Orlando Perez
FameRank: 4

"Orlando Perez" is an American soccer defender (football)/defender, who played eight seasons in Major League Soccer.

Perez never played college soccer, but he was drafted twice in MLS, both times by coach Octavio Zambrano. The first came in the first round of the 1999 MLS Supplemental Draft, when Zambrano was with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Perez failed to make the team and played with USL First Division/A-League's Orange County Zodiac. With Zambrano moving to the MetroStars in 2000, he plucked Perez again, this time in the fourth round of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft.

Perez would spend the next two and a half seasons with the Metros, a part-time player his first, a starter at left back his second. Zambrano dealt him midway through the third, to D.C. United with Petter Villegas for Mark Lisi and Craig Ziadie. Perez then became only one of two players in MLS history (Winston Griffiths (soccer)/Winston Griffiths is the other) to play for three teams in one season as DC traded him the Chicago Fire S.C./Chicago Fire for a draft pick after only eight games. Perez was in-and-out of the Fire lineup since. He scored two goals in six years in MLS. Perez was taken by Chivas in the 2004 MLS Expansion Draft. He was waived at the end of the 2007 season.

More Orlando Perez on Wikipedia.

We've got a good group of guys here. We have a good mix of veterans and young players. We want to prove to the league that we're for real this year.

Ante is a true forward. He has a knack for scoring goals; that's what he's done his whole career. And with his experience and his leadership, he brings so much to our team. We're glad to have him on our side.

Most of these kids are respectable. I can say that kids here … from the caliber I see, it's probably a B. It could be better, but it is good.

We always have to push for better achievement.