Orlando City SC

When Orlando City SC began as a Major League Soccer team, it already had lots of fans. Orlando SC had been a United Soccer League team. For four years, the team won championships. They were at the top of their division. As an MLS team, Orlando City struggled. Some USL players could not handle the tougher MSL. Neither could the coaches. Yet Orlando fans stuck with the team. Florida had gone without a MLS team for over a dozen years. The Orlando City Lions are ready to prove they belong in the hardest pro soccer league in North America.

“Major league soccer (MLS), the sports premier professional league in the U.S., has brought a higher level of play, an increased awareness of the game, and a growing number of fans in the world of soccer. The writers don’t assume that readers have prior knowledge of the sport or the league, so each slim book in Major League Soccer series spotlight one team within a set framework. After presenting a history of the league and the particular city’s professional soccer teams, the text briefly reviews the rules of the game, introduces some notable players, and discuss matters such as the challenges of having team members who are new to North America. Atlanta United FC emphasizes the team’s many young international players, enthusiastic fan base, and many success. Besides discussing the team’s history, Colorado Rapids details the difficulties faced by MLS players from non-English-speaking countries. Orlando City SC includes a section on the new stadium, designed for soccer. The large format offers plenty of space for colorful action photos and digital graphics. Librarians should consider volumes on their community’s home team and perhaps its main rivals.--Booklist, Carolyn Phelan, Booklist, December 1, 2019