Orlando City SC Signs Head Coach Oscar Pareja to New Contract

 Orlando City SC and Head Coach Oscar Pareja have agreed to a new contract, it was announced today, with the former MLS Coach of the Year and winningest head coach in Club history returning on a three-year contract through 2028.

“Throughout his career, Oscar has proven to be a coach deeply committed not only to winning and competing for championships, but also to building teams that fans can proudly rally behind,” said Orlando City Owner & Chairman Mark Wilf. “Here in Orlando, he’s shown that same passion and dedication – taking immense pride in representing our club with integrity and driving us closer each year to our ultimate goal of winning it all. His unwavering positivity and focus have helped shape a culture grounded in respect and ambition. We’re thrilled to have Oscar continue leading us forward in the City Beautiful.”

“First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Mark Wilf, his family, the entire ownership group, and our executive board for their continued trust in the vision and culture we’ve built over the years,” said Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja. “Their unwavering support is the foundation of everything we strive to achieve each day. Above all, I’m profoundly thankful to our incredible fans and the dedicated staff who pour their hearts into making Orlando City such a remarkable club. Together, we’ve grown stronger with each passing season, moving steadily closer to our shared ambition of bringing more trophies home to this great city. I remain deeply inspired by what lies ahead and look forward to continuing this journey in pursuit of more championships.”

Since taking over as Orlando City’s Head Coach ahead of the 2020 season, Pareja has led the Lions to an 88-58-56 record in 202 competitive matches, leading the side to five-consecutive Audi MLS Cup Playoffs appearances, its first two appearances in Concacaf Champions Cup, Club records for most wins and points in a season, an MLS is Back Tournament Final appearance, the Lions’ first trip to the MLS Eastern Conference Finals and the Club’s first trophy in its MLS era by winning the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Pareja ranks as the fifth-winningest head coach in MLS history with 176 all-time wins and ranks second among head coaches currently active in Major League Soccer.

Prior to his last six seasons in the City Beautiful, Pareja spent one season at the helm of Club Tijuana of Liga MX and five seasons as the head coach at FC Dallas. Pareja joined the MLS head coaching ranks in 2012, where he spent two seasons as the manager of the Colorado Rapids, leading the club to the playoffs in 2013. Pareja also spent time coaching the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team from 2007-08.

As a player, Pareja played nearly 400 games in his home country of Colombia between Independiente Medellin (263 appearances) and Deportivo Cali (122 appearances). A talented midfielder, Pareja was allocated to the New England Revolution ahead of the 1998 season but was traded to the Dallas Burn after 13 games - a move that kicked off Pareja’s long tenure with the Dallas organization. He would go on to play 170 matches, tallying 13 goals and 47 assists in a Dallas uniform.

Pareja also featured on the international stage for his home country, totaling 11 caps for Colombia. In addition to scoring three goals for Los Cafeteros, Pareja also appeared in the 1991 Copa América.