It came out of the blue, but in Brazil rumors that former Brazilian national team manager Tite was being considered to coach MLS side Orlando City shocked many in the United States. The reality is that Orlando City has a coach and a successful one Óscar Pareja.

Pareja has actually been a very successful coach in Major League Soccer, first with FC Dallas and now with Orlando City. Since 2019, Óscar Pareja has led the club to a US Open Cup title and playoff appearances in all three of his seasons in charge.

Tite’s name comes on the eve that Orlando City travel to Miami to play Inter Miami and Lionel Messi in the round of 32 of the Leagues Cup. The match is considered a rivalry in MLS circles and already fans have taken to building the match up when Orlando City supporters defaced a Lionel Messi mural in Miami.

Tite rumor is false according to Orlando City

On DSports local reporter Alonso Contreras claims the rumors of Tite coming to the Lions is false, Contreras had spoken to club officials and Orlando City has no idea how those rumors came about.

It is important to note that Óscar Pareja is in the final year of his contract, and that Orlando City has deep ties to Brazil and Brazilian soccer through general manager Luiz Muzzi. Contreras did report that representatives of Orlando City are in Brazil but did not specify the reason.

While the club is stating the rumors are false and at this stage of the season where Orlando is in 5th in the MLS East and well on their way to a post season the likelihood of a change in 2023 seems remote, but given Pareja’s contract year and a possible meeting of the minds, the information could have “slipped”.

Tite became coach of Brazil on June 20, 2016 at a really difficult moment for the“Scratch”, since they had just been eliminated in the first round of the Copa America Centenario 2016 after drawing 0-0 with Ecuador, winning 7-1 to Haiti and lose 1-0 to Peru, which led to Dunga‘s (former coach) departure.

Since then, Brazil‘s performances have improved a lot, so much so that the 60-year-old coach led his country to win the 2019 Copa America and play in the final of the 2021 edition. As for the World Cup, this would be his second, the first being Russia 2018 in which he reached the quarterfinals.

Why did Tite make this decision?

Tite’s decision came as a surprise even to the Brazilian players themselves. In the Redação sportvprogram, the Brazilian coach expressed that he only needs the World Cup. And in an interview with Globesporte, he said that: “I am very focused on my work. I know what cycles mean. I’ll be there until the World Cup: I don’t have to lie”.

The coach also lamented not being able to play friendlies prior to Qatar 2022 against European rivals, and described as “counterproductive” playing two games against Argentina (they should play the one that remains to be recovered for the Conmebol Qualifiers, and another more agreed by commercial contract).