In a busy few days for Orlando City SC, the changes keep coming thick and fast this time due to the fact that first team goalkeeping coach Marcos Machado will now join up with the Orlando Pride in the same role while Stewart Kerr has arrived as his replacement.
With Khano Smith having been announced as an assistant coach to Pride first team boss Tom Sermanni last week, the NWSL sides’ backroom staff is slowly coming together nicely.
Machado had been working in his role as goalkeeping coach for Adrian Heath’s first team for some time and was the brains behind Miguel Gallardo’s rise to prominence in the Lions’ USL days.
A proud Sermanni noted to the Orlando Sentinel: “Marcos brings extensive experience not only within the Orlando City organization, as well as his extensive work as a goalkeeper coach. We look forward to his contributions to our inaugural season.”
There is no doubting that City supporters will miss Machado although as we’ve saw with Lewis Neal lately, at least he’s staying in Central Florida in some capacity but that said, Adrian Heath will have at least two new faces in the dugout this forthcoming season with Ian Fuller having been relieved of his duties lately.
In new arrival Kerr, the 41-year-old Scot used to play professionally for Celtic and Wigan Athletic but more recently since retirement, he’s been working in a goalkeeping coaches’ role with Toronto FC.
With his appointment coming just a day after Joe Bendik arrived at the Citrus Bowl as the Lions’ third off-season signing having played for TFC for the last two years, it’s quite apparent that the two share a positive relationship.
Speaking to the Lions’ official website, Adrian Heath spoke of Kerr’s appointment: “With his knowledge and experience, we feel that he is a perfect fit for our young and talented goalkeeping core.”
It’s been quite a few days for the Orlando City fraternity and here’s what Lions fans have been making of it all on Twitter…
I was told Kerr has a very good relationship with Joe Bendik. @KurtLarSUN hinted at this move earlier. https://t.co/Hj2hR4xtMg
— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) December 23, 2015
Kerr has a good resume before Toronto… It’s a GK coach so all we can hope for is quality growth from Edwards & Bendik
— Chris (@OrlandoCountySC) December 23, 2015
I’m retracting my opinion on OCSC messing things up. I truly believe they are truly trying to upgrade their coaching staff.
— Parramore Pundits (@ParPundits) December 23, 2015