Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/7/20
Happy Tuesday, Mane Landers. With school back in session today is my first day back at work after several much needed weeks off and, to be perfectly honest with you, I’m not ready in the slightest. Luckily there’s a wealth of news today to distract us from any Tuesday blues, including some Orlando City personnel news! Let’s get into it.
Corinthians Announces Sale of Junior Urso to Orlando City
As originally reported in Brazil by GloboSporte, and confirmed by The Mane Land several weeks ago, midfielder Junior Urso will be a Lion. Brazilian Serie A giants Corinthians officially announced the news on Monday, meaning that things have pretty much gone final, although Orlando City has not yet made an official announcement of its own. A 30-year-old midfielder, Urso is of the box-to-box variety and will add a considerable amount of experience to the Lions’ midfield. His best qualities seem to be covering a lot of ground, distributing the ball from the center of midfield, and taking a crack at goal from range every now and then. Welcome to Orlando!
Former NWSL Commissioner Duffy to the Orlando Pride
An Orlando Pride bombshell dropped last night, as Steven Goff of the Washington Post broke the news that Amanda Duffy had stepped down as NWSL commissioner to take a position with the Orlando Pride.
NWSL President Amanda Duffy to step down after one year in the position (three years overall in league administration) to join Orlando Pride front office. She informed NWSL board of directors today.
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) January 7, 2020
Only days ago Duffy was the favorite to be named the league’s commissioner. However, Caitlin Murray reported on Twitter that Duffy did not have the support of the majority of the league’s owners needed to take that position. Duffy stepped down Monday from her role as NWSL president and will apparently be joining the Pride in some capacity. As Erik Ustruck was named the team’s GM in January, it could be that Duffy could hold a title of president or CEO of the Pride. We’ll have to wait for more information on this one.
Pride Shopping No. 1 Pick to Portland?
Yesterday was a big day in the NWSL. It may have ended with the Duffy news above but it started with a report that the Pride were discussing trading the No. 1 pick in next week’s NWSL College Draft to Portland.
Can confirm what Dan is saying here. Multiple sources have indicated to me that Portland and Orlando are working on a trade for the No. 1 pick and that *multiple* national team players may be on the move. https://t.co/Yc3j9CzMmE
— John D. Halloran (@JohnDHalloran) January 6, 2020
It didn’t take long for some pretty interesting names to come up, with Emily Sonnett and Midge Purce both being mentioned as potential trade pieces.
Hearing Emily Sonnett and/or Midge Purce are on the move. Also hearing UCLA's Ashley Sanchez and Stanford's Sophia Smith are leaning toward signing with #NWSL early. https://t.co/D97XNOe1Vf
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) January 6, 2020
In the end, nothing happened, but that doesn’t mean a deal won’t be struck. Some underclassmen have apparently indicated they may be willing to enter the NWSL draft but are more keen on joining the Thorns than the Pride. If Portland wants that pick, however, it will need to make it worth Orlando’s while. Sonnett and Purce would be a good price for that pick, although it would give the Pride an additional national team player in an Olympic year.
Other NWSL Happenings
Several pieces of news dropped regarding personnel moves and decisions in the NWSL. First and foremost was a trade involving the Chicago Red Stars and Houston Dash. Chicago sent defender Katie Naughton and the 18th overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft to Houston in exchange for forward Kealia Ohai. Naughton was a stalwart on the Red Stars’ back line during their run to the NWSL final last season, appearing in 22 of the team’s 24 games. She will also bring international experience to the Dash, having represented the United States at various youth levels. Ohai meanwhile leaves Houston with the club record for goals scored, and has also notched 16 career assists. In other news, Utah Royals midfielder Erika Tymrak has announced her retirement from professional soccer. Tymrak was one of the players selected in the inaugural NWSL College Draft and retires as the 2013 NWSL Rookie of the Year and a two-time NWSL champion.
