In the corporate world, it is common to see an employee receiving the notice that a fellow colleague has become his new boss. In Sports, that’s not very common. Last week, it happened with Orlando City.
This Monday, Orlando City SC presented its new head coach James O’Connor, a very well-known face for the organization, especially for one player on the current roster: forward Dom Dwyer, who used to be his teammate in 2013.
Before going into coaching, O’Connor enjoyed a lengthy career as a player. He played for nearly a decade for then-English First Division side Stoke City, as well as West Bromwich Albion, Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday. In America, O’Connor became a local hero playing in Orlando City from 2012 to 2014 during its USL Pro days, totaling over 4,000 minutes and helping the Club capture the 2012 USL regular-season championship.
Back then, O’ Connor shared the locker room with Dwyer, one of the key pieces of current Orlando City’s team. After his first practice with coach O’Connor this Tuesday morning, Dwyer said he was very happy about his return.
“I’m very excited. He was an older player that definitely made an effort with me when I was younger,” Dwyer said. “I have a big admiration for him (and) a lot of respect for him.”
The admiration is mutual. Coach O’Connor said in his introduction that he has a “tremendous belief” in Dwyer and believes he is going to be fundamental for reestablishing the team’s confidence
“I think he’s one of the best strikers in the league. I’m fortunate that I was able to play with him and realize how good he is. He went on that great record for us at the end with that championship in the USL and then went after to Sporting [Kansas City] and started ripping it up there,” he said.
Although they were playing together in 2013, Dwyer said he already saw O’Connor as a coach on those days and this will be a key point for him in his new job.
“He was basically a player coach then. He was very local,” Dwyer said. “I think he knows what this club is about. Someone who’s been there before. He’s passionate, and I think he’ll be a great addition for us.”
O’Connor will coach Dwyer for the first time this Saturday, July 7, against LAFC in Los Angeles at 4:30 E.T.
