FC Cincinnati (FCC) have seen quite a few additions and subtractions from their record season in MLS. No new coaches at least! The entire coaching staff has received raises. But every year players desire to move to bigger clubs. In fact every year the roster undergoes some changes. This 2024 preseason has transpired into Cincinnati’s most active.
Finding replacements and letting players go is always tough. But Chris Albright, GM for FC Cincinnati, might have already etched his name as a potential GM of the year again in 2024. As he said in an interview with MLS soccer, “Success in a cap league is often difficult to deal with.”
Here are most of the changes in the roster fans will see this year. Let’s leave the cap discussion to another day!
Additions to FCC
Luca Orellano – Right Wing
Status: On Loan from Vasco da Gama
Birthplace: Argentina
Notes: Most recent addition to FCC. He has experience playing varied positions on the pitch. Clearly this was a move to replace recently departed Alvaro Barreal.
Luca Orellano is #AllForCincy 🔶🔷 pic.twitter.com/HAYAAGuLhJ
— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) February 23, 2024
Miles Robinson – Center Back
Status: Signed a one year contract with a team option for 2025
Notes: Miles spent seven years with Atlanta FC. He has started on the US Men’s National Team for the past few years, even scoring the decisive header in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the 117th minute!
Hopefully he decides to stay longer than one year. He is solidly in his prime.
Miles Robinson está debutando con FC Cincinnati. El central de 26 años del #USMNT 🇺🇲 ha sido uno de los grandes fichajes de #AllForCincy en esta offseason tras acabar contrato con Atlanta United. Sonó para ir a Europa, pero el estadounidense terminó quedándose en #MLS. 🔶️🔷️ pic.twitter.com/AOTJENapCP
— Mario Reinoso (@MarioReinoso17) February 23, 2024
Corey Baird – Forward
Status: Signed a one year contract with a team option for 2025
Notes: Corey was a three-time NCAA champion with Stanford. Baird has spent time with MLS clubs Houston Dynamo FC, LAFC, and Real Salt Lake. He was a former MLS Rookie of the Year in 2018, was featured on the USMNT in four appearances in 2019 and is the replacement for Brandon Vazquez.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join FC Cincinnati and meet the fans and my teammates…My first game of the season was at TQL Stadium last year, and the place was rocking!”
"I like to think I can help out in different areas…but if you're not impacting the score line, for me, that's something I'm always working towards"
Corey Baird is flexible, but clear about his goals…he wants to score. Read more on the new FCC forward:https://t.co/HJyo9tz8Oe
— Carter Chapley (@CarterChapley) February 8, 2024
Pavel Bucha – Midfield
Status: Signed a two-year contract with a team option for a third.
Birthplace: Czech Republic
Notes: This could be the best of all the signings. Bucha has Champions League experience with his old club, FC Viktoria Plzen. Last year he started 41 matches in 45 total appearances in all club competitions. The 25 year old Bucha scored six goals and an assist in his former club’s 2023-24 season.
Pavel will be a huge upgrade over Junior Moreno!
Pavel Bucha is #AllForCincy 🔶🔷 pic.twitter.com/ImOcVX9waR
— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) February 7, 2024
Subtractions from FCC
Brandon Vazquez – Moved to Monterray in Liga MX, the Mexican league. He has tallied five goals in six matches. Big shoes to fill here.
Alvaro Barreal – When he never received a look from any European teams, the former winger basically asked to be sent pretty much anywhere. Club loaned him to Brazil’s Cruzeiro Esporte Clube. But this could change. Pat Brennan with www.cincinnati.com gave more on X.
#AllForCincy finalizing loan move for Barreal to Cruzeiro (🇧🇷). $4M-plus buy option, per sources. Cruzeiro paying loan fee to FCC up front. FCC has option to terminate loan if offer exceeding the $4M-plus comes in + FCC has significant sell-on % from future sale by Cruzeiro.
— Pat Brennan (@PBrennanENQ) February 20, 2024
Ray Gaddis – As of now, the Cincinnati fan favorite has retired. Again! The former West Virginia University grad has decided to pursue a new challenge in his life. If the former Cincinnati Red, Sean Casey, was “The Mayor,” Gaddis deserves his own moniker. I say, “The Reverend.” Highly respected man of God who is highly regarded and loved by all who meet him. He will be revered in Cincinnati for quite some time, just as he is in Philadelphia, as a former Union icon.
Junior Moreno – Left Cincinnati for the Saudi Pro Soccer League side, Al-Hazem.
Other departures: Yerson Mosquera, Santiago Arias, and Dominique Badji.
FCC starts their Supporter’s Shield defense today at 2:30 PM at TQL Stadium. And with that, the 2024 season is underway!
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