ORLANDO, Fla. – James O’Connor could have gone anywhere in Major League Soccer, but he decided to come back to where it all started when he arrived in the United States in 2012.
The former Louisville City FC boss, who was introduced as Orlando City’s newest head coach during a press conference on Monday, said it was a difficult decision to leave Louisville, but he always felt a deep connection with the Lions since he last played in Orlando.
Following a career playing in England, O’Connor played for Orlando City during the USL days from 2012-2014 before beginning his coaching career with Louisville in 2015. To come back to Orlando three years later as head coach was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.
“It was a huge decision, the people in Louisville are fantastic,” said O’Connor. “Honestly, there would have been other MLS opportunities that I wouldn't have left Louisville for, [but] people don’t really understand what this club means to me. We left England, came here in 2012, it was a massive decision to come here, but the way we were welcomed here, the way we adapted here, we felt really welcomed by the supporters, by the football club.
“We have a real affinity. For me, there’s a desperation to try and bring success here,” added O’Connor. “I look at the opportunity that’s here. How passionate the supporters are. I look at the ownership group, I look at Niki [Budalic], I have been really impressed with everybody, so there’s a determination to bring everyone together and go after things.”
O’Connor's past connections with the club was a primary reason he was hired as Orlando’s third coach in four years, said Lions general manager Niki Budalic. His success in the USL with Louisville City, where he won the league title last season, also played a huge factor.
“It was a difficult decision for him to leave Louisville, but from our perspective, we’re very, very pleased he’s decided to join us,” said Budalic. “He’s a young and exciting coach who’s proven himself in the USL, and we feel that he’s the right combination of hunger and experience to join us at this point in our history. We know, and I know, that he has the passion that matches that of our fanbase, of our city and the ambition of our club.”
While jumping in midseason may not be the way he expected it to go, O'Connor is determined not to let the chance to manage in MLS go to waste.
“It’s been an emotional roller coaster, everything has happened so quickly, but just real excitement when you look at the quality of the players here,” said O’Connor. “When you look at the soccer club, when I look at the supporters. For me, it was a massive decision, but I think the history I have with Orlando, obviously coming here from England… we had a great time here. We helped transition from USL to MLS. It’s a real exciting opportunity for me and one I was determined to take.”
