Thabane Sutu hired as Orlando City goalkeeper coach in MLS

Thabane Sutu continues his rise in America...

Former Lesotho captain Thabane Sutu has been hired as the new the goalkeeper coach of Orlando City which campaigns in America’s top-flight Major League Soccer (MLS).

Sutu was at Louisville City, which campaigns in the second division United Soccer League (USL), since it was founded in 2015.

Sutu was hired alongside Daniel Byrd to join the technical staff of new Orlando City head coach James O’Connor. Both Sutu and Byrd worked with O’Conner at Louisville City since the club’s first year. Under the stewardship of O’Connor, Byrd and Sutu, LouCity made three consecutive trips to the USL Eastern Conference Final, falling to the eventual champion twice before raising the USL Cup in 2017.

Orlando City general manager Niki Budalic welcomed the additions of Sutu and Byrd.

“Daniel and Thabane were obvious fits for the technical staff, not just because they worked well with James, but because they also had a lot of success at Louisville,” Budalic said.

“That’s been a primary focus as we prepare for the second half of the season and beyond. We’re very excited for Daniel and Thabane to join us.”

His move to Orlando City is the latest step in a distinguished football career for Sutu.

In addition to coaching LouCity’s goalkeepers, Sutu previously served as the technical director for United 1996 Futbol Club, a prominent youth programme in the US.

As a professional goalkeeper, Sutu won the Arab League title in 1995 and three straight Egyptian league titles from 1994 to 1996 with Al Ahly. Sutu also captained Lesotho from 1994 to 1997.

Orlando City is a new club in the MLS having begun playing in 2015 as an expansion team.