Per Tom Bogert and The Athletic, Philadelphia Union and two-time MLS Coach of the Year Jim Curtin have reached an agreement to extend the head coach’s contract through the 2026 season.
Since taking over as interim head coach during the 2014 season, Curtin has led Philly to their first-ever playoff win, their first Supporters Shield in 2020, two separate CCL Semi-Final appearances, and lead them to their first-ever MLS Cup appearance in club history in 2022.
Through the success that Curtin and Philadelphia have found together over the last decade or so, Curtin has cemented himself and Philly as one of the League’s best, taking gradual steps up and becoming true league contenders season after season. Curtin is the second longest-tenured coach currently in MLS.
PHILADELPHIA UNIONPhiladelphia creating foundation for future success
Curtin isn’t the only one Philadelphia has locked in long-term though, and he has played an integral part in getting players to buy into his system and the culture surrounding Philly for years to come. In addition to Curtin now being on board through the 2026 season, here’s a list of Philadelphia players already signed on for the future, many of them carrying options for the following season.
Union players signed through 2024
Mikael Uhre
Andre Blake
Jack Elliott
Richard Odada
Union players signed through 2025
Daniel Gazdag
Jakob Glesnes
Andres Perea
Jack McGlynn
Nathan Harriel
Jose Martinez
So how should Union fans feel about this move? Happy. Philadelphia has made big steps as a club over through Curtin’s tenure both on and off the pitch, and that shouldn’t slow down anytime soon. Philly has its foundation moving forward, front to back. And while that doesn’t mean Europe won’t come and steal a few of those names away, at least Philadelphia fans know they’ve got Jimmy Curtin on the sidelines.
