ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 31, 2022) — Brazil national team goalkeeper and University of Central Florida product Aline Villares Reis (uh-lin-EE vee-lah-reece hey-ees) has been named the goalkeeper coach for the Orlando Pride, it was announced today, rounding out Amanda Cromwell’s coaching staff for the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League campaign.
With Reis’s addition, the staff is one that is rooted in Orlando, with four of the five coaches — including Cromwell — having ties back to the City Beautiful. The 32-year-old joins the team’s previously announced support staff of Sam Greene, Michelle Akers and Seb Hines.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Aline at many stages in both of our careers. We’re so excited to have her be an integral part of what we are building and can’t wait to welcome her back to Orlando,” Orlando Pride Head Coach Amanda Cromwell said. “She was an important part of our national championship run at UCLA, and impacted both our goalkeepers and team, as a whole, in a profound way. We expect her to bring that same energy to the Pride and be a positive force in our quest to win championships.”
“I’m so excited to join the Orlando Pride and begin working with our incredible players in a community that I love. I can’t wait to be part of an ambitious club that is committed to continuous growth and the pursuit of excellence,” Reis said. “I’m eager to start this next chapter of my life and I can’t think of a better opportunity than returning to Orlando, a team in my second home, and being part of this talented staff. I’m ready to get to work and do what it takes to build a championship team that both the Club and the Central Florida community deserve.”
A 2018 Copa America Champion, Reis joins the Pride following an accomplished playing career in between the sticks. Following her collegiate career, the UCF-alum enjoyed stints playing in Finland, Brazil and Hungary before joining Spanish top Division side UDG Tenerife in 2018. Prior to her recently announced retirement, Reis started 84 times for Tenerife, sitting as the international player with the most starts and games in the Primeira Iberdrola.
As a member of the Brazilian national team, Reis was rostered for both the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, as well as the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, tallying 15 caps since 2016. She served as the UCLA goalkeeper coach under Cromwell from 2013-16 after playing for her at UCF. As a Knight, Reis was named an All-American as a freshman in 2008, as well as UCF’s #1 Player in the C-USA era.
The Pride begin their 2022 preseason at the Orlando Heath Training Ground at Sylvan Lake Park on February 1, with the NWSL Challenge Cup beginning play the weekend of March 19. Season ticket memberships are currently available at Orlando-Pride.com or by calling 855-ORL-CITY.
