Orlando City
2019 Orlando City Season in Review: Nani

Orlando City made some waves in the transfer pool with the signing of former Manchester United and Portugal star Nani from Sporting Lisbon back on Feb. 18. The veteran winger was exactly the kind of player the Lions needed entering the season after the loss of the team’s previous best attacking midfielder, Yoshimar Yotún — who actually isn’t an attacking midfielder but was asked to fill that role in 2018.
Nani was expected to bring more attacking flair to Orlando and he did that, although sometimes it was difficult to tell due to an uncharacteristically long scoring slump from striker Dom Dwyer.
Let’s take a look at the Portuguese Designated Player’s first year with Orlando.
Statistical Breakdown
Nani appeared in 30 of Orlando City’s 34 regular-season games, starting 26 of them for a total of 2,277 minutes. Despite having played in a European season, he led Orlando City in appearances and was second in starts and minutes played to Robin Jansson (28 and 2,421).
He scored 12 goals and added 10 assists, becoming the first player in the team’s history to reach double digits in both categories and establishing a new club mark for goals + assists in one season, eclipsing the previous mark of 19 set by Kaká and Kevin Molino. He led Orlando in both goals and assists.
Nani fired 64 shots on the season — second on the team to Dwyer’s 66 — and tied Dom for the club’s top mark in shots on goal, with 26. His four game-winning goals also topped the team. He averaged 2.3 key passes per game to lead all Lions and passed at a 79.8% rate.
Defensively, he averaged 0.8 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 0.3 clearances, and 0.1 blocks per match. He committed 26 fouls (third most on the team) while drawing 37 (tied with Ruan for first), and received four yellow cards. He was not sent off but he did get a two-game suspension to start 2020 for bumping an official in the season finale.
In the U.S. Open Cup, Nani made three appearances (two starts), playing 226 minutes. He didn’t score a goal but did have an assist, setting up Chris Mueller on July 10 against New York City FC.
He attempted six total shots in the competition, getting one on target. He also committed two fouls while drawing three.
Best Game
For my money, the captain’s best match came back on April 6 when the Lions came from behind twice to beat the Colorado Rapids, 4-3. Nani had mustered three assists in his first five games with Orlando but this was his sixth and he showed his quality with his first two goals as a Lion along with another assist.
After Kei Kamara had opened the scoring early for the visiting Rapids, Nani equalized in the 31st minute with a powerful header from point-blank range off a cross from Joao Moutinho.
Tesho Akindele put the Lions ahead but Colorado came back with a pair of goals to take a 3-2 lead in the 71st minute. But 10 minutes later, Nani helped his team pull level at 3-3 off a throw-in. Nani headed Moutinho’s throw into the box to Akindele, who flicked the ball on for Mueller and the second-year player beat Tim Howard.
Nani then won the game for his team in the 89th minute. After Axel Sjoberg was whistled for a handball in the box on a Ruan cross, Nani calmly stepped up to the spot, sent Howard the wrong way, and won the game for Orlando, giving the Lions their first home victory of 2019.
The captain fired three shots, getting two on target, passed at an 87.5% rate, and drew a free kick in a complete performance. He later had another two-goal, one-assist performance in a 3-3 draw vs. New England on Sept. 14, but the Colorado game was the moment Nani truly arrived in MLS and, since it was a win, I gave it the edge in a difficult decision. I gave him an 8.5 rating for the game.
2019 Final Grade
Nani finished with a composite rating of 7.5 from The Mane Land staff. While he did go through a bit of a mid-season slump, which is understandable considering how much soccer he had played consecutively, he had a great first season in MLS. He represented Orlando City in the MLS All-Star Game, set a few new offensive team records, and elevated the play of those around him. He brought quality to set pieces and was always a threat to either score or thread the perfect pass through the defense to set up a scoring chance.
2020 Outlook
Nani will be back in 2020 and I expect the front office to surround him with more quality. That actually already started with the addition of Mauricio Pereyra but I would expect an upgrade at striker and perhaps another attack-minded midfielder to be added this off-season.
Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)
- Greg Ranjitsingh (10/10)
- Santiago Patiño (10/11)
- Danilo Acosta (10/11)
- Alex De John (10/13)
- Robinho (10/14)
- Benji Michel (10/15)
- Mauricio Pereyra (10/16)
- Adam Grinwis (10/17)
- João Moutinho (10/17)
- Shane O’Neill (10/18)
- Dillon Powers (10/18)
- Carlos Ascues (10/22)
- Kyle Smith (10/23)
- Chris Mueller (10/24)
- Kamal Miller (10/25)
- Will Johnson (10/25)
- Cristian Higuita (10/26)
- Uri Rosell (10/27)
- Sacha Kljestan (10/29)
- Brian Rowe (10/31)
- Ruan (11/1)
- Dom Dwyer (11/1)
- Robin Jansson (11/2)
- Tesho Akindele (11/3)
- Lamine Sané (11/6)
- Sebas Mendez (11/8)
We hope you’ve enjoyed our 2019 Orlando City Season in Review ratings. If someone seems to be missing, please note that only the players who finished the season on the roster (i.e. not on loan) were eligible.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/21/25
The U.S. Open Cup journey resumes tonight, Javier Otero signs a new contract, Pride’s Sams and Abello called up, and more.

