Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/15/17

Welcome to another Friday, everyone. A couple key things happened this week in the MLS schedule as we gear up towards the January transfer window. If you are even remotely involved in social media, I am sure you are seeing the same thing I am.
Orlando City fans are restless for some nugget of information about player movement within the club. We are watching for any hint or rumor — at least rumors from reputable sources — and we’ll let you know as soon as we do. Until then, how about we dive right into the internet information pool while we still can and enjoy some links from around the web.
Before we get to the consumables below, I need to send a hearty happy anniversary to a few of our illustrious The Mane Land writers. Scott Carnevale and Guilherme Torres joined a year ago during this month, and Sean Rollins joined three years ago. Congratulations, gentlemen. Now let’s get going on those links.
Top Tifos of 2017
Tifos are there to make a statement to the fans, the club, the players and to the rest of the world. Sometimes they are used to make you laugh, sometimes used to make others cry, and other times used to remind everyone of who we are, what we believe in, and what makes us believe. MLS has picked the top tifos of 2017, and I won’t spoil it for you, but Orlando City’s own Ruckus and Iron Lion Firm may have a few examples in the clip (as does that really weird Waffle House tifo).
USMNT Men’s Player of the Year is…
Honestly, there was truly only one option for this in my opinion, and the opinion of most of the people I have talked to about this. Congratulations to Christian Pulisic, who at 19 years old is the youngest player to win the award. He was the USMNT’s largest contributor on the offensive side of the pitch and was involved, either directly or indirectly, in 13 of the 17 goals scored during his time on the pitch for the national team. The future looks very bright with this young man around.
He's just getting started.@cpulisic_10 is your 2017 #USMNT Player of the Year » https://t.co/Y3Do0CkrMr pic.twitter.com/8rcnBp6RdC
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@ussoccer_mnt) December 14, 2017
Sargent Heads for Werder Bremen in Germany
Josh Sargent, an ever growing star in the U.S. Soccer system, is heading to Germany to sign his first ever professional contract with Bundesliga side Werder Bremen. Was there a chance he could have stayed in the states and played in MLS? Sargent says yes, but then elaborates on why Germany, while hinting at why not MLS, became where he wants to play.
USSF Creating a New General Manager Position
Could it be that U.S. Soccer is listening to the throngs of pundits, fans, and critics calling for drastic change in the current hierarchy and system? At least one step seems closer to reality as it appears that the board of directors has discussed the creation of a new position of general manager, with many of the assumed responsibilities of the current president position moving to this new individual. Foremost is the moving of the USMNT head coach under this new general manager and out from directly under the president. Other discussions hinted at making the presidential role more aligned with being a “chairman of the board” and away from the all-powerful, and somewhat dictatorial, executive position it currently is.
Some of the World’s Best U-12 Players Heading to Florida
Want to see just how bright the future of soccer is? From Dec. 18-22, you can watch some of the best U-12 teams from the U.S. and around the world compete in the inaugural Prospects Cup. Held at the Champions Gate Sports Field Complex at the Omni Orlando Resort in Kissimmee, 16 teams will compete on the pitch. Can’t make it the match in person? Fear not, as Univision Deportes Network will be airing matches.
Beckham bringing MLS to Miami Just Got a Local Boost
The on-again, off-again, it’s going to happen, it’s not going to happen soap opera that is David Beckham’s attempt to bring an MLS side to Miami just received a major boost. MLS just approved the additions of Jorge and Jose Mas, leaders of the telecommunication company Mastec, and Masayoshi Son, founder and CEO of SoftBank, as additional owners of Miami’s possible expansion club. This certainly brings in a major local connection with the Mas brothers as they bring generational ties within South Florida to the ownership group.
Free Kicks:
- Just in case anyone was wondering, Alex Morgan and Servando Carrasco got their luggage back.
When you finally get your luggage and you walk out in your cleeeeeean clothes like pic.twitter.com/rF3CnQZv4h
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) December 14, 2017
- U.S. Soccer announced that eight of the nine candidates had submitted the necessary number of nominations. Unfortunately, we will have to wait to get the names of the eight until all background checks have been completed.
- Los Angeles Football Club is making big moves with what could be its second and third DP signings.
