Orlando City parts ways with manager Oscar Pareja amid club's Griezmann pursuit

Assistant coach Martín Perelman will take charge in the interim after a 0-3-0 start to the MLS season.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Orlando City has parted ways with manager Óscar Pareja after a poor start to the 2026 MLS season. The club has a league-worst 0-3-0 record and -8 goal differential through three games. Assistant coach Martín Perelman will serve as interim manager as the club looks to turn things around.

Why it matters

Pareja had been Orlando City's manager since 2019 and led the club to the playoffs in each of his six seasons in charge, including winning the 2022 U.S. Open Cup. His dismissal comes as the club is reportedly pursuing a move for French star Antoine Griezmann, raising questions about the club's direction and plans for the rest of the season.

The details

Orlando City parted ways with Pareja on Wednesday, citing a 'mutual decision' after the club's poor start to the 2026 MLS season. The Lions have no points and a league-worst -8 goal differential through three games. Pareja, who won a Supporters' Shield and U.S. Open Cup double with FC Dallas in 2016, had been the second-longest tenured head coach in MLS behind Seattle's Brian Schmetzer.

  • Orlando City parted ways with Pareja on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
  • The Lions have a 0-3-0 record and league-worst -8 goal differential through three games this season.

The players

Óscar Pareja

The former manager of Orlando City who had been in charge since 2019, leading the club to the playoffs in each of his six seasons, including winning the 2022 U.S. Open Cup.

Martín Perelman

The assistant coach who will serve as Orlando City's interim manager following Pareja's departure.

Antoine Griezmann

The French star who plays for Atlético Madrid and is reportedly a target for Orlando City in the MLS transfer market.

Ricardo Moreira

The Orlando City sporting director and general manager who said the club believes this is the 'right moment to take the club in a new direction.'

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What they’re saying

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the club's players, staff and supporters for the trust they've given me over these last several years. Together, we shared moments that will stay with me forever. While it is the right time for both me and the club to move in new directions, I leave proud of the work we did and with deep appreciation for the people who made it possible. Orlando will always have a special place in my heart, and I wish the team nothing but success in the future.”

— Óscar Pareja, Former Orlando City Manager

“We believe this is the right moment to take the club in a new direction as we look to the next phase of our growth and ambitions. We are grateful for everything Óscar has contributed and wish him nothing but success in the next chapter of his career.”

— Ricardo Moreira, Orlando City Sporting Director and General Manager

What’s next

It's unclear what, if anything, the managerial change means for the club's pursuit of France and Atlético Madrid star Antoine Griezmann, who indicated this week that he's likely to remain with his Spanish side beyond the MLS transfer deadline (March 26) and until the summer, before taking another decision on his club career.

The takeaway

Pareja's dismissal comes as a surprise given his success in leading Orlando City to the playoffs in each of his six seasons, but the club's poor start to the 2026 season has prompted a change in leadership. The club's pursuit of Griezmann adds an interesting wrinkle, as the new manager will have to navigate the team's transfer activity and on-field performance.