After the firing of coach James O’Connor at the end of last season, Oscar Pareja became the fourth coach to helm the team since the Lions joined MLS in 2015. Joining the Lions reunited Pareja with executive vice president of soccer operations Luiz Muzzi, who he worked with in the same role in FC Dallas.
The pair worked together in the offseason to revamp the roster, adding players to bulk up the defense and midfield. Although the team’s history of struggling to make the playoffs has left fans wary to invest in the new coach, Pareja is confident the team’s chemistry and preseason work will set a foundation for a successful season.