A new era for the Orlando Pride is underway. After the departure of the team’s first head coach, Tom Sermanni, the Pride have taken their first step forward.
On Monday, the Pride announced the promotion of Erik Ustruck to general manager of the team. Ustruck, who played in Major League Soccer for the Houston Dynamo and their reserve team, was formerly an assistant general manager alongside then-general manager Niki Budalić.
Per the club’s release, Ustuck will report directly to new Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi “to manage all aspects of the Pride’s technical operations.”
“We are very happy to promote Erik to this newly established position, which will allow us to continue increasing our resources and focus on building the Pride,” Muzzi said, per the release. “Erik has been dedicated to the success of this club from his time as a player through his positions in the front office, and we believe he will be a great asset in strengthening and supporting our [National Women’s Soccer League] operations.”
After playing for Orlando City in their United Soccer League days from 2011 to 2013, Ustruck joined the club’s front office in 2014. He moves into the Pride’s general-manager role after serving as the manager of soccer operations for both the Pride and the club’s MLS side, serving as City’s team administration manager from 2015 to 2017.
Ustruck’s playing history is one with winning ingrained within. He helped Orlando City to USL titles in 2011 and 2013 and helped the Lions earn regular-season championships in 2011 and 2012, too. With Houston, the 34-year-old played three seasons in Houston, winning the 2007 MLS Cup and helping earn the 2008 Western Conference title.
“I am honored and excited to begin this new position with the Pride and want to thank Luiz and the rest of the executive leadership for entrusting me with this opportunity,” Ustruck said, per the release. “We have already hit the ground running, not only to put together a strong, competitive roster, but also to build a team culture here in Orlando that every player will want to be a part of.”
Ustruck’s first, immediate duties are to represent the Pride at the 2019 NWSL College Draft on Thursday in Chicago, Illinois, and to search for a new head coach. Per the release, Orlando’s new head coach “will be announced in the near future.” The Pride have the 25th- and 30th-overall picks in the upcoming draft.
For more on the Pride, as they search for their second-ever head coach and prepare for the 2019 season, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
To contact Victor, you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com.
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