In what comes as a seismic shift for Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union, head coach Jim Curtin’s tenure has concluded after 11 seasons at the helm. The announcement of Curtin’s exit was made public on Thursday, with the Union confirming the search for his successor is already underway. “Jim has been a remarkable leader and an integral part of our team’s success during his tenure,” said Jay Sugarman, Principal Owner of the Philadelphia Union, in a statement obtained by
PHL17
.
During his time with the club, Curtin, who was hired back in 2014, led the team to impressive heights including a record-setting 2022 season where the Union accomplished their most wins (19), and their first MLS Cup final appearance. Despite this, the 2024 season was less than stellar with only nine wins, a 12th place finish in the Eastern Conference, and the team missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2017. “We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Jim for his passion and dedication to this club over the last ten seasons,” Ernst Tanner, Sporting Director of Philadelphia Union, shared in a statement according to
PHL17
. He added, acknowledging the need for change following the season’s results.
Jim Curtin’s sacking falls in line with numerous coaching changes occurring within MLS this season, with Philadelphia being the eighth club of 29 to make such a move. As reported by
6abc
, other teams including Nashville, Atlanta, and Chicago have seen similar shake-ups in their coaching staff since the start of the season. The Union’s statement assured further details about the interim coaching staff will be announced in the coming days, as the club navigates through this transitional phase.
While Curtin’s firing might have shocked some fans given his previous successes, including two MLS Coach of the Year awards in 2020 and 2022, Sugarman emphasized the respect the club holds for Curtin’s contributions. “This has been a difficult decision due in part to the immense gratitude and respect we have for him,” Sugarman lamented in a statement obtained by
CBS News
. Curtin, who still had two years left on his contract, is likely to move on to other coaching endeavors in the near future, as indicated by the praise for his work and the potential for his professional growth implied by team leaders.
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