- I agree, it could be the best gift.
It sure is!
This might be the best White Elephant gift of all time! pic.twitter.com/4aPyAa2buH
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) December 14, 2017
- The San Jose Earthquakes signed three players today
BREAKING: #Quakes74 sign three players from @Reno1868FC: https://t.co/yd5vXs4gk4
Welcome to San Jose! #ForwardAsOne pic.twitter.com/2gWl7U4otc
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) December 14, 2017
- Sporting Kansas City just replaced the winger it lost in the expansion draft by trading with NYCFC for Khiry Shelton.
- Things are afoot in Toronto
Source tells me that Toronto are likely to bring back free agent Drew Moor. Things not quite as rosy with fellow FA Steven Beitashour, however. Told TFC want him back, but cap considerations could keep it from happening.
— Sam Stejskal (@samstejskal) December 14, 2017
- Just a friendly reminder to everyone, that we all just need a little Patience.
That is all I’ve got for you today, folks. Nine days until Christmas, Hanukkah is in full swing, the Geminid Meteor Shower is coming to a close, and in case any of you needed a reminder of what to get me for my birthday, I love rye whiskey, IPAs, and corn dogs with tater tots. Have a great Friday, everyone.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/14/25
Orlando Pride face the Chicago Stars tonight, 2025 NWSL season set to kick off, San Diego FC’s plan to stop discriminatory chant, and more.

Happy Friday! The Orlando Pride’s season starts today to kick off another three straight days of Orlando soccer. Orlando City is in action on Saturday, and then we have Orlando City B to enjoy on Sunday. Before we jump into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Executive OCSC Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi!
Orlando Pride Take On Chicago Stars FC Tonight
The Orlando Pride’s first game of the 2025 NWSL season is finally here, with the team set to begin its title defense at home tonight at 8 p.m. against the Chicago Stars. Before the match, the club will raise banners to celebrate a historic season last year that included winning the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship. It’s an unfamiliar position for the Pride to start a season from, as the club has undergone quite the transformation in both culture and expectations in recent years.
“It’s going to be such a special moment,” defender and vice-captain Kylie Nadaner said. “I got here when things weren’t great in this club, and there were times where I don’t think that I would ever have predicted that this would be possible. So when that banner is raised, it’s going to be such a special moment, and to see this star on our chest—every time I see it, I’m just so proud and honored to be a part of it.”
The Pride’s season will start with a matchup against a Chicago team they eliminated in the first round of last year’s playoffs. The Stars won’t be the only team with revenge on their mind when facing the Pride, and Orlando will have to navigate the season with a large target on its back. It’s still a bit surreal to acknowledge that considering where this club was only a few years ago.
2025 NWSL Season Kicks Off Tonight
Tonight’s matches are just the first in what should be an exciting start to the NWSL season across the country. While most of us will likely be watching the Pride, the Washington Spirit are also in action at 8 p.m. tonight when they face the Houston Dash. Saturday’s slate features four games with staggered start times for a nice day of soccer, including an intriguing late match pitting NJ/NY Gotham FC against the Seattle Reign. The weekend wraps up on Sunday night with a Cali clash between Angel City FC and the San Diego Wave. If in need of a refresher on each team after a busy off-season, ESPN provided a nice guide heading into this season.
San Diego FC Launches Plan to Stop Anti-Gay Chant
After the use of a homophobic chant in its inaugural home game earlier this month, San Diego FC has announced a plan for addressing it. Starting as soon as Saturday’s home game against the Columbus Crew, there will be increased communication to fans reinforcing that the chant has no place at the stadium. There will be increased security measures as well, with the plan noting that offenders will be identified and ejected. FIFA’s protocol to abandon the match if the behavior persists is also part of the club’s announced plan. Hopefully this all will help nip the problem in the bud.
Europa League Quarterfinals Are Set
Only eight teams remain in this year’s Europa League after some exciting round of 16 matchups. A hat trick by Bruno Fernandes lifted Manchester United to a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad at Old Trafford, while fellow English club Tottenham also advanced after a 3-1 home victory against AZ Alkmaar. As for the Italian clubs, an early red card to Mats Hummels doomed AS Roma in its 3-1 loss to Athletic Club and Lazio’s 1-1 draw with Viktoria Plzen was enough to advance. Fenerbahce beat Rangers 2-0, but Rangers ultimately came out on top in the penalty shootout.
