Established
2013
City
Orlando
League History
2015 – Present / Major League Soccer
Team History
2015 – Present / Orlando City SC
Nickname
Orlando City SC – As one of the most successful soccer teams in Major League Soccer, Orlando City SC has a long and storied history. From their humble beginnings as an expansion team in 2015 to their recent success on the pitch, Orlando City SC has become a beloved part of the MLS landscape. But have you ever wondered where they got their nickname?
The origins of “Orlando City” go back to when it was founded by Phil Rawlins and his group from England. When deciding what name would best represent this new club, they chose “Orlando” because it represented Florida's sunshine state motto and its vibrant culture—and also provided an easy-to-pronounce moniker that fans worldwide could quickly adopt! The word "City" was later added as a nod to other major cities with similar names, such as New York or Los Angeles.
As for how exactly "SC" came into play? That comes down to two primary factors: firstly, many clubs across Europe use abbreviations like FC (Football Club), AFC (Association Football Club), or USC (United Soccer Clubs). Secondly, there is another professional sports team based out of Central Florida called The Orlando Magic; thus, using 'SC' allowed them to differentiate themselves without confusion between teams with similar-sounding names!
All these elements combined created something unique - not just for soccer but for all sports - which is why today we know this great franchise simply by its two initials: OCS! So next time you're cheering on your favorite players at Exploria Stadium, remember – behind every chant lies a story about how our beloved Lions roared onto our lives forever more!
Championship
MLS Cups 0
Stadium
2017 - Present / Exploria Stadium
2015 - 2016 / Camping World Stadium
Owner
2013 - Present / Flávio Augusto da Silva
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2015
- 2022
-
Orlando City club wins its first USL Pro title
In 2011: The Orlando City club wins its first USL Pro title in its inaugural season, defeating Harrisburg City Islanders 3-2 in the final. The club also reaches the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open Cup, where it loses to FC Dallas. Max Griffin is the top scorer with 11 goals. -
The club repeats as USL Pro champions
In 2012: The club repeats as USL Pro champions, beating Charlotte Eagles 7-4 in the final. The club also reaches the third round of the U.S. Open Cup, where it loses to Sporting Kansas City. Dennis Chin is the top scorer with 18 goals. -
Orlando City Wins third consecutive USL Pro regular season title
In 2013: The club wins its third consecutive USL Pro regular season title, but loses to Charlotte Eagles in the semi-finals of the playoffs. The club also reaches the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup, where it loses to Chicago Fire. Dom Dwyer is the top scorer with 19 goals. -
Orlando City SC Team Formation
On November 19, 2013, Orlando City SC was announced as the league’s twenty-first franchise. The team’s new logo was unveiled in May 2014 and the team signed their first player to an MLS contract, former Brazil international Kaká, a month later. Kaká, who also became the team’s first Designated Player after his release from A.C. Milan, was immediately loaned to ... -
Orlando City wins U.S. Open Cup title
In 2022: Orlando City defeated Sacramento, winning 3–0 with three goals in the second half to clinch their first championship as an MLS club. They became the second team from Florida to win the U.S. Open Cup and qualified for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the City SC
Orlando City SC is an American professional soccer team based in Orlando, Florida. The team was founded in 2010 and had been competing as a Major League Soccer (MLS) member since 2015. Since its inception, the club has become one of the most successful teams in MLS history, with three regular season titles and two U.S. Open Cup Championships.
The club’s success can be attributed to its solid fan base, which began while playing in USL Pro (United Soccer Leagues). In 2014, Orlando City drew an average attendance of 8,000 fans per game - more than any other USL Pro franchise at that time - and this only increased after joining MLS for the 2015 season, where they averaged over 32 thousand fans per game! This passionate support from supporters helped propel them into becoming one of the top clubs within MLS during their first few years as members, winning back-to-back Supporters Shield trophies during 2019 & 2020, respectively, while also making it all way to the semi-finals twice before finally securing a place among elite teams by winning 2021 CONCACAF Champions League title against Mexican side Tigres UANL on aggregate scoreline 5–4 over two legs match series played between March 23rd – April 7th, 2021.
This incredible journey shows how far OCSC has come since being formed 11 years ago, going from relative obscurity within the US soccer landscape until now being considered amongst the best sides domestically and across the North America region too! There are plenty more successes ahead for this ambitious young franchise, with an even brighter future if current trends continue or improve further down the line... One thing's certain, though: no matter what happens next year or a decade, Orlando City will always remain beloved by its loyal fanbase, who have been supporting them through thick and thin from the beginning days until present-day glory moments!
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history