IRVINE, Calif – Orange County SC has signed defender Michael Orozco to a USL Championship contract, pending official league approval. Orozco was born and raised in nearby Orange, CA, and is returning home to play with Orange County’s only professional soccer club. The veteran U.S. Men’s National Team defender and Liga MX standout will immediately bolster the club’s defense, while also providing guidance and mentoring to OCSC’s talented young local players.
IRVINE, Calif – Orange County SC has signed defender Michael Orozco to a USL Championship contract, pending official league approval. Orozco was born and raised in nearby Orange, CA, and is returning home to play with Orange County’s only professional soccer club. The veteran U.S. Men’s National Team defender and Liga MX standout will immediately bolster the club’s defense, while also providing guidance and mentoring to OCSC’s talented young local players.
"Michael is a fantastic player with a resume that speaks for itself. His international experience and leadership will be invaluable to our team,” said OCSC Head Coach, Braeden Cloutier.
Orozco, 33, joins OCSC following an impressive career with the USMNT and in Mexico, amassing 29 matches with the USMNT and 12 seasons in Liga MX. Orozco is beloved by fans of the US National Team for scoring the winning goal in a 2012 International Friendly versus Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, the US’s only victory on Mexican soil in the history of the cross border rivalry.
“I’ve dreamed of one day being able to establish a foundation for my family, show my kids where my passion started,” said Michael Orozco. “It’s an honor to be able to come back to my home town and start a new chapter in my life where I can show the new generation that everything is possible and help Orange County SC win its first USL Championship!”
Orozco made his professional debut for San Luis during the Apertura 2006 tournament, when he entered as a second-half substitute against Tigres UANL. Orozco has played the majority of his career in Liga MX and has been under contract with the Tijuana Xolos since 2015.
“Michael is the ultimate professional and we are very proud to bring him back home to Orange County after his stellar career in Mexico,” said OCSC President of Soccer Operations, Oliver Wyss. “Michael will have an immediate impact on the field and he is the perfect role model for the current and next generation of Orange County soccer players that we are developing at our club.”
Per club policy, terms of player contracts with Orange County SC will not be released.
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ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB
Orange County Soccer Club is Orange County’s only professional soccer team that is part of the United Soccer League (USL), the fastest growing Division II professional soccer league in the world. The USL is comprised of 34 teams across the United States. The team plays its home games at the Orange County Great Park’s Championship Soccer Stadium, located in Irvine, CA. Nestled in the heart of the Great Park, Championship Soccer Stadium has a capacity of over 5,000 for Orange County SC matches. Orange County SC was one of 12 founding members of the USL during its inaugural 2011 season. The preceding club, Orange County Blues, won the 2015 Western Conference Regular Season Championship and reached the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the USL Playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Team owner and Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, James Keston, purchased and re-branded the team in 2017. Keston, who actively oversees all operations of the team, is dedicated to providing a pathway to professional soccer and a world-class soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players and youth clubs of Orange County.
For more information about Orange County Soccer Club, and to experience professional soccer in the OC, visit: https://www.orangecountysoccer.com.
For more information about the United Soccer League, visit: http://www.uslsoccer.com.
“Michael is a fantastic player with a resume that speaks for itself. His international experience and leadership will be invaluable to our team,” said OCSC Head Coach, Braeden Cloutier.
Orozco, 33, joins OCSC following an impressive career with the USMNT and in Mexico, amassing 29 matches with the USMNT and 12 seasons in Liga MX. Orozco is beloved by fans of the US National Team for scoring the winning goal in a 2012 International Friendly versus Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, the US’s only victory on Mexican soil in the history of the cross border rivalry.
“I’ve dreamed of one day being able to establish a foundation for my family, show my kids where my passion started,” said Michael Orozco. “It’s an honor to be able to come back to my home town and start a new chapter in my life where I can show the new generation that everything is possible and help Orange County SC win its first USL Championship!”
Orozco made his professional debut for San Luis during the Apertura 2006 tournament, when he entered as a second-half substitute against Tigres UANL. Orozco has played the majority of his career in Liga MX and has been under contract with the Tijuana Xolos since 2015.
“Michael is the ultimate professional and we are very proud to bring him back home to Orange County after his stellar career in Mexico,” said OCSC President of Soccer Operations, Oliver Wyss. “Michael will have an immediate impact on the field and he is the perfect role model for the current and next generation of Orange County soccer players that we are developing at our club.”
Per club policy, terms of player contracts with Orange County SC will not be released.
###
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB
Orange County Soccer Club is Orange County’s only professional soccer team that is part of the United Soccer League (USL), the fastest growing Division II professional soccer league in the world. The USL is comprised of 34 teams across the United States. The team plays its home games at the Orange County Great Park’s Championship Soccer Stadium, located in Irvine, CA. Nestled in the heart of the Great Park, Championship Soccer Stadium has a capacity of over 5,000 for Orange County SC matches. Orange County SC was one of 12 founding members of the USL during its inaugural 2011 season. The preceding club, Orange County Blues, won the 2015 Western Conference Regular Season Championship and reached the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the USL Playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Team owner and Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, James Keston, purchased and re-branded the team in 2017. Keston, who actively oversees all operations of the team, is dedicated to providing a pathway to professional soccer and a world-class soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players and youth clubs of Orange County.
For more information about Orange County Soccer Club, and to experience professional soccer in the OC, visit: https://www.orangecountysoccer.com.
For more information about the United Soccer League, visit: http://www.uslsoccer.com.