Orlando City Parts Ways with GM Paul McDonough

As reported by Orlando Sentinel’s Paul Tenorio, Orlando City’s Senior VP of Soccer Operations Paul McDonough will leave the team as the Lions prepare for the Major League Soccer 2015 Waiver and Re-Entry Drafts, and other off season preparations. Speculation on McDonough’s future was cast in doubt since Orlando City brought in newly minted chief soccer officer, Armando Carneiro.

"I am sorry to see Paul leave us but fully understand his wishes to further his career within the game," Orlando City Founder and President Phil Rawlins said in a club press release. "Paul has been with us for two years and has done a great job in helping the Club build a very competitive MLS roster in our first year. I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all his hard work on our behalf, and to wish Paul well with his future career."

McDonough's areas of responsibility, including recruitment, liaising with MLS, the USL and NWSL regarding player transactions, and other duties will be absorbed by the technical staff under the direction of Chief Soccer Officer Armando Carneiro.

"We are confident we have the proper technical team in place under Armando's direction and expertise, and we look forward to a successful 2016 season across all three teams – Orlando City, Orlando Pride and Orlando City B," said Rawlins.

McDonough put together a team that nearly reached the playoffs in its first MLS season, and might have done, if not for an abysmal run of injuries to key players this season. We spoke to him just after the summer transfer window, when he added four players for the stretch run.