Two-time Philadelphia Union and MLS Coach of the Year Jim Curtin has agreed to a new long-term deal through the 2026 season, sources familiar with the deal said. The Athletic. Anonymity was granted as the parties are not authorized to discuss the transaction publicly. Here’s what you should know:
- Curtin’s current contract was due to expire after the season. He is the second-longest-tenured coach in MLS, first joining the union as interim head coach in 2014.
- The Philadelphia native led the Union to the Supporters Shield (the only major trophy in history) in 2020 and reached the MLS Cup final in 2022.
- Philadelphia has been an exemplary MLS franchise over the past five years, leading or near the top of the Eastern Conference despite consistently being at or near the bottom of the league in annual payouts.
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Curtin was named MLS Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2020. Despite the Union losing the Supporters’ Shield in a tiebreaker with LAFC last season, their plus-46 goal difference was the second-best in MLS history. Lost to LAFC after a penalty shootout in the MLS Cup final. Philadelphia has reached the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions League twice in the last three years.
Union was a sputtering expansion franchise before Curtin took over. They made the playoffs in one of their first four seasons before Curtin was promoted to head coach. The Union have now made the playoffs in each of the last five seasons and are among the favorites in 2023.
Under Curtin’s leadership, the union has become a model for youth development. Brenden Aaronson, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Paxten Aaronson and others all made it to Philadelphia and eventually to Europe.
Sporting director Ernst Tanner also oversaw this era of success, taking over the helm of the front office in 2018. He is also in the final year of his contract.
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(Photo: Tim Nuwachuk/Getty Images)
