ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 4, 2024) – Orlando City SC and Sporting Clube de Portugal of Portugal’s Primeira Liga have entered an official technical partnership, it was announced today, marking Orlando City’s fifth-ever technical partnership with a European club.
"We’re incredibly excited to enter into this technical partnership with Sporting. They have a history of winning and their player pathway continuously develops world class talents,” said Orlando City VP of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira. “This is an agreement that will foster a great exchange of information for the betterment of both sets of players and coaches, setting both clubs up for even more success in the future. The culture within both clubs is very similar and we’re excited to see the benefits this partnership brings for everyone involved, especially in an academy level.”
"This protocol is essentially aimed at exchanging experiences at the international level. As a club with a global dimension, Sporting CP is interested in all sports markets. This protocol will help to give us knowledge of what is done in an area of the world where football continues to grow and where the next World Cup will be held,” said Sporting CP Co-Director Paulo Gomes. “In short, this partnership will allow us to exchange experiences and working methods in various areas, including psychology, the physical performance department, the technical office, recruitment and others. All areas of the Cristiano Ronaldo Academy will be working in partnership with Orlando City. In this sense, the existence of this protocol aims to make it possible for some Orlando City players to play for Sporting CP and vice versa.”
As a part of the technical partnership, both clubs will exchange technical information and share information on best practices and methodologies across the entire player pathway, from the academies onwards.
In addition, the two clubs will promote the exchange of knowledge between academy and second team coaches and staff, organizing regular meetings and visits, as well as the potential for friendlies between the two clubs. Orlando City and Sporting will also organize the exchange of academy players for training periods in each other's respective environments to further promote player development at the youth level.
Sporting Clube de Portugal was founded in 1906 and is one of just three clubs in Portugal to have never been relegated from Primeira Liga. Os Leões are one of the most decorated clubs in Portugal, having won 23 Portuguese championships, 17 Portuguese Cups, nine Portuguese Supercups, four Portuguese League Cups and one Portuguese Champions Cup. The Sporting CP Academy has produced world renowned players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Rafael Leão and former Lions’ captain Nani.