NYCFC Names New Head Coach
New York City FC has named Ronny Deila as its new head coach. He most recently spent the last three years with Vålerenga in his native Norway. Before that he was with two other Norwegian clubs, Brodd and Strømsgodset, as well as Celtic FC in Scotland. Deila has a lot to live up to, as NYCFC’s previous manager, Dome Torrent, led the club to both the best Eastern Conference record in 2019, and a berth in the Concacaf Champions League for the very first time. Deila is currently waiting on his U.S. work permit, and will officially join the club once his paperwork is approved.
No Virtual Offside for MLS
For the time being Major League Soccer will not be using the virtual offside line technology that has proved so controversial in the English Premier League. Professional Referees Association General Manager Howard Webb confirmed the decision and also stated that while the technology was unofficially tested during the 2019 MLS season, it didn’t work as desired due to games not having enough television cameras. The news is likely to go over well for fans of soccer in America given the frequent controversial decisions that have been made in the Premier League thanks to the virtual line. However, Webb did say that the number and position of television cameras were, “not yet as extensive in some MLS games as it is in some other leagues,” leaving the door open for the introduction of the technology in the future.
USMNT Friendly News
The United States Men’s National Team will reportedly take on Wales in a friendly on March 30 in Cardiff. If true, it would make the Welsh the second European team for the Yanks to face in Europe during the month of March, with the team already scheduled to play the Netherlands on March 26 in Eindhoven. This confirms initial reports back in December that the USSF was looking to set up a friendly with Wales. The two teams will represent a very tough March window for the U.S., with Wales advancing to the semifinals of the 2016 European Championships and the Netherlands finishing runners-up in the inaugural UEFA Nations League.
Free Kicks
- Is the SheBelieves Cup returning to Exploria Stadium this spring?
Just stumbled on this… #shebelieves #home #showup pic.twitter.com/cSkCY09He6
— BlackSwans (@BlackSwansDC) January 7, 2020
- Orlando City did some good work at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Christmas.
Santa had a little extra help from City this year at @APHospital. @orlandohealth 🎁🎄 pic.twitter.com/6eA1GefynN
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) January 6, 2020
- Check out a vlog from Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris’ wedding.
- A new episode of The Tea from The Player’s Tribune digs into a number of current issues in women’s sports including the USWNT lawsuit.
- Laura Harvey has been hired as the new head coach of the Under-20 United States Women’s National Team.
- Daniele de Rossi has retired.
Official: World Cup winner Daniele De Rossi has retired from football at the age of 36. pic.twitter.com/Bgm7mDgn7j
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 6, 2020
That’ll do it for me today, y’all stay safe out there.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/23/24
Orlando City sells Facundo Torres to Palmeiras, Lions draft four players, latest MLS transfer moves, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. My weekend has been busy working at Under Armour, with Christmas just two days away. I also covered high school hockey and went to a Chicago Bulls game. Besides that, I finally got all my Christmas shopping done. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Orlando City Announces Facundo Torres Transfer to Palmeiras
Orlando City announced on Friday that forward Facundo Torres has been sold to Palmeiras for a club-record fee. Torres leaves Orlando as the Lions all-time goal-scoring leader. He had 123 appearances across all competitions, scored 47 goals, and added 25 assists in three seasons in Orlando. Torres made a big impact as a Lion, helping the club reach the playoffs the last three years and winning the 2022 U.S. Open Cup title.
The Lions will have an open Designated Player spot to fill during the off-season. Their home opener against the Philadelphia Union is less than two months away.
Lions Select Four Players in 2025 MLS SuperDraft
The Lions made four selections during the 2025 MLS SuperDraft on Friday. With the 27th overall pick, they chose midfielder Joran Gerbet out of Clemson. Gerbet had a solid collegiate career, recording 12 goals and 15 assists, and he led Clemson to the 2023 National Championship title as well. In the second round, the Lions added another Clemson Tiger by selecting center back Titus Sandy, Jr. with the 46th overall pick. Sandy played in 48 matches, logging 2,520 minutes, and was also part of the 2023 National Championship team. Later in the same round, the Lions picked forward Collins Oduro out of Indiana. Oduro made 44 appearances for the Hoosiers, scoring eight goals to go with seven assists. The Lions concluded their 2025 MLS SuperDraft by selecting Marshall defender Takahiro Fujita in the third round with the 87th overall pick. MLSSoccer.com unveiled its draft grades for each club, and Orlando City received an A- as its grade.
