Twitter reacts to… Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City SC appointment

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Almost two months on from James O’Connor’s exit, Orlando City SC today announced the appointment of Oscar Pareja as the Lions’ new boss and fourth full-time head coach in MLS history.

Most recently coaching Club Tijuana in Liga MX, the 51-year-old is no stranger to Major League Soccer having coached FC Dallas to the MLS Supporters’ Shield and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in 2016.

Despite failing to lead Orlando City SC to the post-season, James O’Connor was a club legend and hugely popular figure at Exploria Stadium.

Nevertheless, Orlando City SC‘s fanbase is growing ever desperate to finally reach the MLS Cup Playoffs and the hiring of someone who knows MLS as well as Oscar Pareja seems smart and shrewd.

Quite simply, qualification for the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs would quickly make City supporters forget what’s gone before under Adrian Heath, Jason Kreis and James O’Connor.

>> CLICK HERE TO VIEW OSCAR PAREJA’S COACHING PROFILE <<

Breathing new life

Pareja’s immediate task will be invigorating the franchise once more and drawing disillusioned City supporters and casual attendees back to Exploria Stadium with entertaining soccer.

Turning around a losing culture won’t be an easy task for the Colombian however.

In only five full Major League Soccer campaigns, the Orlando City SC Front Office has earned a reputation for hiring and firing repeatedly while the Lions are still yet to establish a true identity and style of play on the pitch.

A regular season specialist

Nevertheless, Oscar Pareja is something of a regular season specialist and the first Orlando City SC head coach boasting previous experience of reaching the MLS Cup Playoffs – the holy grail for Lions fans everywhere!

Between 2014 and 2018, Pareja successfully navigated FC Dallas to the post-season in four of his five seasons in charge in Frisco, finishing as Western Conference champions in 2015.

Finishing fourth or better in the Western Conference each time they secured post-season qualification, the year 2016 was the jewel in the crown of Oscar Pareja‘s tenure however.

Not only coaching the Texan side to the MLS Supporters’ Shield but the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup too, Pareja’s winning mentality and innate knowledge of MLS should stand the 51-year-old in good stead in his new role at Exploria Stadium.

Welcome to Orlando

On behalf of Orlando City UK, we’d like to take this moment to say welcome to Orlando, Oscar Pareja.

We wish our new head coach the very best of luck as he embarks on his latest challenge in Central Florida.

The fans’ view

With the Orlando City SC Twittersphere currently digesting the news, Orlando City UK gathered some of the best tweets following Oscar Pareja‘s appointment.

What are YOU making of Oscar Pareja‘s appointment as Orlando City SC head coach?

Comment below or tweet us at @Orlando_CityUK to let us know!

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