ORLANDO, Fla. (April. 18, 2025) – Following the signing of Head Coach Oscar Pareja to a new contract through 2028, Orlando City SC has announced the contract renewals for First Assistant Diego Torres, Second Assistant MartĂn Perelman, Goalkeeper Coach CĂ©sar Baena and Fitness & Performance Coach Fabián Bazán.
As part of Oscar Pareja’s technical staff, the four have helped lead the Lions to five-consecutive Audi MLS Cup Playoffs appearances, their first two appearances in Concacaf Champions Cup, Club records for most wins and points in a season, an MLS is Back Tournament Final appearance, the Club’s first trip to the MLS Eastern Conference Finals and the Club’s first trophy in its MLS era by winning the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Additionally, their leadership has helped Orlando City’s attack to scoring 308 goals across all competitions and a +44-goal differential in 202 competitive matches.
Torres, born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, but raised in Colima, was promoted to First Assistant ahead of the 2024 season after serving on Oscar Pareja’s coaching staff since the 2020 campaign. The 45-year-old coach previously served as Club Tijuana’s Interim Manager in the 2017 season in Liga MX, working as an assistant on Pareja’s staff at the club in 2019, and 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 joined the Lions’ First Team as Second Assistant in the 2024 season, serving as Orlando City B’s Head Coach in the 2022 and 2023 MLS NEXT Pro seasons, leading the side to its first-ever MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs appearance and overseeing the development of numerous players, including Alex Freeman and Alejandro Granados. 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.
Baena has worked in Central Florida since 2017 prior to his appointment to the Orlando City First Team in 2020, most recently serving as a Goalkeeping Coach for the Lions’ Academy. Prior to that, the Venezuelan worked with local club ACYS Spirit United in the same role, beginning in 2017, and also coached the Venezuelan National Team from 2007-2013. He spent eight years working with a number of clubs in Venezuela and Mexico, including Carabobo FC, Mineros de Guayana, Deportivo Lara FC, Club Tijuana and Caracas FC where he began his coaching career in 2001. As a player, Baena enjoyed a 20-year career playing professionally and was a regular in goal for La Vinotinto at the international level, playing in World Cup Qualifiers for the 1986, 1990 and 1998 editions of the marquee international tournament.
Bazán has served in his current role for the Lions since arriving in Orlando with Pareja in 2020, bringing over 30 years and more than 1,000 matches of experience as a strength and conditioning coach. Prior to joining Orlando City SC, Bazán spent four seasons with FC Dallas, one year with Club Tijuana and six years serving as the strength and conditioning coach for the Venezuelan National Team from 2007-2013, where he worked alongside Baena. Prior to that, he enjoyed successful stints at various clubs across Central and South America, including time at Argentine giants Boca Juniors with the legendary Jorge Griffa, and first served in his current role with Argentine club Rosario Central in 1993. As a player, he spent four years at the semi-professional level with Argentine side Ferro Carril Oeste from 1985-89 before beginning his coaching career.
TRANSACTION: Orlando City SC signs First Assistant Diego Torres, Second Assistant MartĂn Perelman, Goalkeeper Coach CĂ©sar Baena and Fitness & Performance Coach Fabián Bazán to new contracts.