NJ/NY Gotham FC Trades Lynn Williams to the Seattle Reign
We had a trade that went down in the National Women’s Soccer League as NJ/NY Gotham FC traded forward Lynn Williams and goalkeeper Cassie Miller to the Seattle Reign. In exchange, the Seattle Reign acquired midfielder Jaelin Howell, an international roster slot, and $70,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM). Williams spent two seasons with Gotham FC, recording 17 goals and seven assists. She made 75 appearances for the U.S. Women’s National Team and was part of the squad that won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Miller began the 2024 NWSL season as the number one goalkeeper for Gotham but was moved to a backup role once the club acquired Ann-Katrin Berger. Howell made eight appearances for the Reign this season after being acquired from Racing Louisville FC in August.
Latest Transfer Moves in MLS
We have some MLS transfer news to catch you up on from over the weekend. Real Salt Lake acquired forward Elias Manoel and four MLS SuperDraft picks from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for $700,000 in GAM. The Red Bulls maintain a sell-on percentage for Manoel as well. Atlanta United also made a trade, acquiring midfielder Mateusz Klich from D.C. United in exchange for Atlanta’s first round 2025 MLS SuperDraft Pick and up to $50,000 in conditional GAM if Atlanta re-signs Klich. The New England Revolution signed goalkeeper Alex Bono to a contract through the 2026 season. Bono spent the previous two seasons with D.C. United. The Revolution also added defender Tanner Beason, who previously played five seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes. Beason’s deal is through the 2026 season, with an option for 2027.
Premier League Weekend Roundup
We had plenty of action in the Premier League over the weekend. Manchester City fell 2-1 to Aston Villa on Saturday and has lost nine out of its last 12 matches across all competitions. Arsenal cruised past Crystal Palace 5-1, Newcastle United defeated Ipswich Town 4-0 with Alexander Isak getting a hat trick, and Nottingham Forest won 2-0 against Brentford. West Ham United and Brighton fought to a 1-1 draw. On Sunday, Manchester United lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth. Liverpool defeated Tottenham Hotspur 6-3, with Mohamed Salah scoring twice. Vitor Pereira won his first match as Wolverhampton’s manager, as his side beat Leicester City 3-0. The Everton and Chelsea and Fulham and Southampton matches ended in a scoreless draw.
Free Kicks
- In an interview with Fast Company, former Orlando Pride player Alex Morgan gave insight into her next chapter since retiring from pro soccer. Morgan discussed how she’s navigating through her post-playing career, investing in other sports, and continuing to support current and future generations of female athletes.
- Atlanta United named Ronny Deila as its next head coach. Deila previously coached Standard Liege, New York City FC, Celtic, and Club Brugge.
- FIFA and Netflix signed an agreement for exclusive broadcast rights in the United States for the 2027 and 2031 editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
- In another coaching move, USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC announced former Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach Neill Collins as its next head coach after activating his release clause at Raith Rovers.
- Weston McKennie scored a goal in the first half to help Juventus snap its run of four consecutive draws in league play with a 2-1 win against Monza on Sunday.
- Jesus Navas played his final match for Sevilla as his side lost 4-2 to Real Madrid on Sunday. Navas will retire from professional soccer after his contract ends this month after a stellar 21-year career.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/20/24
Orlando City’s 2025 MLS season schedule announced, MLS mock drafts, MLS clubs making moves, and more.
Happy Friday, Mane Landers! I finally have everything squared away after a week of hustling and bustling, meaning I can thankfully avoid the stores this weekend and just relax before next week’s chaos. I’m still trying to nail down what I’ll be cooking as my contribution for my family’s holiday dinner, but it should be fun trialing some options over the next few days. For now though, let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!
