**Philadelphia Union Parts Ways with Longtime Head Coach Jim Curtin**

In a surprising development, the Philadelphia Union announced on Thursday that they have parted ways with their head coach, Jim Curtin. Curtin, who had been with the team since 2014, was the second-longest tenured coach in Major League Soccer (MLS), trailing only Peter Vermes of Sporting Kansas City.

During his tenure, Curtin earned several accolades, notably leading the Union to win the 2020 Supporters' Shield and reach the MLS Cup final in 2022. His leadership also saw the team become three-time US Open Cup finalists and make it to the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup on two occasions. However, the 2024 season proved challenging, with Philadelphia finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference and missing the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Curtin leaves behind a substantial legacy with a record of 170 wins, 90 losses, and 134 draws across all competitions over his 11 seasons with the Union. Philadelphia’s sporting director, Ernst Tanner, expressed deep gratitude for Curtin’s contribution, stating, "We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Jim for his passion and dedication to this club over the last 10 seasons. He greatly contributed to the success the club has achieved in recent years and for that, we are extremely grateful."

Principal owner Jay Sugarman also commented on Curtin’s departure, highlighting his impeccable leadership and the significant impact he had both on and off the field. "Jim has been a remarkable leader and an integral part of our team's success during his tenure," said Sugarman. Despite the difficult decision, Sugarman acknowledged his confidence in Curtin’s future success in coaching.

Curtin, a native of the Philadelphia area and a former Union Academy coach, brought his experience in youth development to the forefront, elevating homegrown talents like Jack McGlynn, Quinn Sullivan, and Nathan Harriel to the first team. Notably, he also facilitated the debut of 15-year-old prodigy Cavan Sullivan, making him the youngest player to debut in MLS history.

As Philadelphia enters an offseason of reflection and potential transformation, they will begin the search for a new head coach immediately. The club aims to revamp their strategy and ensure a successful future. Interim coaching staff details will be disclosed in the coming days. Among the key players who form the veteran core of the current roster are goalkeeper Andre Blake, left back Kai Wagner, center backs Jack Elliott and Jakob Glesnes, and attackers Dániel Gazdag, Tai Baribo, and Mikael Uhre.

Moving forward, Curtin has several options within MLS, with teams like Atlanta United, FC Dallas, and St. Louis CITY SC currently without full-time head coaches.