List of Philadelphia Union managers

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Bradley Carnell (pictured in 2007) has been the manager of the Union since 2025 KSC 0708 6 Carnell 02.jpg
Bradley Carnell (pictured in 2007) has been the manager of the Union since 2025

The Philadelphia Union is a soccer team based in Chester, Pennsylvania, that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), the first-division league in the United States. The club began play in 2009 as an expansion team. The Union have had three permanent managers. Their current manager is Bradley Carnell.

Contents

Curtin is the longest-serving manager of the Union, having been in charge for 358 league and playoff matches between June 2014 and November 2024. During his tenure, the club won its first Supporters' Shield in 2020. It also finished as runners up in the 2014, 2015, and 2018 U.S. Open Cup, as well as the 2022 MLS Cup. The team's managerial position is currently vacant after the team fired Curtin.

Managerial history

Turbulence under early managers (2009-2014)

Peter Nowak was the first coach of the Union from 2009 to 2012. Piotr Nowak in 2016.jpg
Peter Nowak was the first coach of the Union from 2009 to 2012.

The Philadelphia Union announced Peter Nowak to be their first head coach on May 29, 2009. He had previously been the coach of D.C. United, and resign heed his job as the senior assistant of the United States men's national soccer team to join the Union. [1] The team began play in 2010, and Nowak led them to a 21–29–24 record across their first two and a half seasons, including a playoffs appearance in 2011. In 2012, the team started with a 2–7–2 record, and Nowak was fired on June 13. [2] The next month, Nowak sued the Union for around $1 million for wrongful termination. [3] This lawsuit was dismissed, and in June 2014, Nowak sued Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Union for "tortuous interference", relating to a league investigation into his training practices. This included allegations that Nowak had required players to train through injury and had denied them access to water in 80 degree weather. [4] In 2016, new filings revealed that Nowak had spanked players, including with a sandal. The lawsuit was dismissed and Nowak was ordered to pay $400,000 in legal fees. [5]

After Nowak's firing, John Hackworth was appointed as the interim manager. [2] Hackworth was appointed as permanent manager on August 30 after leading the team to a 5–6–2 record. [6] Hackworth couldn't lead the team to a playoff berth, and was eventually fired on June 10, 2014. [7]

Jim Curtin era (2014-2024)

Jim Curtin managed the Union from 2014 to 2024. Jim Curtin 07.14.2023 (cropped).jpg
Jim Curtin managed the Union from 2014 to 2024.

Assistant coach Jim Curtin took over for Hackworth after his firing. [7] Curtin led the team to the 2014 U.S. Open Cup final in his first season, and was announced as the permanent head coach on November 7. [8] The next season, the team reached the U.S. Open Cup final again, losing to Sporting Kansas City on penalties. [9] The club once again reached the U.S. Open Cup final in 2018, losing to the Houston Dynamo. [10] The club lifted its first Supporters' Shield in 2020, and Curtin was awarded Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Award. [11] In 2022, the club narrowly missed out on both the Supporters' Shield and the MLS Cup to LAFC, who won the former on tie-breaker and the latter in a penalty shootout. [12] Curtin was again awarded Coach of the Year this season. On November 7, 2024, the Union fired Curtin after the team missed playoffs for the first time since 2017. The club didn't name an interim manager. [11]

List of managers

Information correct as of January 2, 2025

Match results contain all league games as well as MLS playoff matches.

List of Philadelphia Union managers
NameNationalityFromToMatches [13] Won [13] Lost [13] Drawn [13] Win% [13] Honors
Peter Nowak Flag of Poland.svg  Poland May 29, 2009 [1] June 13, 2012 [14] 77213224027.27
John Hackworth Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States June 13, 2012 [14] [a] June 10, 2014 [7] 73233020031.51
Jim Curtin Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States June 10, 2014 [8] [b] November 7, 2024 [11] 35814512192040.50 Supporters' Shield winners: 2020 [15] MLS Cup runners up: 2022 [16] U.S. Open Cup runners up: 2014, [17] 2015, [9] 2018 [10]
Bradley Carnell Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa January 2, 2025 [18] Present—−−−—
  1. ↑ On June 13, 2012, Hackworth was appointed as interim manager. [14] On August 30, he was announced as the full-time manager. [6]
  2. ↑ On June 10, Curtin was appointed as interim manager. On November 7, he was announced as the full-time manager. [8]

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References

  1. 1 2 Bell, Jack (28 May 2008). "Nowak to Accept a New Challenge". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Struggling Philadelphia Union fire coach Peter Nowak". CBC. The Associated Press. 13 June 2012.
  3. ↑ Vito, Christopher A. (24 September 2021). "MLS: Nowak sues Union for wrongful termination". The Reporter. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  4. ↑ Jonathan, Tannenwald. "Peter Nowak sues Major League Soccer, players' union for causing his firing". Inquirer. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  5. ↑ "Peter Nowak hazed Philadelphia Union players - court documents". ESPN. Associated Press. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  6. 1 2 Oshan, Jeremiah (30 August 2012). "Philadelphia Union Make John Hackworth Permanent Head Coach". SBNation. VOXMedia. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 "John Hackworth fired as Philadelphia Union coach". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 "Jim Curtin Hired As Philadelphia Union Head Coach". CBS News. CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  9. 1 2 Parker, Graham (30 September 2015). "This article is more than 9 years old US Open Cup final: Sporting KC break Union hearts with shoot-out victory". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  10. 1 2 Dart, Tom (27 September 2018). "Houston Dynamo storm to US Open Cup title but is the trophy a consolation prize?". The Guardian. The Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 "Philadelphia Union fire Jim Curtin after 11 seasons as coach of MLS team". Associated Press. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  12. ↑ "MLS Cup live: LAFC wins thriller over Philadelphia Union in shootout" . The Athletic. November 5, 2022. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "2024 Fact and Record Book". Major League Soccer. February 2024. p. 23. Archived from the original on March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 Davis, Steve (13 June 2012). "Peter Nowak out as Philadelphia Union manager". NBC Sports. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  15. ↑ Tannenwald, Jonathon (8 November 2020). "Union seal the Supporters' Shield, their first-ever trophy, with 2-0 win over New England". The Philadelophia Inquirer. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  16. ↑ Lindberg, Austin (6 November 2022). "Philadelphia Union's agonising MLS Cup defeat a sad end to stellar season". ESPN. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  17. ↑ Zeitlin, Dave; De George, Matthew. "'It just broke our hearts': An oral history of the Union's star-crossed run to the 2014 U.S. Open Cup final". The Athletic. The Athletic Media Company. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  18. ↑ "Philadelphia Union hire Bradley Carnell as coach as MLS team tries to return to playoffs". Associated Press. 2 January 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
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