Orlando City’s 2025 MLS Schedule Announced
MLS revealed the schedule for the 2025 season and Orlando City’s first game of the season will be at home against the Philadelphia Union on Feb. 22. Orlando has yet to start a season on the road since joining the league back in 2015. The Lions aren’t scheduled to play against expansion club San Diego FC this year, but they will play their first road game against St. Louis City on June 25. While a majority of Orlando’s games will be on Saturdays, they do have a pair of games on Sundays against Inter Miami, including a rivalry week showdown on May 18. Decision Day will be on Oct. 18, with the Lions on the road to take on Toronto FC to close out the regular season.
Predicting the 2025 MLS SuperDraft
The MLS SuperDraft is set to take place today and Top Drawer Soccer did a mock draft to predict how the first two rounds will go. Orlando City currently has the 27th pick in the first round and Top Drawer Soccer has them selecting defensive midfielder Jackson Castro out of Creighton. The pick makes enough sense to me, as Orlando lost some depth in its midfield following the 2024 season and Castro was Duncan McGuire’s teammate on a strong Creighton team a couple of years ago. The Lions were also predicted to take West Virginia winger Sergio Ors Navarro and Kentucky forward Logan Dorsey in the second round.
Travis Clark of MLSsoccer.com also did a mock draft of the first round, with Orlando taking Cornell winger Alioune Ka. Interestingly enough, both mock drafts have NCAA leading scorer Emil Jaaskelainen going in the first round after Orlando’s pick. I’m pretty excited to see how it all shakes out today and learn which players will become the latest Lions on the team.
MLS Transfer News Roundup
The off-season is bringing plenty of change across the league as teams continue wheeling and dealing in preparation for the 2025 season. The New England Revolution made a splash by trading away up to $3.25 million in General Allocation Money (GAM) to Miami in exchange for attacker Leonardo Campana. The 24-year-old should give a needed boost to a New England team that only scored 37 goals this season. As for Miami, it now has an MLS-trade record fee of $2.5 million in guaranteed GAM and an open Designated Player spot at its disposal.
The LA Galaxy traded away 2024 MLS Cup MVP Gastón Brugman and a conditional $100,000 in GAM to Nashville SC in exchange for midfielder Sean Davis. Brugman will help Nashville fill the gap left by Anibal Godoy, who joined San Diego FC as a free agent. FC Dallas also added a free agent, signing defender Lalas Abubakar to a two-year deal.
GAM Amounts Revealed for Each MLS Club
MLS pulled back the curtain a bit and unveiled the amount of General Allocation Money that each team had as of Dec. 10. Orlando City’s total comes in at $3,990,312, which is a pretty hefty amount that can be used to improve the team. Atlanta United’s $6,503,478 is the most in the league, while the Houston Dynamo are at the other end of the spectrum with just $2,063,538. The Campana trade helps put these amounts into perspective, but there are many uses for GAM and it’s interesting to see where each club stands. It’s also just nice to get some transparency from the league about this and hopefully that trend continues in 2025.
Free Kicks
- Concacaf announced that Saudi Arabia was invited as a guest nation for both the 2025 and 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup.
- The Kansas City Current bid farewell to goalkeepers Adrianna France and Almuth Schult. The club then announced that it signed goalkeeper Laurel Ivory to a one-year contract.
- The National Independent Soccer Association will reportedly no longer be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Foundation next year, which would leave MLS NEXT Pro and USL League One as the third-division leagues in the U.S.
- Tottenham beat Manchester United 4-3 to claim the final semifinal spot in the EFL Cup, with Son Heung-Min scoring directly from a corner kick. Tottenham will face off against Liverpool in the next round, with Newcastle and Arsenal squaring off in the other semifinal.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I wish you all a relaxing weekend and a very happy holidays!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/19/24
Preparing for the MLS SuperDraft, New York Red Bulls sign Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Tim Weah injured, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve knocked out all of my shopping except for one gift I’m still trying to procure. I have a lead on it though and high hopes that I can get a literal bow on it before traveling to visit my family next week. For now though, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!
