Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/14/22
How’s it going, Mane Landers? My resolutions have been going well and I’m excited for the weekend. Here in Tampa, the weather has been nice enough to walk each day without worrying about freezing to death. Let’s dive into today’s links!
Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira Earn Extensions, Promotions
Orlando City promoted and extended the contracts of Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira. Muzzi will become the club’s general manager while Ricardo Moreira was named technical director. Both joined the club following Orlando’s 2018 season and helped rebuild the roster to reach the playoffs for the first time in 2020 and again in 2021. This was an important move by the Wilf family that ensures the club continues its growth. Muzzi and Moreira have done a great job finding talented players, particularly in South America, and hopefully that habit continues as the team aims to reload its offense before the 2022 season.
Oscar Pareja Prepares for the Preseason
After a shortened off-season, Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja is focused on getting the Lions ready for the upcoming season. With Nani, Daryl Dike, and Chris Mueller all leaving the club, Orlando’s offense will look different in 2022 and Pareja spoke about the club’s efforts to bring in new players.
“We’ve been working on which players to bring in. The brief time I was off, I had the opportunity to go to Medellín, Colombia, to visit my family, and now that I’ve been back, we’re finalizing plans for the preseason,” said Pareja, who’s entering his third year in charge of the Lions.
“And we’re [doing] everything we can regarding the signing of players, which isn’t easy during the pandemic, trying to reach the players who are going to come and represent the club.”
Pareja also mentioned the ongoing talks the club is having to bring in young Uruguayan forward Facundo Torres. Forward Alexandre Pato is also expected to return on a new deal after a season marred by injury. Orlando’s preseason will begin next week as players report in and have medicals done, but Pareja doesn’t expect new players to reach full training until later in the week.
While Orlando hasn’t released its preseason schedule, other teams throughout MLS have and we can piece together some of the teams the Lions will take on before the home opener against CF Montreal on Feb. 27. The Lions will face FC Dallas on Feb. 5, the Colorado Rapids on Feb. 11, and also FC Cincinnati on Feb. 18. It is unknown if any of the team’s preseason matches will be open to the public at this point.
Orlando Pride Draftees Called Up to U.S. U-23 Camp
Orlando Pride draftees Mikayla Colohan and Mia Fishel were both called up for the United States U-23 Women’s Youth National Team’s camp later this month. The camp will take place in Austin from Jan. 23-28 and will include a closed-door scrimmage against the USWNT, which is also training in Austin. Colohan and Fishel are unsigned but would be huge additions for the Pride.
Fishel was selected by the Pride with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft and has experience training with the senior team. Colohan was drafted with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2021 draft and is coming off of a strong senior season with BYU that included a trip to the College Cup final. This is the first time the U-23 team will come together since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daryl Dike’s Journey to England
The Athletic ($) provided a great profile following Dike’s meteoric rise through collegiate and professional soccer as he prepares for West Bromwich Albion’s game against Queens Park Rangers tomorrow at 10 a.m. Dike has always been a physical presence but has also shown his high soccer IQ and good feet over his two years in Orlando. The article also includes plenty of quotes from Dike’s coaches and mentors over the years, including Pareja and Nani.
Tomorrow’s game is an important one in the English Football League Championship as West Brom is only a point ahead of QPR in the standings. It sets up a perfect stage for Dike to make his mark should he take the field for the Baggies. The 21-year-old will wear No. 12 for the remainder of West Brom’s season and you can check out this gallery of him in training as he gets ready for his debut.
Albert Rusnak to the Sounders; MLS Roundup
The Seattle Sounders signed free agent Albert Rusnak as the team’s third Designated Player. Rusnak joins the Sounders after five seasons with Real Salt Lake and he signed a contract that will keep him in Seattle for the next two years. D.C. United was also reportedly in the mix to sign the attacking midfielder, so I’m glad he ended up staying in the Western Conference.
Minnesota United drafted Abu Danladi with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 SuperDraft, but he was chosen by Nashville SC in the 2019 Expansion Draft. Now, Danladi returns to Minnesota on a one-year deal with an option for an additional year.
Elsewhere, Austin FC added 25-year-old midfielder Jhojan Valencia from Colombia’s Deportivo Cali. Sporting Kansas City re-signed veteran defender Graham Zusi and 35-year-old midfielder Roger Espinoza for the 2022 season. Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski signed a contract extension with the San Jose Earthquakes through the 2024 season.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City’s logo was named the fifth best in MLS according to a study done by Quality Logo Products. Minnesota United claimed the top spot while Nashville SC finished last.
- Here are some more highlights of Orlando draft picks Nathan Dossantos and Nick Taylor.
