Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/19/16
The Orlando City head coaching rumor mill continued to churn yesterday, but don't worry we — have what you need to know, and some stuff you don't. So let's get started with today's soccer snippets.
Kreis Konfirmation
Yesterday the Orlando Sentinel confirmed that former Real Salt Lake and NYCFC head coach Jason Kreis is on Orlando City’s short list for replacing former manager Adrian Heath. Former Orlando Sentinel reporter Paul Tenorio, now of FourFourTwo, originally broke the story and our very own Gavin Ewbank highlighted why he thinks that the hiring of Kreis would be a good move for Orlando City.
Larin Lowdown
Cyle Larin had a pretty solid weekend. First, he bagged the game-tying goal in Orlando City’s 2-2 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps. The former UConn man was then announced as a member of the 2016 MLS All-Star roster for the game against Arsenal on July 28 alongside Orlando City’s No. 10, Kaká. However, that wasn’t enough for the Canuck from Brampton, Ontario, who also garnered a place on the substitutes’ bench for MLS Team of the Week and was also linked with Portuguese powerhouse Benfica on Monday, too.
A source from overseas is telling me there’s a $10M price tag on Cyle Larin. That source is from Portugal.
— MLS Transfers (@MLSTransfers) July 18, 2016
Quite the start to the week for Kid Fantastic.
Road to Rio Continued
The Road to Rio continues to get shorter each week, and to help us get excited the people over at Ritz Crackers have done some animated shorts about each one of the USWNT members on the main roster (sorry, there isn’t one for reserve Ashlyn Harris). Here is the one for the Orlando Pride’s own Alex Morgan.
FIFA Funding
There haven't been many positives regarding FIFA and money in recent months, but with the 2018 FIFA World Cup less than two years away, there is a bright spot on the horizon. FIFA recently engaged its first regional sponsor for the tournament. The partnership highlights a potential end to FIFA's woes as sponsorship opportunities had dried up for the game's governing body after its recent scandals, and it highlights the potential for its new regional sponsorship opportunities.
Well, that concludes another Tuesday edition of Lion Links. Hopefully by the end of the day we will know who the next Orlando City head coach is, but if we don't, make sure that you check back with us when we do.