In the quarterfinals, Manchester United faces a Lyon side that breezed through the round of 16, and Rangers will battle Athletic Club. On the other side of the bracket, Tottenham plays Eintracht Frankfurt and Lazio is matched up against Bodo/Glimt.
Free Kicks
- Enjoy this look into the Pride’s history of home openers over the past nine years in the NWSL.
- NWSL players will be able to decrease their yellow card accumulation through good behavior this season.
- The first two rounds of the 2025 U.S. Open Cup will exclusively be broadcast on U.S. Soccer’s YouTube channel.
- UEFA will reportedly reach out to FIFA and the International Football Association Board over changing the rule that disallowed Julian Alvarez’s penalty in the Champions League after a slip of his plant foot caused him to brush the ball before he struck it, resulting in a double kick.
- In a bizarre bit of scheduling, Chelsea and Manchester City’s women’s soccer teams will face each other four times over the course of 12 days across all competitions.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend. Go Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/13/25
Getting to know Robin Jansson, Orlando Pride announce 2025 season roster, Orlando City’s watch party schedule, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? Soccer in the City Beautiful is back and in full swing, with another stacked weekend ahead of us. I’ve been spending most of the week working and getting some reading done before the rest of the month really gets busier for me. For those who like contemporary romance and are looking for a recommendation, First-Time Caller has been a fantastic read so far. But enough about what you should be reading, let’s get to the links!
Getting to Know Robin Jansson
Enjoy taking a stroll with Orlando City center back Robin Jansson, who detailed his role on the team and experience in Orlando. The 33-year-old has become an MLS veteran over the years and talked about how his game has developed since moving from Sweden to the U.S., notably how he’s able to play with the ball at his feet a bit more. As the team’s captain, Jansson provides leadership both on and off the pitch and discussed how he’s fit into the verbal and intense South American culture within the club. He also spoke on how he gives back to the community by visiting kids in the hospital to help them on their journeys.
Orlando Pride Announce Roster for 2025 Season
With the NWSL season only a few days away, the Orlando Pride announced their start-of-season roster. There aren’t too many changes from the team that won both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship last year, although Adriana’s transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah FC is notable. New additions acquired this off-season include Zambian forward Prisca Chilufya, World Cup winner Oihane Hernández, and rookie defender Zara Chavoshi. Luana, Simone Charley, and Amanda Allen are the players on the season-ending injury list heading into the 2025 season as well.
Orlando City Reveals 2025 Watch Party Schedule
The schedule for this year’s Orlando City watch parties was announced and fans will be able to watch seven away games at different local pubs. The first will be Saturday at Burton’s Thornton Park for Orlando’s road game against the New York Red Bulls. This should create a nice atmosphere for Orlando’s road rivalry games in May too, as the game against Inter Miami on May 18 will fittingly be watched at Rivals, while the watch party for the game against Atlanta United on May 28 will be at The Hideaway. Orlando’s Decision Day match with Toronto FC will be hosted at Kiwi’s Pub & Grill to close out the regular season. As part of the club’s partnership with the pubs, each one will have access to MLS Season Pass for all of the Lions’ games this year as well.
New NWSL Players to Watch in 2025
Pride fans are well aware that NWSL newcomers played a major role in the league last season, as Barbra Banda was a major reason behind the club’s historic year. This year’s new faces include many players who could impress in their first year in the NWSL, like aforementioned Pride defender Oihane Hernandez. The right back helped Spain win the 2023 Women’s World Cup and bronze at the 2024 Olympics and joined the Pride after two seasons with Real Madrid. She’s skilled on both sides of the ball and gives opponents another obstacle to overcome this season.
OCB Lands in MLS NEXT Pro’s Top 10
The first power rankings of the MLS NEXT Pro season are out and Orlando City B placed sixth. The Young Lions kicked off their season at home on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Columbus Crew 2. A late rally by Columbus nearly spoiled things, but OCB did well to hold onto its lead and secure all three points. Orlando’s next match will be Sunday at Osceola Heritage Park against Atlanta United 2, which lost 1-0 to New York Red Bulls II during the opening weekend.
