Orlando City promised to “Defy Expectation” when it entered MLS.
The team that had come to Orlando, swept up a passionate fan base and won championships behind their fiery coach. The fans got behind the team quickly and believed in everything the coach would bring.
Expectations though bring pressure. And pressure cooks or boils over. Sometimes it turns into nothing.
With Orlando City, the pressure to deliver on the huge expectations of the MLS promotion was growing. And the team was underperforming in this second season.
And so it came to pass Orlando City and Adrian Heath parted ways mutually Wednesday. The expectations became too much for the coach who had guided Orlando City to championships in USL PRO and into MLS. Three wins in nine home games (without any losses, but plenty of disappointing draws), and a standing just outside the playoff race with high-priced players struggling on the field had Orlando City failing to meet the expectations the team set for it in MLS.
Orlando City has always thought and dreamed big. This team is not hitting its mark at the moment. And the team moved forward with an emotional change.
Team chairman Phil Rawlins issued a letter addressing the dismissal:
Today is a very sad day for everyone associated with Orlando City and for me personally, as we agree to the mutual release of my good friend and our Head Coach for the past eight years, Adrian Heath.
As a Board, we believe that we have reached a tipping point in our Club’s history where we must evaluate, learn and make difficult decisions. Decisions that are designed to continue our progression as a Major League Club.
Heath has been the coach for the team since Orlando City arrived in 2010. He led the team to championships in the USL PRO and dominated the league throughout the franchise’s four seasons before jumping to MLS. Heath is all the team has ever known.
But this season has been a struggle.
The team has failed to integrate several high-priced players and the team has struggled to maintain leads and pick up points consistently. Orlando City went nearly two months last season without a win. This season the team has been plagued by inconsistency and has been unable to find its footing.
The Lions are just outside the Playoff picture in the Eastern Conference right now. But they are coming off some very disheartening and alarming losses. They dominated the game, but bowed out of the U.S. Open Cup with a last-minute goal and then suffered an embarrassing 4-0 loss to FC Dallas on Monday.
Orlando City is going into uncharted territory now. The team has had only one coach in its franchise’s history. It is parting ways with everything it has ever known.
All in a season where the team is trying to make good on a lot of its promise and move into its new stadium with a ton more momentum.
Supporters are not pleased to say the least and there are some definite questions as to how this decision came down and why it came now — just before the summer transfer window.
Orlando City now has more questions than ever before. And they now come from the top louder than ever before.