Getting Ready for the MLS SuperDraft
The 2025 MLS SuperDraft will take place on Friday and the league released the list of 477 eligible players clubs can choose from. This year’s Generation Adidas class includes Cornell forward Alex Harris, North Carolina left back Tate Johnson, Wisconsin forward Dean Boltz, and UC Santa Barbara defensive midfielder Manu Duah. Those players likely won’t be on the board by the time Orlando City’s 27th overall pick rolls around, but the team has proven in the past it isn’t afraid to make a trade for a top prospect.
Here’s a nice position-by-position breakdown of some of the best players available on Friday. I personally think Orlando could use some depth at center back, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the team rolls the dice on a center forward given its track record. Unfortunately, we’ll have to follow along with each pick on the league’s website rather than a stream.
MLS Transfer Roundup
After falling in the MLS Cup final earlier this month, the New York Red Bulls have added some firepower by signing Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting as a Designated Player. The 35-year-old heads to MLS after playing for Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Stoke City, and Schalke 04 over the past 10 years. The Red Bulls now have a fairly dangerous trio of Designated Players in Choupo-Moting, Emil Forsberg, and Dante Vanzeir.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the New England Revolution added midfielder Jackson Yueill as a free agent. The 27-year-old signed a three-year contract that includes options for 2028 and 2029. D.C. United traded away $150,000 in General Allocation Money to Nashville SC in exchange for defender Lukas MacNaughton. FC Dallas signed midfielder Ramiro Benetti, who has spent the past two seasons with Cruzeiro Esporte Clube in Brazil. Veteran defender Nick Lima has returned to the San Jose Earthquakes, signing a two-year contract with the club.
Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad
The injuries continue to rack up for the Americans, as Tim Weah will miss some time after sustaining a thigh injury earlier this week in Juventus’ win over Cagliari. In better news for Americans plying their trade abroad, forward Ricardo Pepi scored twice in PSV Eindhoven’s 8-0 win against Koninklijke HFC in the KNVB Cup. Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool are all reportedly interested in left back Antonee Robinson, who turned some heads with a pair of assists on Sunday.
EFL Cup Semifinals Nearly Set
The EFL Cup semifinals are setting up to be a heavyweight affair, with Liverpool, Arsenal, and Newcastle all advancing from the quarterfinals. The day belonged to Gabriel Jesus, who scored his first hat trick for Arsenal in a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace. Liverpool extended its unbeaten streak to 20 games across all competitions after a 2-1 win over Southampton, while Newcastle United beat Brentford thanks to a brace from Sandro Tonali. The final semifinalist will come from today’s match between Manchester United and Tottenham, with the draw taking place afterwards.
Free Kicks
- The NWSL Shield and Championship trophy paid a visit to WFTV’s studios, and it’s still a bit surreal that the Orlando Pride secured both pieces of silverware this season.
- The Columbus Crew announced that they will play Inter Miami in Cleveland at Huntington Bank Field rather than its home stadium next season. The “home” game is a good two-hour drive north and reportedly has no opt-out option for season ticket holders, so this decision has not gone over well with some Crew fans.
- Forward Lynn Williams is reportedly expected to be traded from NJ/NY Gotham FC to the Seattle Reign so that she can close out her career on her home coast.
- We now know the eight quarterfinalists for the Women’s Champions League, with the draw set for Feb. 7. The usual suspects like Barcelona, Wolfsburg, and Lyon all made it, which should make for an exciting knockout stage.
- Real Madrid beat Pachuca to win the Intercontinental Cup, giving Carlo Ancelotti his 15th title with the club.
- Here’s a look at the absurd amount of minutes players like Federico Valverde and Jules Kounde have logged this year. Just seeing those numbers makes my legs tired.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
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