Despite slow start, Perelman to remain as Orlando City interim coach

Martin Perelman will continue as Orlando City’s interim head coach when MLS regular-season play resumes after the FIFA World Cup break this summer, the club’s sporting director and general manager, Ricardo Moreira, recently told WESH 2.”I can confirm that Martin will continue to be the interim head coach of the team when the MLS season resumes after the break,” Moreira said. “We believe that this stability is really important for us right now, especially in the middle of the season and especially with bringing in someone like Griezmann.”Moreira added: “We understand that bringing someone like Griezmann changes the whole landscape of the club. Integrating him into an existing group and a locker room that already has its own identity is really important. We want to maintain continuity and stability, and we believe Martin brings that to the club.”Perelman, 40, was named interim head coach shortly after Week 3 of the MLS regular season following the sudden departure of longtime coach Oscar Pareja.Since taking over the Lions, Perelman has guided Orlando City to a 7-6-2 record in all competitions. The team has scored 29 goals and conceded 37.Despite reaching the semifinals of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Orlando City closed out the first half of the regular season with a 6-2 loss at FC Cincinnati on May 23.The Lions enter the World Cup break in 12th place in the Eastern Conference and 25th overall in the MLS standings.According to Moreira, that position is unacceptable.“We’re not happy with where we are, but you also understand, and we have to evaluate the full context of everything that was done in the first half of the season, and everything that we’ve been through,” Moreira said in the first half of the season. “ The coaching changed, lots of new players, lots of injuries, also that affected the performance lineup and the whole strength of the club. This group went through a lot in this first semester, and the responsibility for that is shared across the entire group, not just the coaching staff, or the players. I think it’s a shared responsibility, and I think it’s a shared sentiment that we’re not happy with the way things are.”Orlando City has shown an ability to rebound from slow starts. The Lions improved significantly after sluggish openings to both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.With Griezmann expected to join after the World Cup, Moreira expects the club to improve and contend for a playoff spot for a seventh consecutive season while also competing in the Open Cup semifinals.Still, Moreira did not rule out conducting a full coaching search, saying Perelman’s future remains part of an ongoing evaluation process. He also acknowledged the realities of the coaching market.”We’re going to support Martin and stick with him,” Moreira said. “I wouldn’t be doing my job if I wasn’t monitoring the market and understanding the full landscape of available coaches. There are a lot of coaches who have been discussed, and we’re aware of every situation. I’m very active in my networking and my knowledge of the market, and we’re well aware of the coaching landscape and the status of coaches who may be available. But the decision right now is to keep Martin.”Moreira also said the club is working on roster moves ahead of the opening of MLS’ secondary transfer window, which runs from July 13 through Sept. 2.Orlando City returns to MLS action July 22 against the San Jose Earthquakes.Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.

Martin Perelman will continue as Orlando City’s interim head coach when MLS regular-season play resumes after the FIFA World Cup break this summer, the club’s sporting director and general manager, Ricardo Moreira, recently told WESH 2.

“I can confirm that Martin will continue to be the interim head coach of the team when the MLS season resumes after the break,” Moreira said. “We believe that this stability is really important for us right now, especially in the middle of the season and especially with bringing in someone like Griezmann.”

Moreira added: “We understand that bringing someone like Griezmann changes the whole landscape of the club. Integrating him into an existing group and a locker room that already has its own identity is really important. We want to maintain continuity and stability, and we believe Martin brings that to the club.”

Perelman, 40, was named interim head coach shortly after Week 3 of the MLS regular season following the sudden departure of longtime coach Oscar Pareja.

Since taking over the Lions, Perelman has guided Orlando City to a 7-6-2 record in all competitions. The team has scored 29 goals and conceded 37.

Despite reaching the semifinals of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Orlando City closed out the first half of the regular season with a 6-2 loss at FC Cincinnati on May 23.

The Lions enter the World Cup break in 12th place in the Eastern Conference and 25th overall in the MLS standings.

According to Moreira, that position is unacceptable.

“We’re not happy with where we are, but you also understand, and we have to evaluate the full context of everything that was done in the first half of the season, and everything that we’ve been through,” Moreira said in the first half of the season. “ The coaching changed, lots of new players, lots of injuries, also that affected the performance lineup and the whole strength of the club. This group went through a lot in this first semester, and the responsibility for that is shared across the entire group, not just the coaching staff, or the players. I think it’s a shared responsibility, and I think it’s a shared sentiment that we’re not happy with the way things are.”

Orlando City has shown an ability to rebound from slow starts. The Lions improved significantly after sluggish openings to both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

With Griezmann expected to join after the World Cup, Moreira expects the club to improve and contend for a playoff spot for a seventh consecutive season while also competing in the Open Cup semifinals.

Still, Moreira did not rule out conducting a full coaching search, saying Perelman’s future remains part of an ongoing evaluation process. He also acknowledged the realities of the coaching market.

“We’re going to support Martin and stick with him,” Moreira said. “I wouldn’t be doing my job if I wasn’t monitoring the market and understanding the full landscape of available coaches. There are a lot of coaches who have been discussed, and we’re aware of every situation. I’m very active in my networking and my knowledge of the market, and we’re well aware of the coaching landscape and the status of coaches who may be available. But the decision right now is to keep Martin.”

Moreira also said the club is working on roster moves ahead of the opening of MLS’ secondary transfer window, which runs from July 13 through Sept. 2.

Orlando City returns to MLS action July 22 against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.