SANFORD, Fla. – Since 2015, Orlando City SC has played in four Major League Soccer seasons, appeared in zero postseasons and have been led by three different head coaches (not including interim). The most recent of those coaches, James O’Connor, is now in the process of reshaping the Orlando City culture.

It’s an evolution that began on paper with a roster overhaul, as the Lions acquired 10 new players and parted ways with another 15 during the offseason. On the pitch, the culture change is identified by an increase in intensity led by O’Connor himself.

Orlando City midfielder Will Johnson has seen that change being embraced by his teammates.

“I think we’ve started to put down the foundation of who we want to be and what we want to be throughout the course of the year,” Johnson said before training on Feb. 5. “James has done a good job bringing that change to our culture, and the guys are embracing it instead of fighting it. It’s been hard work, but that’s the only way we’re gonna get things done around here.”

As a third-year Orlando City veteran, Johnson understands his role within the team. It first starts with following the philosophies set by O’Connor and then leading by example.

“Yeah, I think, for me, things have always been the same with leading by example,” Johnson said. “James is the one who creates the philosophy and identity, but it’s nothing unless the players embrace it and believe in it, which we do. We think he’s on to something here.

“We respect him as our leader, and, so, guys like me, who have been around for a while, have to show the young guys how it’s done every day in training…”

O’Connor, too, is seeing his squad buying in. The Lions spent their first two weeks of preseason about an hour-and-a-half away at IMG Academy in Bradenton and have since spent the last week at their regular training grounds at Sylvan Lake Park.

A change in venue, though, hasn’t slowed O’Connor’s preseason intensity. On Feb. 4, City’s first day back in Sanford, the Lions held double sessions that ran late.

“I mean, I have to give the players enormous credit,” O’Connor said before training on Feb. 5. “I mean, they’ve worked really, really hard… So, I mean, I think the attitude and the work ethic from the players has been fantastic, and now we need to keep adding the layers to what we’re trying to get.

“So I think our foundation is starting to take place. We need to keep adding to it and keep building from that.”

New Lions forward Benji Michel, City’s fifth-ever homegrown player, is excited to be joining the club at this point in its history. In addition to the club hiring a new head coach, the Lions have also, so far, built their 2019 roster around youth.

Of City’s 25 listed players, 10 are 22 or younger, and three are 30 or older. Michel is one of five new 21-year-olds with Orlando City, and he’s excited about what that means for the team’s future.

“Having a lot of young guys, it’s like, in a sense, for the future, which is good because the young group building, playing together, getting the chemistry — it will last long.” Michel said ahead of training on Feb. 5.

That future begins with the foundations the first full season of the O’Connor Era lays down this year. City are, so far, off to a good start this preseason. The Lions drew 1-1 with the New York Red Bulls in their first friendly on Feb. 2 and won 1-0 over Louisville City FC on Feb. 6.

The Lions are scheduled to play the Philadelphia Union on Tuesday at ChampionsGate.

For more on the Lions, as they continue preseason, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.

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