ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 14, 2024) – Orlando City SC Head Coach Oscar Pareja has named his assistant coaching staff for the 2024 season, it was announced today, including the promotions of Diego Torres to First Assistant and Martín Perelman to Second Assistant.
Torres, 44, joined the Lions’ ahead of the 2020 season as Second Assistant on Pareja’s first Orlando City coaching staff after initially working with the Colombian at Club Tijuana in Liga MX in 2019. Prior to Pareja’s arrival at Xolos, Torres served as Club Tijuana’s Interim Manager in the 2018/2019 season. The Colima, Mexico native previously played for Xolos before beginning his coaching career in 2010.
Torres served as a Head Coach at every level of the Mexican professional system, accepting his first senior level managerial spot at Dorados de Sinaloa in 2014. Two years prior to being named as Dorados’ Head Coach, he was an assistant on Dorados’ side that won the 2012 Copa MX.
Perelman, 37, previously served as Orlando City B’s Head Coach in 2022 and 2023, where he led the Lions to the Club’s first-ever MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs appearance and oversaw the professional development of numerous players, including former OCB midfielder Alejandro Granados leading to his transfer to Club Brugge KV of the Belgian First Division A for an MLS NEXT Pro record transfer fee, while also coaching Jack Lynn to the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro MVP award.
Prior to leading OCB, Perelman came from Argentine side Club Comunicaciones where he was appointed manager in 2021 and led the side that was crowned champions of the Torneo Complemento de la Primera B. Prior to that, he served on the staff of Cañuelas Fútbol Club and Argentino de Merlo, the latter being the very club in which he finished his playing career.
In addition to Torres and Perelman, Goalkeeper Coach César Baena and Fitness & Performance Coach Fabian Bazan will continue in their current roles. Baena, with 24 years of experience training goalkeepers, and Bazan, with over 30 years experience, both joined the Lions’ coaching staff with Pareja ahead of the 2020 campaign, with Bazan previously on Pareja’s staff at FC Dallas.
