Michael Orozco, Orange County Soccer Club ready for title defense

IRVINE —  Michael Orozco played every meaningful minute on the pitch for the Orange County Soccer Club last season.

That durability is not easy for anyone to attain, but especially somebody who turned 36 in February.

Orozco, a center back and team captain, led Orange County to its first United Soccer League Championship title. Don’t even think about the “R” word — “retirement” — around him.

Orozco, an Orange County native who started his youth career with the Irvine Strikers, has re-signed with OCSC. He figures to again play a crucial role this season for the club, which begins its season with a match at Colorado Springs on Saturday.

“I asked my kids if they want dad to be home or if they still want to enjoy watching me play,” said Orozco, who has two daughters ages 9 and 11 and a 4-year-old son. “Being a role model to my kids means everything to me, so it was easy deciding. I still feel good with my body. I can still contribute and help my teammates out, lead a team, and my kids still enjoy what I’m doing every day.

“People ask me, ‘How long do you want to play?’ If I’m enjoying it, until I’m 40 or 42, I’m still going to do it.”

Head coach Richard Chaplow, left, and assistant coach Robert Earnshaw speak during the annual Orange County Soccer Club Media Day on Wednesday at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

Orange County Soccer Club held its media day Wednesday at Championship Soccer Stadium inside Irvine’s Great Park. “Great” was a word to describe the team’s success last year.

The orange & black, a nickname based on the club’s team colors, won last year’s USL Championship title with a 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Nov. 28. It was the team’s first title in its 11-year history.

Orange County brings back a significant number of players from the championship team, but also has exciting new players like striker Erick “Cubo” Torres, a Major League Soccer veteran. The team is coached by Richard Chaplow, who enters his first full season after taking over for dismissed coach Braeden Cloutier last August.

Orozco leads in the defense for OCSC, which has another talented player back there who’s less than half his age. Kobi Henry, 17, played in 19 matches last year for Orange County before being called up to the U.S. men’s senior national team in December.

“He has so much experience,” Henry said. “He teaches me something new every day, ever since I’ve been here. From the start, I’ve learned so much from him, throughout the league and even in games, game experiences. It’s just so much of a great help having someone like that by my side.”

The club plans some new experiences for its home matches this season, OCSC President Jeff Garner said. Those include a series of three family concerts on Friday nights, starting with the Aquabats on April 15. The bands for the May 7 and June 25 shows will be announced at a later date.

“We believe our Southern California fans are ready to safely gather, ready to get together again and make some memories at Championship Soccer Stadium in 2022,” Garner said. “Last year we ended very strong, not only on the field but also at the turnstiles and at the stadium.”

Garner said the club had five of its largest eight attendance numbers in its history last October and November, including three sellouts. A record crowd of 5,386 watched OCSC beat San Antonio FC for the Western Conference title.

The team’s home opener is March 19 at 7 p.m. Orozco hopes to get back to that title match months down the road.

“Raising that trophy with my teammates in front of my family and friends, it motivates me to come back and push myself to do greater things for the club,” he said.

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