Kreis Out As Orlando Finally Loses Patience
So the inevitable happened. Orlando City Soccer Club ownership and management woke up to reality and finally fired the man the who had delivered some of the dullest and unimaginative football ever seen from an Orlando City team.
Jason Kreis was hired on the 19 July 2016 and failed to make the two year mark as Lions hierarchy finally decided enough was enough of their five year plan after the team managed to lose all of their last six MLS games. The fact the team managed six wins on the trot prior to that had no bearing on the decision and frankly, it should be said that that run was more than a touch fortunate as somehow the team managed to win games it really should have drawn or lost during that time.
The record books will reflect that Kreis was the Head Coach for Orlando City in 63 games, winning just 23 (36.51%), losing 28 and drawing 12. Sadly, it’s hard to see where Kreis goes from here as prior to taking the Orlando job he previously coached New York City FC where his record was even worse as he took charge of 35 games, winning just 10 (28.57%), losing 18 and drawing 7.
His record at Real Salt Lake from 2007 to 2013 is something of a saving grace as he took the Claret and Cobalt to its lone MLS Cup championship in 2009 and a Western Conference win in 2013. Unfortunately, Kreis never really made the same connection with Orlando’s fans and in all reality he probably now needs to go back to basics and re-learn his trade as Major League Soccer has most certainly moved on from the days when he won 112 (42.91%), lost 85 and drew 64 in 261 games on the west coast.
Kreis was a former player for the Dallas Burn and Real Salt Lake and holds many honors such as Major League Soccer’s sixth all-time leading scorer with 108 goals after he became the first player in MLS history to score 100 career league goals, during a 4–2 loss to the Kansas City Wizards. Ironically, his final victory in purple came against Real Salt Lake when his team won 3-1 at Orlando City Stadium.
So what next for Orlando?
Over the coming days there will be much speculation about the choice for a new Head Coach but for now, Assistant coach Bobby Murphy will be the man in charge. It’s a role he is somewhat familiar with having led the club for four games after the harsh firing of Adrian Heath on 6th July 2016 prior to Kreis being hired just under two weeks later.
