Orlando City has named Niki Budalic General Manager of Soccer Operations, the team announced Wednesday.
Budalic had been the team’s assistant general manager for nearly a year, joining the Lions in January 2016. He fills a position that had been vacant even longer, as former Orlando City general manager Paul McDonough was let go by the organization in December 2015.
“I want to congratulate Niki on this well-deserved promotion,” Orlando City owner Phil Rawlins said in a statement published on the team’s official website. “I’ve known Niki for many years, and I am confident in his work ethic, player scouting intelligence and negotiating experience, as he leads soccer operations during an important year for us in our new home stadium.