Orlando City academy director to coach Dominican Republic

Sep 25, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; A general view of the field before the game between Orlando
Sep 25, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; A general view of the field before the game between Orlando / Russell Lansford-USA TODAY Sports
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Orlando City Academy Director Marcelo Neveleff will be leaving the club to take over the head coaching role with the Domincan Republic Men's National Team the club announced Monday.

Neveleff joined Orlando City in 2019 as the club's academy director and coach of Orlando City B in USL League 1. During his four year tenure in Orlando, the club won a U17 MLS NEXT Championship in 2021. Neveleff also helped add a U12 program to the club's academy pipeline.

"We want to thank Marcelo for his immense contributions to the Club and for bringing our Academy to where it is today,” Orlando City general manager Luiz Muzzi said in the team statement.

The club promoted right backs Michael Halliday and Alex Freeman, center back Thomas Williams and attacking midfielder Favian Loyola to the first team during Neveleff's tenure as academy director. Halliday, Freeeman and Williams are also all involved with the US U20 national team.

Neveleff worked throughout American soccer before joining the staff in Orlando. He worked as an assistatn for the New England Revolution first team and worked in various levels of the US youth national team system. He was a part of the U20 national team program that won a Concacaf championship and made the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 2019.

Assistant academy director and U17 head coach Javier Carrillo will take over for Neveleff as the interim director. Carrillo also joined the club in 2019.