Inter Miami CF announced on Monday the hiring of Niki Budalic as the club’s director of soccer operations, adding another experienced MLS executive to the club’s growing technical staff, pending approval of his US work permit.
Originally reported by The Athletic last week, the hire marks another step in the new organization's gearing up ahead of their 2020 expansion debut.
Budalic, 40, served as Orlando City SC’s GM of soccer operations from 2016 until November of last year, when he was dismissed after the Lions’ disappointing 2018 campaign. The Canadian will work under Inter sporting director Paul McDonough, alongside Miami’s other recent hire, technical director Kurt Schmid.
“Niki’s experience working alongside players and coaches at all levels will be an important addition to our technical staff, and one that will allow us to create an environment that cultivates success,” said McDonough in a club release. “We want to welcome Niki to the Inter Miami family.”
An attacking midfielder in his playing days, which included stints with the pre-MLS Montreal Impact and other clubs in Scandinavia and Canada, Budalic also worked as a scout and player agent before moving into his front-office role with Orlando. He holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario.
