PHOTO VIA ORLANDO CITY SOCCER CLUB
Orlando City SC and head coach Oscar Pareja have mutually agreed to part ways, the club announced Wednesday afternoon, with assistant coach Martín Perelman named interim head coach. The move comes after a rough start to the 2026 MLS season that has the Lions sitting without a win through their first several matches.
In the home opener on February 21, Orlando fell 2-1 to Red Bull New York, with goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau forced into 11 saves to keep the score respectable. Things got worse from there. On March 1, the Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Inter Miami CF at Inter&Co Stadium but collapsed to a 4-2 defeat, the first time the club had been beaten at home by their South Florida rivals. Miami’s attack repeatedly found space in wide channels and in transition, exposing gaps that Orlando never managed to close, aided by Messi’s close, almost familial bond with the refs. And we’re not going to bring up the recent 5-0 loss against NYCFC.
The early results revived preseason concerns about whether Orlando’s roster was strengthened or simply reshuffled heading into 2026, following the departures of goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and defender Alex Freeman, two pillars of the team’s recent playoff runs. And with Robin Jansson off the field recuperating after surgery, we’ve been left with a lot of fresh faces on the team.
Pareja’s tenure, which began in December 2019, includes the club’s only MLS trophy, the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and six consecutive playoff appearances, currently the longest active streak in the league. He finishes with an overall record of 103 wins, 72 losses, and 66 draws across all competitions.
Perelman, who joined the First Team staff in 2024, previously coached Orlando City B and guided that team to its first-ever MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs berth in 2023. Orlando City will hold a press conference with General Manager Ricardo Moreira on Thursday, March 12, at 2:30 p.m.
