Tom Sermanni isn’t going anywhere. On Wednesday, the Orlando Pride announced that the head coach will return to the club thanks to a new contract extension. Sermanni is the only coach in the Orlando Pride’s two year history since joining the National Women’s Soccer League as an expansion team. After their inaugural season finished with […]

Tom Sermanni isn’t going anywhere. On Wednesday, the Orlando Pride announced that the head coach will return to the club thanks to a new contract extension.Sermanni is the only coach in the Orlando Pride’s two year history since joining the National Women’s Soccer League as an expansion team. After their inaugural season finished with the team at ninth on the table, 2017 has been an entirely different story. With some key roster moves – including the addition of Marta – the Pride finished this season with the third overall seed into the NWSL Playoffs and their first postseason appearance. Sermanni’s side also wrapped up the 2017 regular season with a nine-game unbeaten streak. In the team’s official release, Sermanni said, ““It’s exciting. I’ve had a great two years here. This gives me another opportunity to continue to build the squad; to build the culture and philosophy around the team and just to be a part of this great organization. Orlando has felt like home to me virtually from day one when I came here. It’s wonderful. There’s the stadium, there’s the people in the Club and the community as well. It’s a mix of all of those things that makes this Club unique. And having been in football for some considerable time, you don’t often get that complete environment and that’s what makes this Club very special to me.” As for the Pride, keeping Sermanni on was the obvious decision. “Keeping Tom was a no-brainer for our Club,” Orlando City SC CEO Alex Leitão said in the release. “He is one of, if not the, most accomplished coaches in soccer. His track record speaks for itself. I can’t wait to see what Tom and the Pride do in the upcoming NWSL playoffs and beyond.” [Empty Body] Sermanni will get a chance to extend his season one last time on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 3:30 p.m. ET when the Pride travel to Portland to take on the Thorns in their semifinal match.