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With FC Cincinnati joining Major League Soccer in 2019, the Orange and Blue will soon be selecting unprotected players under MLS contracts in the forthcoming 2018 MLS Expansion Draft on December 11.

Alan Koch’s side have already acquired the likes of former Portland Timbers star Fanendo Adi and San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Fatai Alashe on loan.

But they’ll need to bolster their USL roster, which already includes Arsenal academy graduate Justin Hoyte, Shola and Sammy Ameobi’s brother Tomi and former Walsall and Middlesbrough winger Emmanuel Ledesma.

Unlike Orlando City SC, FC Cincinnati are only allowed to select five players and none of their picks can be the players that Los Angeles FC chose last season.

So that means Tyler Miller, Latif Blessing, Marco Ureña, Jukka Raitala and Raheem Edwards are exempt from selection

With the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft taking place in just over one month’s time, we saw it fit to reflect on the picks that Orlando City SC made in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft ahead of our inaugural season under Adrian Heath.

Donovan Ricketts

Orlando City SC were allowed the first pick ahead of fellow MLS debutants New York City FC and started between the sticks with veteran goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.

An experienced goalkeeper with 100 caps for Jamaica, Donovan Ricketts had spells in England with Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City throughout his career.

Concerning his MLS career, Ricketts had made 167 appearances for LA Galaxy, Montreal Impact and Portland Timbers.

His time in Central Florida was brief though as in the July of that season he was traded back to his former side LA Galaxy in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft after only 10 appearances.

That pick was exchanged to D.C. United for Targeted Allocation Money. At the end of that season he was released by the Galaxy and joined Tulsa Roughnecks before retiring in 2017

Tony Cascio

Tony Cascio arrived at Orlando City SC after his best spell in MLS and his career after notching four goals in 42 games for Colorado Rapids over two years which included a loan to Houston Dynamo in between.

He made history in MLS by becoming the first player loaned by one MLS club to another when he joined the Dynamo.

His career with Orlando City SC never got going however after he missed six months due to a bulging disc in his back.

Since departing the Citrus Bowl, Tony Cascio has had spells at both Arizona United and Sporting Arizona FC.

Jalil Anibaba

Probably the best player Orlando City SC drafted, Jalil Anibaba is an experienced Major League Soccer defender racking up nearly 200 appearances.

Drafted from Seattle Sounders, Anibaba never appeared for Orlando City SC as he was immediately traded to Sporting Kansas City in exchange for Frenchman Aurélien Collin. So make what you will of who got the better deal in that trade!

Since then Jalil Anibaba has been in Texas with both Sporting Kansas City and Houston Dynamo but he’s currently plying his trade under Brad Friedel at New England Revolution.

Pedro Ribeiro

Pedro Ribeiro was a player whom in my opinion could’ve been a great back-up striker.

However, the Brazilian who was drafted from Philadelphia Union only managed to find the back of the net twice for the Lions against Montreal Impact and Columbus Crew.

He also played a couple of games with Orlando City B who are being reinstated in 2019 following their one-year hiatus.

Since leaving Orlando City SC, Pedro Ribeiro has been turning out in the lower North American league scene representing Harrisburg City Islanders and currently Fresno FC.

Lewis Neal

Re-signing on the draft after representing Orlando City SC during our USL days, Lewis Neal is a fan favourite with the Lions faithful.

Lewis Neal originally launched his career in England with the likes of Stoke City, Preston North End, Notts County, Carlisle United and Shrewsbury Town.

Neal made 20 appearances for Orlando City SC‘s MLS team before joining Orlando City B and becoming a key mentor for younger players at the club.

More recently, Lewis Neal has taken on a wide variety of important roles at Orlando City SC including academy and media duties.

He is also set to embark on an indoor soccer career with Tom Traxler’s Orlando SeaWolves who launch their inaugural season this weekend.

Jairo Arrieta

You’d be forgiven if you forgot that Jairo Arrieta was ever associated with Orlando City SC!

Just like Jalil Anibaba, he was immediately traded elsewhere, this time joining fellow Eastern Conference side DC United.

The striker who has won 17 senior international caps for Costa Rica was part of Los Ticos‘ squad for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

He’s also gone on to play for New York Cosmos before returning to Costa Rica with Herediano and now Deportivo Saprissa in Liga FPD.

Heath Pearce

Heath Pearce maybe more recognisable for his YouTube work nowadays compared to his playing career, taking over from Jimmy Conrad as the face of COPA90 US.

During his career however, Heath Pearce played in the countries such as Denmark and Germany before ending his career in Sweden.

With 35 caps for the USMNT, he won the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2013 with New York Red Bulls.

He was picked from Montreal Impact but before he played a minute for Orlando City SC, he joined IFK Goteborg in Sweden on a five-month deal which was the final contract he signed as a professional.

Danny Mwanga

Danny Mwanga has made over 100 appearances in Major League Soccer but only four of those came in purple.

After turning down a deal with Colorado Rapids, he was available to be drafted and Orlando City SC took that option.

He was never a regular fixture in Adrian Heath‘s plans however.

After just one season as a Lion, the DR Congo striker stayed in Florida to join City’s arch-rivals Tampa Bay Rowdies alongside Joe Cole.

Danny Mwanga (pictured) had a loan spell in Canada with Ottawa Fury but has been without a club since 2016.

Mark Sherrod

Another player whom was drafted but never played a minute for Orlando City SC was Mark Sherrod.

After a brief spell at Houston Dynamo, Orlando City SC drafted him in only for a day later to send him to San Jose Earthquakes for a second-round 2016 MLS SuperDraft pick.

That pick was used to acquire Akeil Barrett who like Sherrod never made an appearance for Orlando City SC.

Whilst at San Jose Earthquakes, Mark Sherrod only made two appearances before two loan spells at Sacramento Republic.

In 2017 he was forced to retire at the age of just 26 due to recurring knee injuries

Eric Gehrig

Last but not least, the final Orlando City SC pick from the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft was once again a player who never played a minute for the Lions.

Eric Gehrig was drafted from Columbus Crew but was immediately traded to Chicago Fire for a second-round selection in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.

Orlando City SC then exchanged that pick for Columbus Crew striker Adam Bedell, somebody whose whereabouts were highlighted in an Orlando City UK feature in April 2016.

After a season at Chicago Fire, Eric Gehrig became eligible for the Re-Entry Draft but wasn’t selected.

He later hung up his boots and became the assistant manager of the Men in Red at the time of writing.