Jim Curtin named head coach of the Philadelphia Union

The Philadelphia Union have named Jim Curtin as their head coach, the club announced Friday.

The Philadelphia Union have named Jim Curtin as their head coach, the club announced Friday.

Curtin, 35, became the interim manager in June after John Hackworth was fired. Curtin took over a team that was 3-7-6 in the MLS. Under his direction, the team earned 11-6-6 record in all competitions.

The Union also reached their first U.S. Open Cup final under Curtin.

"Since taking over the reins of this club, Jim has proven that he can compete and win,"

said Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz

.

"I have said from the outset of this coaching search that we were looking for a First Team coach to help guide us to our goal of competing to win an MLS Cup and Jim is our choice."

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In nine years in the MLS, the Philadelphia native played more than 200 games the Chicago Fire, garnering club Defender of the Year and MLS All-Star awards in 2004. He spent his final two seasons in the league with Chivas USA.

After retirement, he worked with the Union Academy before being hired as an assistant coach for the Union’s First Team in 2012.

Curtin is the third Union head coach since the club was founded in 2008. This season, Philadelphia finished sixth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 10-12-12, falling one spot short of the playoffs. 

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- Danielle Zhu