Free Kicks
- Chicago Stars forward Mallory Swanson won’t be with the team when it takes on the Pride this Friday due to personal reasons.
- Although she’s focused on this NWSL season, Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman stated that it’s just a matter of when in regards to her making the move to Europe.
- Seattle Sounders midfielder Paul Arriola was carted off due to a left knee injury during his team’s 4-1 loss to Cruz Azul. It’s tough news for Arriola, who tore his right ACL in 2020.
- Charlotte FC bolstered its defense by adding left back Souleyman Doumbia on loan from Standard Liège for the 2025 season.
- The Kansas City Current signed forward Flora Marta Lacho to a two-year contract, making her the first Angolan player in league history. She heads to the U.S. after helping TP Mazembe win the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League last year.
- The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals are set and each matchup looks to be a good one. Arsenal will take on Real Madrid, Bayern Munich will face Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund will play Barcelona, and Aston Villa will square off against Paris Saint-Germain.
- Bos Nation FC hired Amina Bulman as its chief revenue officer. Bulman led the Washington Commanders’ revamp as the NFL team’s chief brand and strategy officer, so a similar brand reset is hopefully on the horizon for the NWSL club.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/12/25
David Brekalo featured, the Orlando Pride’s season promotions, USMNT roster drop, and more.

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers! With the weekend’s matches firmly in the rearview mirror, it is time to look ahead to the next matches, starting with the Orlando Pride’s season opener at Inter&Co Stadium Friday. As you’ll see below, you definitely want to be there in person if you can.
We also want to wish a very happy birthday to Orlando Pride attacker Ally Watt! We hope she has a wonderful day. Now, let’s get to the links.
Brekalo for Club and Country
Orlando City center back David Brekalo is ready to give his all for the Lions and with the Slovenian National Team in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup. In an interview with FIFA.com, Brekalo spoke about Orlando City, MLS, and his national team. It provides some excellent insight into his motivations for club and country.
Pride Promotions
Friday night, the Orlando Pride will raise the banners from the 2024 NWSL Shield and the 2024 NWSL Championship. The ceremony will take place before the match against the Chicago Stars. Hopefully, these will be the first of many as Seb Hines and his team look to repeat the double.
The banners are just the start of a season’s worth of promotions the Pride will host this year. Other events include Pups of Pride, Kids Night Out, and others. These are some additional great reasons to go support the champs in 2025.
Banda and Marta Shine
Barbra Banda took the league by storm when she arrived last year, but she had some help adjusting to the NWSL from the club and her teammates. Repeating as champions won’t be easy, but Banda knows that she doesn’t have to do it alone. Marta is also coming off a great season, and is a player in the league to keep an eye on. Hopefully, the duo can lead the Pride back to the promised land.
USMNT Roster Announced
Mauricio Pochettino has selected the 23-player roster for the 2025 Concacaf Nations League. The big names are there, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, and Tyler Adams. The U.S. kicks things off against Panama in the first semifinal on March 20 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Given the names on this list, it is obvious that Pochettino is serious about trying to win a trophy.
Free Kicks
- Evidently, the Orlando Pride didn’t do enough to earn the top spot on ESPN’s “ambition” rankings. Perhaps it is because they didn’t need to do too much to improve the best team in the NWSL in 2024?
- Take some time to get to know Orlando City B goalkeeper Carlos Mercado. He might be the third-string keeper for the first team, but he’s number one on OCB’s list.
- Angelina gets some attention from outside of the Orlando community as a critical player for the Orlando Pride this coming season. To this point, we at The Mane Land say, “duh.”
- MLS and Audi are celebrating 10 years of partnership. Audi sponsors the MLS Golden Boot and MLS Cup each year and contributes funds to MLS Club Youth Academies through the Audi Goals Drive Progress program.
- Occasionally, we get to see something that actually makes America great. Well done, sir. The U.S. drew Trinidad & Tobago 2-2 but won the ensuing shootout.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for this weekend’s matches. Vamos Orlando!
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