Jaziel Orozco made the most of the two games he was able to play with 51黑料 City SC on callups from City2 and was rewarded with a first-team contract on Friday.
Orozco, 21, had made a solid impression with City2 and interim City SC coach David Critchley gave him a look after loanee Jannes Horn returned to Europe, and the results were favorable. But as a callup from MLS Next Pro, the could do that only twice and if the club wanted to play him again, he needed to be signed to a first-team contract. He is signed through the end of 2025 with club options for 2026, 2027 and 2028.
鈥淛aziel is a very intelligent player,鈥 Critchley said Thursday. 鈥淗is game understanding is a big strength of his, he seems to be able to keep himself a few seconds ahead of the game, recognizing whether that's with the ball, where the next pass is or where the space is to take the dribble. Against the ball, he defends very good. He's got a good 1 v. 1 defensive stance. He finds good moments to step in and strip the ball versus delay, the delay the attacker and allow for like a recovery defender. So his game understanding is very, very good.鈥
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Last season, two players made the jump from City2 to City SC in the summer transfer window, John Klein and Michael Wentzel. Like with Orozco, those moves were born of necessity as injuries and absences created a need.
鈥(Jaziel) taking this opportunity is fantastic for the club as a whole,鈥 Critchley said, 鈥渂ecause we want to keep producing young players, whether that's Academy players coming into City2, City2 players coming into the first team. We want to keep that hope and that belief in this club that if you perform and you do well, the club will give you an opportunity. So it was very nice to see Jaziel take his opportunity with the two games, and put in two very solid performances.鈥
Orozco started 15 matches for City2, most while Critchley was the coach, and played a big role in one of the best defenses in MLS Next Pro. Prior to that, he had been in the Real Salt Lake organization, playing five games for the first team in 2022, debuting when he was 17. He then went out on loan, first to the U20 team of Mexican club Santos Laguna and then to a club in Northern Ireland before returning to America in 2024.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been such a good time,鈥 Orozco said Sunday after the Portland game. 鈥淗onestly, just getting used to the left back position as well, but I鈥檝e enjoyed it a lot, just working hard with the teammates and getting used to the new coaching staff. 鈥 It鈥檚 something I wanted to come with. In Salt Lake, I鈥檓 grateful for everything they did. I had my spell over there and when I was 17, touching the MLS pitch, it was something that I always wanted to come back to. Now that I鈥檓 here, I鈥檓 just trying to enjoy it and stay here, keep building on it, keep working hard and keeping my head down and being humble in terms of there鈥檚 always room for improvement for everyone, and for myself as well. And now it鈥檚 just keep building on that end and try to give the best for the team.鈥