A thundering force in the backline 💪 #VamosOrlando | #SuperDraft pic.twitter.com/BU3pv7Q7hf
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) January 13, 2022
Kept him in Orlando 🙌#VamosOrlando | #SuperDraft pic.twitter.com/EQqBo3hLdw
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) January 13, 2022
- Former Lion Raul Aguilera was signed by Indy Eleven in the USL Championship and he will reunite with former Orlando academy coach Mark Lowry.
- Colorado Springs Switchbacks SC signed former Lion Hadji Barry to a new contract through the 2023 season. Barry scored 25 goals last season to claim the Golden Boot and was named the 2021 USL Championship MVP.
- New York Red Bulls and United States Men’s National Team center back Aaron Long spoke about his recovery from a ruptured Achilles tendon last May as he prepares for World Cup qualifiers.
- Portland Thorns forward Morgan Weaver and Chicago Red Stars midfielder Morgan Gautrat are both joining the USWNT’s camp. Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski stated that Lyon’s Catarina Macario wouldn’t be joining the group and NJ/NY Gotham FC’s Imani Dorsey had to withdraw due to injury.
- Despite a red card that sent Granit Xhaka off in the 24th minute, Arsenal was able to withstand 17 shots from Liverpool and hold on for a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinals.
- Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo discussed how long he plans on playing professional soccer. The 36-year-old also talked about how soccer needs to give players more time to rest and recover.
That’s all I have for you today, folks. I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and rest of your weekend!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/22/24
Emily Sams wins Defender of the Year, Orlando City’s turnaround, Barbra Banda nominated for African Woman Player of the Year, and more.
Happy Friday! Beyond working and catching some soccer here and there, I don’t have many plans for the weekend. I’m also hoping to find some time to trial some cranberry and brie bites I’m trying to perfect before Thanksgiving next week. For now though, let’s jump right into today’s links from around the soccer world!
Emily Sams Awarded NWSL Defender of the Year
The Orlando Pride’s Emily Sams was named 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year after a fantastic season. The Pride only conceded 20 goals in a record-breaking season, and Sams played in all 13 of the team’s shutouts. Sams was one of the most impactful players for the Pride this year and had 163 recoveries, 76 clearances, and 16 blocks. She’s the first Pride player to win the award and it’s great to see her receive some deserved recognition in her second year in Orlando.
Analyzing Orlando City’s Revitalization
It’s been a rollercoaster of a season for the Lions to say the least. There were serious concerns over whether or not the Lions would even make the playoffs back in June and now they find themselves as the highest remaining seed in the Eastern Conference this postseason. Facundo Torres’ excellent run of play is a major reason behind the club’s turnaround, but the buy-in from all of Orlando’s attackers has helped create a dynamic and unselfish offense. Although expectations are rising once more for the Lions, Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi spoke on how the team is focused on Sunday’s playoff match.
“There’s only one team that matters: Atlanta United,” Muzzi said. “The easiest way to lose a game is to look ahead. I’ll say we didn’t expect to be playing at home, but it’s welcomed. We’re focused on Atlanta, they’re playing great. They have a lot of confidence and momentum. It doesn’t matter they’re the No. 9 seed because they’re not playing like the No. 9 seed.”
Barbra Banda Up For African Woman Player of the Year
Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda was one of 10 players nominated for this year’s African Woman Player of the Year award. The 24-year-old has done well for both club and country this year. She scored 13 goals in her first regular season with the Pride and has three goals so far in the playoffs. Banda also had a hat trick for Zambia in the Summer Olympics. She’s joined by fellow NWSL players Temwa Chawinga and Racheal Kundananji on the list of nominees. Bay FC striker Asisat Oshoala, who has won the award in five of the past six years, was not nominated for the first time in a decade. The nomination list will be trimmed to a three-player shortlist before the winner is announced on Dec. 16 in Morocco.
Croix Bethune Named NWSL Midfielder of the Year
Washington Spirit rookie Croix Bethune won NWSL Midfielder of the Year after recording 10 assists and five goals in 17 matches this season. A knee injury cut her season short in September, but she still tied Tobin Heath’s record for the most assists in a season. Bethune gave plenty of NWSL teams headaches this year and also won Rookie of the Year earlier this week. She’s the first player to ever receive NWSL Midfielder of the Year and she beat out the Pride’s Marta, the North Carolina Courage’s Ashley Sanchez, and Kansas City Current duo Lo’eau LaBonta and Vanessa DiBernardo.
Eastern Conference Clubs Making Moves
FC Cincinnati officially signed striker Kevin Denkey from Cercle Brugge on a deal that will last through 2028. The 23-year-old joins as a Designated Player on a reported $16.2 million transfer, which would be a league record. He won the Golden Boot in Belgium last year after scoring 27 goals and should give Cincinnati some considerable firepower next year.
