Winners revealed in Orlando City UK’s 2022 end-of-season awards

/ Taylor Williams

This past week, we asked the Orlando City SC Twittersphere to select their Orlando City SC Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year for 2022 as part of our annual Orlando City UK end-of-season awards.

A public vote designed to recognise the standout Orlando City SC players in our historic 2022 campaign, we can now proudly reveal the winners as voted by you!

We had 334 individual votes cast across our three awards categories on Twitter. We want to say thanks to each and every one of you for getting involved.

So without any further ado, here are your Orlando City UK 2022 end-of-season award winners!

2022 Orlando City UK Player of the Year

2018 winner: Yoshimar Yotún

2019 winner: Nani

2020 winner: Pedro Gallese

2021 winner: Pedro Gallese

With a whopping 68% of the vote, Facundo Torres is the runaway winner of Orlando City UK’s ‘Player of the Year’ honour.

Joining the Lions from Uruguayan giants Peñarol back on January 24, much was expected of “El Cuervo” following a long and drawn out winter transfer saga that seemed to last forever.

Already a senior Uruguay international prior to signing, Facu had to shoulder the creative and goalscoring burden that was missing after City lost key men Daryl Dike, Chris Mueller, and Nani following 2021.

All during the 22-year-old’s first ever campaign outside his native Uruguay too!

But now 2022 is in the books, Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira can feel very smug about sealing Facundo Torres‘ statement signature, a coup, not to mention his debut campaign in purple.

With #OCTwitter helplessly gripped to their timelines in search of transfer updates last off-season, it appears all was worth it in the end!

After all, Facu ended 2022 with NINE goals and TEN assists in his debut Major League Soccer campaign.

Both Orlando City SC and Major League Soccer supporters are now more than familiar with Facu’s trademark selfie celebration!

Deployed more often than not by Oscar Pareja on the right wing, Facundo Torres‘ versatility also saw him used at left wing and in the number 10 position too.

Besides MLS, Facundo Torres earned instant legendary status at Exploria Stadium courtesy of his two-goal performance in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.

After a tight and nervy first-half against Sacramento Republic, Facu single-handedly put Orlando City SC on his shoulders and bagged a brace to help secure City’s first major trophy as an MLS club.

Other times Facu came up clutch in 2022 included an extra-time leveller against Florida rivals Inter Miami in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16.

Then on 2022 MLS Decision Day, Facundo Torres demonstrated nerves of steel to slam home a make-or-break 84th minute penalty past Columbus Crew that effectively punched City’s ticket to the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Orlando City SC and its supporters are honoured to have a player of Torres’ calibre at the club.

Many congratulations on being our well-deserved 2022 Orlando City UK Player of the Year, Facundo Torres.

Orlando City SC 3 Sacramento Republic 0 – Highlights – September 7, 2022 (Credit: U.S. Soccer)

2022 Orlando City UK Young Player of the Year

2018 winner: Chris Mueller

2019 winner: Benji Michel

2020 winner: Daryl Dike

2021 winner: Daryl Dike

Unsurprisingly, your Orlando City UK ‘Young Player of the Year’ for 2022 is also Facundo Torres with a huge 76% of the vote.

Edging out fellow Uruguayan César Araújo, who tallied 24% of the vote, Araújo deserves an honourable mention too.

Little was known about Araújo when signed from Montevideo Wanderers back on January 7.

Now 2022 is done and dusted however, everybody within Major League Soccer knows just how tenacious, tireless, and downright talented our tough tackling central defensive midfielder is.

As for our 2022 ‘Young Player of the Year’ winner though, Facu was only 21 upon signing for the Lions back on January 24.

One of the most talked about young talents in Uruguayan soccer, Uruguay is a country that knows a good soccer player when they see one!

Facundo Torres‘ transfer to Major League Soccer wasn’t without skepticism in El Cuervo’s native Uruguay.

With MLS still having to puff out its chest to defend its quality in the eyes of the traditional soccer world, there has been some snobbery surrounding Torres taking a perceived step down in his career.

But as we’ve seen more and more, Major League Soccer is fast becoming one of the more respected development leagues in the world, a league that can act a stepping stone towards future European stardom.

You only have to look at Alphonso Davies and Miguel Almirón to name but two players who’ve used their MLS experience to propel them to bigger things.

As for Peñarol’s former golden boy Facundo Pellistri who joined Manchester United in October 2020, the now 20-year-old is somewhat in the wilderness with the Red Devils after two loan spells at Deportivo Alavés.

By comparison, Facundo Torres is not only playing but starring week in and week out in one of the fastest growing leagues worldwide.

It does however remain to be seen whether Uruguay head coach will include Facundo Torres in his final 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Alonso harshly left Facu out of La Celeste’s 26-man squad for September friendlies against Iran and Canada despite hitting consistent goals and assists down the stretch for Orlando City SC.

Nevertheless, earlier today (October 21), Diego Alonso included Facundo Torres in Uruguay’s 55-man preliminary squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup alongside City team-mate César Araújo.

All Orlando City SC supporters hope that Alonso selects Torres and Araújo for Qatar, not only validating the players themselves, but Major League Soccer by extension.

Many congratulations on being our 2022 Orlando City UK Young Player of the Year, Facundo Torres!

Orlando City SC 2 Columbus Crew 1 – Highlights – October 9, 2022 (Credit: Major League Soccer)

2022 Orlando City UK Newcomer of the Year

2018 winner: Chris Mueller

2019 winner: Nani

2020 winner: Pedro Gallese

2021 winner: Silvester van der Water

With 77% of the vote, Facundo Torres is also your Orlando City UK ‘Newcomer of the Year’ for 2022, completing a clean sweep of all three honours this year.

What else can we say about El Cuervo that we haven’t already?

If any soccer fan was in any doubt over Facundo Torres‘ potential and ability, Facu also scored a fantastic solo equaliser against none other than Premier League leaders Arsenal in the FC Series Clash of Nations 2022 back on July 20.

Seizing his moment in this glamour mid-season friendly, Mikel Arteta saw first-hand how Facu’s quick feet and decision making abilities can devastate defences.

Barring no serious injury, Torres should continue his upward career trajectory from this point forth.

If the 22-year-old ends up securing an eventual transfer to Europe, it will be no surprise to anybody – especially Orlando City SC supporters.

But every Lions fan hopes Facu will stick around in purple for a little while yet, hopefully lifting MLS Cup before any future transfer.

Many congratulations on being our 2022 Orlando City UK Newcomer of the Year, Facundo Torres!

Orlando City SC 1 Arsenal 3 – Highlights – July 20, 2022 (Credit: Arsenal)

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