Steve Donner was appointed. The American was previously owner of the Rochester Americans ( AHL ) and the Rochester Knighthawks ( NLL ). The coach of the Aztex, Adrian Heath, Orlando City took over.
The first game took place in early 2011 against Philadelphia Union. In the test game, the team defeated the enemy from the Major League Soccer 1-0. A little later participated in the team at the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic. There, she reached the third place.
The first league game was played against the Richmond Kickers on 2 April 2011. Orlando defeated 2-0. On the 2nd round of the first victory could be won. Against FC New York, the team posted a 3-0. The first league goal in team history achieved Maxwell Griffin. After Orlando has reached the first place in the regular season, the team was able to prevail in the play-offs and thus secured themselves in the very first season victory in the league.
In the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2011, the team from Florida reached the third round, but there had to admit defeat to FC Dallas.
2012 Orlando City could reach the first place in the regular season again, but had to admit defeat in the quarter- finals of the play-offs, the Wilmington Hammerheads. For this, they reached the finals again in 2013 and won with 7:4 against the Charlotte Eagles.
2013 was Orlando City in the main round only reach the second place in the play-off final, but the team continued with 7:4 through against the Charlotte Eagles and was thus able to win the USL Pro for the second time after 2011.
Crest and colors
The logo of the Orlando City SC was introduced on 16 December 2010 during the morning news on the local TV station WOFL. The coat of arms includes three roaring lions. This is a reminder of the former football team Orlando Lions, who were active from 1985 to 1996. Also the nickname of the team, " Lions " was selected accordingly.
The colors of Orlando City are purple, red and gold.
Stadium
- ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex; Lake Buena Vista, Florida ( 2014)
From 2011 to 2013, the team wore their home games at the 70,000 -seat Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium from. In the 2013 season, a crowd of 8,197 spectators average could be achieved, in the play- offs, there were even more than 12,000 spectators.
In the 2014 season the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium is being renovated. For this reason, the team will host its home games on a football field in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The Sports Complex is located in the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Skip to first MLS season in 2015, a new stage will be built.
Development system
From the beginning, Orlando Kraze was associated with the USL Pro Soccer Club PDL Central Florida. The Kraze players should be trained for Orlando City. After the first successful season in the team Orlando City U- 23 was unnamed.
After the 2011 season, took over the Orlando Florida Soccer Alliance youth soccer club, and called this into Orlando City Youth Soccer Club. This could provide several youth teams in the USL Super Y -League.
Phil Rawlins is Chairman and majority shareholder at the Orlando Sports Holdings. Also on the board of this group is Brendan Flood, board member of English club Burnley FC.
Since February 2013, the Brazilian businessman Flavio Augusto da Silva is also represented on the board. He will take over the majority of the Orlando Sports Holdings, if the franchise moves to the Major League Soccer.
Players and staff
Current squad
As of October 16, 2013
Coaching staff
- England Adrian Heath - Coach
- Ireland James O'Connor - Assistant coach ( player-coach )
- Brazil Marcos Machado - Goalkeeper Coach