Elsewhere in the league, CF Montreal declined the option on Josef Martinez’s contract, meaning the Venezuelan forward will be a free agent once again. The 31-year-old led Montreal with 11 goals this season and we’ll see where he winds up next. Charlotte FC did not trigger the purchase option on Pep Biel’s loan, opening up a Designated Player spot. Former Lion Junior Urso’s contract option was also declined by Charlotte. The Philadelphia Union signed defender Olivier Mbaizo to a contract extension that will keep him with the club through 2026, with options for 2027 and 2028 as well.
Free Kicks
- In preparation for the 2026 World Cup, FIFA named 26 new options across the country as “base camps” for participating teams to train and rest. Orlando was included, with OCSC’s training grounds at Osceola Heritage Park pitched alongside the Lake Nona Wave Hotel.
- ESPN‘s Jeff Kassouf dove into how the NWSL stacks up to the biggest sports leagues in the U.S. Saturday’s NWSL Championship between the Pride and Spirit should showcase just how entertaining the league is to plenty of viewers.
- Pep Guardiola will stick around as Manchester City’s manager for a couple more years after signing a two-year contract extension with the club. His contract was set to expire at the end of this season.
- Here’s a cool breakdown of the seven amateur teams that have qualified for the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup so far. None are from Florida, but there are some great logos to check out if you’re looking for a team to root for in the early rounds next year. Debutants Southern Indiana FC and the Virginia Dream are my personal favorites of the bunch.
- The draw for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will take place today. Zambia is in the second pot, meaning it will be put in a group of four that will include one of Nigeria, South Africa, or Morocco. The tournament itself will be in July of next year.
- Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City all clinched a spot in the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals with two games still left to play.
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: 11/21/24
Marta’s chance to shine in NWSL Championship, NWSL and MLS award winners announced, 2025 SheBelieves Cup details, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been spending most of this week plotting out some holiday shopping to make things a little less stressful for myself over the next few weeks. A big weekend filled with Orlando soccer awaits us, so make sure to get any errands or obligations out of the way sooner rather than later. Let’s dive into today’s links!
Spotlight Falls On Marta in NWSL Championship
There are plenty of storylines heading into Saturday’s NWSL Championship between the Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit, including Marta’s opportunity to put an exclamation point on what has been an excellent season for the Pride. Orlando has been enjoying the fruits of its labor this season after a rebuild over the past few years that’s included plenty of change in the City Beautiful. Marta has been a constant, however, enduring some difficult seasons since joining the Pride and adapting her game She’s scored in both of the Pride’s playoff games so far and has a chance to author a storybook ending on Saturday.
Ann-Katrin Berger Named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year
NJ/NY Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was named 2024 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year, beating out the Pride’s Anna Moorhouse and Utah Royals FC’s Mandy Haught for the honor. It was Berger’s first year in the NWSL and she’s the first European player to win the award. She only conceded 16 goals across her 22 matches for Gotham this season and was a key reason behind her team’s success. I’m not too surprised that Moorhouse did not win, considering how solid the Pride’s defense was as a whole, but this won’t take anything away from a record-breaking season for her.
Wilfried Nancy Named MLS Coach of the Year
Columbus Crew Head Coach Wilfried Nancy was voted 2024 MLS Coach of the Year after a historic season in which the Crew set club records in both points and goals. The Crew also won the Leagues Cup this summer and their 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup campaign included advancing past Tigres and Monterrey en route to the final. This is Nancy’s first time being named Coach of the Year and he has been a finalist for the award every year since 2021. The Frenchman received 40.02% of the vote, winning the award over Inter Miami’s Gerardo Martino and Colorado Rapids Head Coach Chris Armas.
2025 SheBelieves Cup Details Unveiled
The 10th annual SheBelieves Cup will take place next year and the tournament will return to its usual format where each of the four teams plays each other once. The United States Women’s National Team will host Japan, Colombia, and Australia in February in what should be an exciting tournament. The U.S. will take on Colombia on Feb. 20 in Houston before facing Australia in Arizona on Feb. 23 and finishing the tournament on Feb. 26 against Japan at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. These games will also be the first domestic games of 2025 for the USWNT as it prepares to qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Eric Quill Named FC Dallas Head Coach
FC Dallas announced that Eric Quill will become the team’s next head coach. Quill joins Dallas after a great year with New Mexico United that included trips to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals and USL Championship Western Conference semifinals. It’s also a reunion of sorts for Quill, as he previously coached North Texas SC and was named USL League One Coach of the Year with the club in 2019. Dallas missed out on the playoffs this season, with Peter Luccin coaching the team on an interim basis after the firing of Nico Estevez in June.
Free Kicks
- District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser challenged Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to a bet involving this weekend’s NWSL Championship, with embarrassing lightshows on the line.
- Atlanta United interim head coach Rob Valentino, who was an Orlando City B assistant coach in 2015 and played for the USL Lions, spoke on Atlanta’s Cinderella run this postseason ahead of his team’s clash with Orlando City on Sunday.
