Orlando City hires James O’Connor as new manager

Orlando City announced on Friday that it has hired Louisville City boss James O’Connor as the club's new manager.

O’Connor, 38, most recently coached Louisville City in the second-division United Soccer League, where he led the team to the 2017 USL Cup championship in his third year as manager.

“James was our top target going into the coaching search. He has proven himself a consistent winner as both a player and coach at the USL level, and now is extremely eager to prove himself in MLS,” Orlando City general manager Niki Budalic said in a club release.

“James is very aware of the winning culture we have built in Orlando and what it will take to uphold that tradition in both the short and long term. We couldn’t be more excited for him to get started.”

O’Connor replaces Jason Kreis, who was fired earlier this month amid a six-game losing streak.

Prior to going into coaching, O’Connor had a lengthy playing career in England with Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday.

In 2012, the Irishman moved to the United States and played for Orlando City, then a second-division club, until his retirement in 2014.