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It is match day with Orlando City hosting Nashville SC tonight in Inter&Co Stadium. I hope you are able to make it out to support the club, since I will have to watch it on television. If you listen to The Mane Land PawedCast you know how much I want Orlando City to focus on the U.S. Open Cup — even at the expense of the Leagues Cup. For now, let’s get to the links.
Nashville is Next
As I mentioned above, the Lions take on Nashville SC in a U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match tonight. Orlando City is riding a 12-match unbeaten streak through all competitions and has scored 14 goals in the past four games going back to its 5-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Lions will look to continue their goal scoring ways to advance to the quarterfinals.
Javier Otero Has a New Contract
Orlando City signed goalkeeper Javier Otero to a new contract through the 2026 season with options for 2027 and 2028. Otero joined the Orlando City Academy in 2017, moving his way up to Orlando City B and, eventually, the first team. The signing secures Orlando City’s backup keeper for the immediate future.
Pride USWNT Call-Ups
Emily Sams and Kerry Abello were both called up to the USWNT training camp. This is Abello’s first call-up to the U.S. Women’s National Team. Sams and Abello make up two of Emma Hayes’ 24-player roster for the upcoming friendlies against China and Jamaica. Other notable players include Naomi Girma, Lynn Biyendolo, and Lo’eau LaBonta.
USMNT Gold Cup News
Mauricio Pochettino has yet to name the final 26-player list for the Gold Cup. He has even put out there that he may give playing time to a goalkeeper other than Matt Turner. Pochettino sees the Gold Cup as a great opportunity for the team to bond during the last competition before the World Cup. Prior to the Gold Cup, the team has friendlies with Türkiye and Switzerland.
Free Kicks
- The Kansas City Current may have defeated the Pride last match, but they paid dearly for it.
- In sad news, former Sporting Kansas City player Gadi Kinda passed away. Kinda had been dealing with “a complex medical battle.”
- In the “I’m not at all surprised” category, Lionel Messi was not fined by the league for any of his antics during or after the loss to Orlando City, including his criticism of officials, which is usually an automatic fine.
- Congratulations to former USWNT player Becky Sauerbrunn who announced she is expecting a baby in October.
That will do it for today. Check back for our pre-match and post-match coverage tonight. You can also follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for match updates. Vamos Orlando!
Orlando City
Orlando City Signs Homegrown Goalkeeper Javier Otero to New Deal
Homegrown goalkeeper Javier Otero has inked a new contract through 2026 with two option years.

The Lions addressed the future of the goalkeeping position today with the club announcing that Orlando City has signed Homegrown Player Javier Otero to a new deal. Otero’s contract runs through the 2026 season and includes club options for 2027 and 2028. This contract eliminates the need for OCSC to pick up Otero’s 2026 option, as his original Homegrown contract was through 2024 with two option years, and the club exercised the 2025 option in December.
“We’re delighted to offer a new contract to Javi, who has been a prime example of our developmental pathway at work,” Orlando City General Manager and Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “We look forward to seeing Javi further his growth here with the club.”
Otero, 22, originally signed as the club’s 14th Homegrown Player on July 10, 2023 out of the Orlando City Development Academy, becoming the backup to starter Pedro Gallese in 2024 after Mason Stajduhar suffered a season-ending lower leg injury. Stajduhar subsequently left Orlando City prior to the 2025 season, making Otero the primary backup.
Thus far, Otero has appeared in three matches for Orlando across all competitions (two starts), keeping one clean sheet. He made his Major League Soccer debut on June 28, 2024, when Stajduhar sustained his injury on the road against New York City FC. Otero entered the match in the 29th minute with the Lions already trailing and conceded three goals in a 4-1 loss, although he was largely hung out to dry by the team in front of him throughout the match, and one of those goals deflected off defender Robin Jansson and changed direction on him.
In MLS play, Otero has one start and one relief appearance, winning his only career regular-season start earlier this season in a 4-1 home victory over D.C. United on March 22. He also started and backstopped Orlando to a 5-0 U.S. Open Cup victory two weeks ago at the Tampa Bay Rowdies for his first shutout with the senior side.
Otero joined the Orlando City Academy in 2017, making his professional debut with Orlando City B in 2020, backing up second-round draft pick Austin Aviza that season. He became the OCB starter in 2022 after OCB took 2021 off in between changing leagues from USL League One to MLS NEXT Pro.
