ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City Soccer Club has announced plans to own and operate a USL team in Central Florida for the 2016 season, pending approval from Major League Soccer and USL.
The club has named longtime player and staff coach Anthony Pulis as the new USL team's head coach.
The team will allow the Orlando City Soccer Club a foundation for a player development system. The team will train alongside the Soccer Club.
"The USL is excited for the prospect of returning to the Orlando area," said USL President Jake Edwards. "Central Florida has a great USL tradition, and a market hungry for high-level professional soccer."
"Orlando City has a very successful history in the USL and we are looking for this new team to build on that winning tradition in the 'Soccer Capitol of the South'," said founder and President Phil Rawlins.
Additional details including team name, crest, venue and players will be announced in the coming months.