Almost exactly two years after the exit of Adrian Heath, it’s back to square one for Orlando City SC who parted company with head coach Jason Kreis on Friday.
Contesting 64 Major League Soccer fixtures as the Lions’ head coach, just 21 of these results were victories proving the ultimate undoing of the 45-year-old.
NEWS: Orlando City SC Agrees to Part Ways with Head Coach Jason Kreis.
Details | https://t.co/hMHP3LHOgm pic.twitter.com/ahNDJlyhNm
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) June 15, 2018
The second full-time head coach in Orlando City SC‘s fledgling MLS history, the Jason Kreis era is now over with assistant coach Bobby Murphy taking interim charge until further notice.
Alongside Jason Kreis’ departure, assistant coaches C.J. Brown and Miles Joseph have also exited Orlando City SC by mutual agreement.
Enduring a desperate run of sixth straight defeats, the latest of which was a 3-0 defeat at fellow Eastern Conference strugglers Montreal Impact on Wednesday evening, Alex Leitão and co are now seeking a successor.
Good starts, poor reaction
The most peculiar assessment of Jason Kreis’ reign was the fact Orlando City SC started both 2017 and 2018 successfully before desperately losing their way thereafter.
Winning six of our first eight MLS fixtures last season, the Lions put together a record breaking streak of six straight victories earlier this season. Good starts indeed.
Since mid-May however, Orlando City SC have been bereft of confidence, fight and tactical nous as injuries and an increasingly busy schedule has caught up with this current group.
Growing impatience
No doubt a tough proposition travelling away to New York City FC, Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact in just 11 days, the Lions have now attempted to arrest their free-fall.
Fan patience with Jason Kreis has been thin with a large majority of Orlando City SC supporters, mainly due to the all too recent memories of notching just four wins from our final 27 MLS fixtures last season.
Still yet to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs three seasons into Major League Soccer, Orlando City SC and their supporters have become increasingly anxious, pensive and impatient.
Despite 14 new players arriving in our busiest winter transfer window yet, the same problem of dropped heads and a lack of resilience reminiscent of last season unfortunately means the Jason Kreis era won’t be remembered so fondly.
Nonetheless, Orlando City UK would like to say thank you to Jason Kreis and his management team for their combined efforts since arriving in Central Florida in July 2016.
The fans’ view
Following news of Jason Kreis’ exit earlier today, Orlando City UK have captured the best of what Lions supporters are saying on Twitter right now…
Not surprised
— Alan Johnson (@AFootballWriter) June 15, 2018
Right decision, right time. Orlando deserves a manager that can do more with the players given. Last thing I want to see in some MLS ‘veteran’ come in
— Zach Berly (@ZBerly) June 15, 2018
about time. The guy has been clueless, inept with tactics.
— Rees (@rees1968) June 15, 2018
Not before time, he’s overseen constant upheaval and almost two years down the line we’ve got a far better squad of players but are no better on the pitch. Was surprised he survived last season.
— Jack (@jacksb7) June 15, 2018
Right decision and right time. After losing the last 6 league games in a row, I struggled to see a way out of that, without changing something. A new manager can hopefully turn this around, with plenty of games to play.
— Matt Lynch (@matthewlynch91) June 15, 2018
About time!!!!
— Horace Holloway (@HollowayHorace) June 15, 2018
About time. He’s been well backed but he’s simply not delivering and we are not any better defending.
Get Wenger in.
— Baron B’Stard 🇬🇧🇨🇾🇺🇸🇮🇱 (@BaronBStard) June 15, 2018
Position untenable, no one can accuse the club of not being patient.
— David Manock (@dmanock) June 15, 2018
Personally would have sacked him end of last season, allowed a new man the chance to build his own team… now the new coach will have to mold someone elses players and thats not ideal for a team chasing the playoffs
— Ant 🐺 (@a_roberts1987) June 15, 2018
Can we get Kaká as our new manager? 🤔
— StephenJ16 (@StephenJK16) June 15, 2018
I had been calling this change. We deserve better coaching
— Ed Guillen (@Edoviedo70) June 15, 2018
I Never like to see a manager get sacked but making the same mistakes and makes sense without a game this week
— Glenn franklin (@Glenn_fra) June 15, 2018
Yes, I know the players didn’t help. Don’t @ me. He showed 0 tactical knowledge outside knowing the diamond sucks
— World Cup 🐸 “Derek” (@Rays1299) June 15, 2018
From a player perspective it’s pretty clear the ones that will be impacted most will be Johnson & Meram
I think the new manager would rather bank on RJ Allen and sign a new RB when the window opens. Johnson’s time is just about up IMO
Meram is the ultimate reclamation project
— Chris (@OrlandoCountySC) June 15, 2018
Sorry for Kreis. Onwards and upward City.
— StevieOrlando (@StevieOrlando) June 15, 2018
Beat of luck, @JasonKreis. This sucks.
— anakenn (@anakenn) June 15, 2018