© Russell Lansford-USA TODAY Sports
The Orlando Pride’s recent unbeaten run of four games came to an end with a 1-0 loss to the Chicago Red Stars on May 27. Still, they dominated that match for large spells, and generally looked a vastly improved force when compared to past seasons. .
Bouncing back from a tough start, Orlando put together a series of impressive showings, starting with a surprise 3-1 away victory over the San Diego Wave. Seb Hines, appointed head coach on a permanent basis after an interim spell at the back end of last year, has overseen an upturn in performance levels. And, with an exciting core of young players, there are reasons to believe that the club is moving in the right direction again after a chaotic few years.
Hines played at a high level within the English men’s game before finishing his career in Major League Soccer with Orlando City. After coaching at youth level, he worked for the Pride’s backroom staff, helping with individual training and player scouting. Upon becoming head coach last year, his focus was on improving fitness levels, communication and morale. Now the goal is to develop a playing style, something that is increasingly apparent with each passing week.
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