Orlando prepares to say goodbye to its captain
Orlando is getting ready to say goodbye to a player who helped give its club an identity.
Orlando City captain Robin Jansson announced on November 6 that he will retire from professional soccer at the conclusion of the 2026 MLS season. The 34-year-old defender closes an eight-season run in purple, leaving behind a legacy that stretches from the record books to the club’s first trophy of its MLS era.
For supporters, this is a farewell to someone who helped build the Orlando City they know today.
What Robin Jansson’s Retirement Means for Orlando City
Since arriving in 2019, Jansson became a fixture in Orlando’s defense. He finishes his time with the Lions holding club records across all competitions: 263 appearances, 256 starts and 23,050 minutes played.
Those numbers tell a story of staying power. Players come and go, squads change and expectations shift. Jansson remained, eventually wearing the captain’s armband from 2024 through 2026.
His retirement brings that continuity into focus. Eight seasons is a significant piece of a club’s history, especially when those years include so many of its defining moments.
A legacy that includes Orlando’s first MLS-era trophy
Jansson helped Orlando win the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the club’s first trophy since entering MLS. He was also part of the team that reached the 2024 Eastern Conference Final.
For a city building its soccer tradition, those milestones matter. They become the nights supporters remember, the jerseys they keep and the stories they pass on.
Jansson’s place in that history is secure.
In the club’s announcement, sporting director and general manager Ricardo Moreira described him as “a Club legend.”
Jansson’s own farewell captured what Orlando has come to mean to him: “it has become a place I can call home and will always be connected to.”
When is Robin Jansson’s farewell ceremony?
Orlando City will celebrate Jansson with a special postgame farewell ceremony following its match against the New England Revolution on Saturday, November 7, at Inter&Co Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.
The ceremony gives supporters a chance to recognize the captain in person as Orlando closes its regular-season home schedule.
A farewell as Orlando’s postseason approaches
The announcement arrives with the Lions already qualified for the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs, giving the end of the regular season another emotional layer.
There is still a postseason ahead for Orlando. There is also a captain to thank.
For The Kitchen, this is a moment worth marking in our city: a player who made Orlando home, helped raise its expectations and now leaves his name written throughout its history.
Stay tuned to The Kitchen for more Orlando City coverage and stories from across the city
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