He led MLS NEXT Pro with 100 saves in the league’s inaugural season of 2022. His first-team contract in 2023 made him the second goalkeeper — behind Stajduhar — to earn a Homegrown Player deal.
On the international stage, Otero made his debut with the Venezuelan Men’s National Team in a friendly against Colombia on Dec. 10, 2023. He was recently called up for Venezuela’s friendly against the U.S. in January, along with La Vinotinto’s FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in March.
What It Means for Orlando City
It is likely that Otero will remain the backup for a while longer, but Gallese’s contract option for 2025 was triggered by performance metrics after last season. So, Orlando’s No. 1 in the position is uncertain beyond the end of the current season. Gallese, however, has played well, despite a narrative that he could/should have done better at the beginning of the season, when individual mistakes in front of him were leaving him little chance to stop the vast majority of the goals that opponents scored. Orlando City may not be quite ready for Gallese to depart, but the Peruvian himself may have other thoughts.
If Gallese isn’t re-signed before the end of the season, it would make things interesting. Moreira may feel Otero is ready to take on the mantle of starter next season or at least to battle for it. But even if Gallese returns or a different player is signed to be the starter, Otero has impressed enough for the club to invest in him as the primary backup. That’s an important position at all times, because injuries and suspensions happen. But it’s especially vital to have a trustworthy backup to a goalkeeper who is representing his country during the MLS season at times, as Gallese has done with Peru over the years.
Of course, Otero could also be called up regularly by Venezuela if his development continues, taking him away for the same tournaments that currently call Gallese back home. If that becomes the case, Orlando City would have an interesting problem on its hands.
In the meantime, it’s a good sign for Orlando City that, in Otero, the academy has produced another player the club values.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/20/25
Lions earn weekly recognition, preliminary Gold Cup rosters released, Americans in midweek action, and more.

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Life always feels a little brighter after your team wins a soccer game, even more so when it’s against a hated rival, so I hope you’ve had as good a start to your week as I have. We have no time to rest on our laurels though, because Orlando City is straight back into action tomorrow with a U.S. Open Cup match at home against Nashville SC. Let’s get into today’s links.
Lions Earn Weekly Recognition
Several Orlando City players are getting some deserved plaudits following the team’s 3-0 win over Inter Miami on Sunday. Pedro Gallese has been named to the starting XI of the MLS Team of the Matchday, while Joran Gerbet is on the bench and Oscar Pareja is the coach of the side. Gallese made four saves while keeping a clean sheet and also assisted Luis Muriel on the first goal of the game. Gerbet did an excellent job of helping to minimize the impact of Lionel Messi, while Oscar Pareja was the man who who masterminded it all. Alex Freeman got some love as one of the standout young players of the matchday, and also had a nice piece written about him in The Athletic (paywall). All the Lions are deserving of their praise, and here’s hoping this isn’t the last time we see them getting some love.
Freeman Named to USMNT Preliminary Gold Cup Roster
The preliminary rosters have been announced for the 16 teams set to participate in this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup. Most of the usual suspects are present for the United States Men’s National Team, with the exceptions of Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Gio Reyna, whose teams are participating in the FIFA Club World Cup this summer. Of note for Orlando City fans is Alex Freeman’s inclusion on the preliminary roster. That being said, this early list contains 60 names and will need to be cut down to 26 by June 4. With Sergino Dest and Joe Scally both on the 60-man list, Freeman is probably an outside shot to be included, but you never know.
Americans in Midweek Action
There are a number of Americans playing matches during the working week, so make sure you have everything marked down on your calendar. Chris Richards, Matt Turner, and Crystal Palace host Wolverhampton Wanderers in their penultimate Premier League game later today, while Tyler Adams and Bournemouth do the same against Manchester City. Wednesday has Jordan Pefok and Reims visiting Metz in a playoff to decide which team will play in Ligue 1 next season. Alex Zendejas and Club America take on Toluca in the first leg of the Liga MX Clausura final on Thursday, and Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis host Valencia in La Liga play on Friday.
Transfer Rumor Roundup
The summer transfer window will be upon us before we know it, so let’s take a look at what the transfer rumor mill is saying these days. Manchester United is said to be on the verge of signing Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and has reportedly agreed to terms on a deal. Man City has reportedly ended its interest in signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, and has instead turned the club’s attention to Barcelona’s Dani Olmo. Finally, Rodrygo is reportedly considering leaving Real Madrid in the summer, with some outlets saying that he “has one foot out of Real Madrid”.
Free Kicks
- Some of the takeaways from the recent round of MLS matches include Orlando City’s continued good play, Marco Reus stepping up, and the trio of strong teams atop the Eastern Conference.
- Kaká has said he is ready to join Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil staff if he’s asked to do so.
- Orlando City rose six spots to no.8 in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
- The Orlando Pride held fast at no. 2 in ESPN.com’s NWSL power rankings.
- Enough said.
That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!
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