ORLANDO, Fla. – Dec. 23, 2015 – The Orlando Pride National Women’s Soccer League team today announced that Marcos Machado had renewed his contract with the club and has been named goalkeeper coach for Orlando Pride, joining the technical staff lead by Head Coach Tom Sermanni and recently named assistant coach Khano Smith.
Per Club and league rules, additional details were not disclosed.
“We’re excited to have Marcos join the Orlando Pride technical staff in the team’s inaugural season,” said head coach Tom Sermanni. “Marcos brings extensive experience not only within the Orlando City organization, as well as his extensive work as a goalkeeper coach. We look forward to his contributions to our inaugural season.”
“I am thrilled to bring my expertise to the Orlando Pride and work with Tom and his technical staff,” said Machado. “I’m grateful for my time with the Lions, and am eager to take all that I have learned and put that experience toward a successful first campaign for the Pride in 2016.”
Marcos Machado started his professional playing career at Sport Recife in Brazil in 1971. Machado joined America Recife Club of Brazil in 1975 and played one season for them before joining Associacao Atletica Santo Amaro in 1977. He played with Santo Amaro from 1977 to 1982, becoming one of the best goalkeepers in Brazil. Machado also played for Esportivo de Bento Goncalves in 1985, Central Sports Clube in 1987, and the Uniao Futebol Clube in 1988 to 1990, winning the Portugal Second Division Championship. Machado continued to play with different squads up until 2000, ending his career with the Central Florida Kraze of the USSL.
In addition to his vast playing experience, Machado brings 16 years of coaching experience to the Orlando Pride. He has been the goalkeeper coach for the Olympic Development Program (ODP) in Florida since 1998, Pine Castle Christian Academy Head Coach from 1998-2000, along with coaching various clubs in Central Florida from 1997. In those 16 years of coaching, he spent six years as Technical Director with two different squads. From 2005-2007, he was the Technical Director for the IUS Elite Boys Program. In 2008, Machado became the Technical Director of the Florida Rush Soccer Boys program.
