January 3, (V7N) - Bradley Carnell, who led expansion side St. Louis City to a top seed in the MLS playoffs in their debut season, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Philadelphia Union.

The 47-year-old South African replaces Jim Curtin, who served as Union head coach for a decade and was a two-time MLS Coach of the Year before being dismissed in November.

Union sporting director Ernst Tanner expressed confidence in Carnell's ability to lead the team back to success.

"Bradley has the attributes we were looking for in a manager and the experience needed as we commit to getting back to our identity as a team," Tanner said. "His approach emphasizes a high-press style of play while organizing a structured defense. Additionally, he shares the club's vision for developing players."

Carnell made history in 2023 by guiding St. Louis City to the Western Conference crown during their inaugural season. Despite his success, he was dismissed in mid-2024 and later joined the Canadian national team as an assistant coach. Carnell's overall record at St. Louis stood at 22 wins, 15 losses, and 25 draws.

"I'm excited for this opportunity to build upon an already solid foundation and aim to help raise the Union organization to the next level," Carnell said

Carnell, a former Bundesliga defender, represented South Africa in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. His coaching experience includes a stint as interim head coach and assistant manager for the New York Red Bulls from 2017 to 2021.

The Philadelphia Union, who missed the playoffs in 2024 for the first time in eight years, will be looking to Carnell to revitalize the team and return them to contention in the MLS Eastern Conference.

END/SD/RH/