- CF Montreal signed Canadian center back Joel Waterman to a contract extension that will keep him with the club through 2027 with an option for 2028 as well.
- D.C. United signed goalkeeper Jordan Farr from the Tampa Bay Rowdies on a two-year deal. Farr had 11 shutouts with the Rowdies this year and joins a D.C. side that declined the contract options for both Tyler Miller and Alex Bono last month.
- American forward Catarina Macario had an assist for Chelsea in a 3-0 win against Celtic in the Women’s Champions League.
- Spanish midfielder Juan Mata joined San Diego FC’s ownership group ahead of the club’s inaugural MLS season next year.
- Costa Rican club Alajuelense, which is the highest-ranked team in Central America, has hired a legal firm regarding FIFA allowing both Pachuca and Club Leon to take part in the 2025 Club World Cup despite having the same owner.
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: 11/20/24
Martin Ojeda could be a key factor against Atlanta, Seb Hines wins Coach of the Year, Lions abroad, and more.
Good Wednesday morning, Mane Landers. For long time readers, you might remember me as a staple in your Lion Links but having stepped away on sabbatical. Today, I’m honored to be called off the bench and fill in for Dave. My life has been filled with being a first-time father along with taking over as commissioner of a soccer league and my normal day job. Through all of it, I have stayed true to catching as many Orlando City matches as I can or at least the highlights. TML is my go-to source for all things purple, so I’m glad to pitch in and talk about what is happening around the City Beautiful and soccer once again. So, let’s get into the links!
Lions’ Not-So Secret Weapons
Orlando City is ready to take on Atlanta United on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. According to Andrew Wiebe of MLSsoccer.com, midfielder Martín Ojeda and the home field advantage of Inter&Co Stadium will be the key to victory for Oscar Pareja to finally lift the cup with Orlando. On the other side of the ball, Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan is in impeccable form and will give the Five Stripes an opportunity to advance again despite being the underdogs.
Seb Hines Wins Major Award
The National Women’s Soccer League announced Pride Head Coach Seb Hines has been named the 2024 NWSL Coach of the Year. Following his stint as a player for Orlando City and coaching at the youth level, Hines became the Pride’s interim head coach in June 2022 before getting the gig full time. This season was his best yet with Orlando, finding 18 wins and leading a team that scored a club-record 46 goals along the way. He learned about his award from his players:
Internationals Take The Pitch
Tuesday gave some Lions the chance to represent their home nations. Orlando City right back Dagur Dan Thorhallsson entered the UEFA Nations League match between Wales and Iceland in the 75th-minute, but Iceland fell 4-1 after scoring first. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese gained another start for Peru in its CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier against Argentina but couldn’t earn a shutout in a 1-0 loss.
Record MLS Signing Reported
FC Cincinnati has splashed the cash and has reportedly completed the signing of 23-year-old Cercle Brugge forward Kévin Denkey. The transfer fee of $16.2 million is an MLS record, passing the previous $16 million that Atlanta United spent to acquired Thiago Almada in 2022. The signing of Denkey to a four-year contract fills a gap at forward for Cincinnati. The length of the deal appears to make him the centerpiece of the team as only one player on the roster has guaranteed contract years beyond 2026, and only striker Kevin Kelsy has option years into 2028 and 2029, but he is currently on loan.
Inter&Co Stadium Will Host Orlando Cup
Coming in January 2025, the Orlando Cup Pro Series will bring clubs Santos FC, Atlético Nacional, and Fortaleza to our home stadium. These will be preseason matches for the participating teams to help them tune up and grow their brands in the United States.
Free Kicks
- Gerardo “Tata” Martino will address the media in a final news conference on Friday along with Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas as he is expected to step down from his head coach position for personal reasons.
- Instantly linked to the managerial vacancy at Inter Miami is former FC Barcelona player and manager Xavi Hernández.
- Nashville SC acquired 23-year-old former Norway youth international midfielder Edvard Tagseth from Rosenborg BK through 2026 with an option for 2027.
- Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang is set to donate $30 million dollars to U.S. Soccer’s women and girls programs over the next five years.
- The United Soccer League announced that USL Dallas, North Texas’ newest professional soccer team, will join the USL Championship for the 2027 season.
- Manchester United is offering €30 million and a struggling player in a swap deal to gain the services of Victor Osimhen.
- Patrick Vieira is likely to step into the managerial role at Genoa after Alberto Gilardino was unexpectedly fired.
- Miami FC and a professional women’s team could be getting a new 10,000-seat stadium in Homestead.
That’s a wrap on links for the day. I wish you all the best with the rest of you week. Who else is excited for a big Orlando soccer weekend? Vamos Orlando!
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