CHESTER, Pa. — On Thursday, the Philadelphia Union announced the appointment of Bradley Carnell as their new head coach, marking the fourth individual to take on this role in the history of the Major League Soccer (MLS) team.

At 47 years old, Carnell transitions to the Union after spending two seasons as the head coach of St. Louis CITY SC, where he was the team’s inaugural manager. Over his tenure in St. Louis, he achieved a record of 22 wins, 15 losses, and 25 draws across 62 regular-season games. Under his guidance, the team led the Western Conference and ranked third in MLS for the 2023 season, scoring an impressive total of 62 goals and maintaining a +17 goal differential. However, the season ended on a disappointing note as they were eliminated by Kansas City in the first round of the playoffs. Carnell was later released when St. Louis found themselves in 12th place out of 14 teams in the Western Conference.

Before his time in St. Louis, Carnell had experience as an assistant manager and interim head coach with the New York Red Bulls in 2020. During his brief stint of 14 matches, he recorded 6 wins, 3 losses, and 5 draws, which helped guide New York to its 11th consecutive postseason. As an assistant coach, he also played a key role in the Red Bulls clinching the Supporters’ Shield in 2018.

The Union’s decision to hire Carnell follows the departure of Jim Curtin, who was let go after an 11-season tenure that included two MLS Coach of the Year accolades and an appearance in the league Cup final. In the previous season, the Union struggled, finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference with only nine wins, which meant they missed the MLS Cup playoffs for the first time since 2017.

In addition to his experience in MLS, Carnell had a brief role as an assistant with the Canadian men’s national team, further diversifying his coaching credentials. Union sporting director Ernst Tanner expressed confidence in Carnell’s abilities, stating, “His knowledge of both MLS and international markets makes him tactically astute and aligned with our sporting strategy. He emphasizes a high-press style while ensuring a well-organized defense. He shares our vision for player development, and we believe he will implement a clear philosophy that will elevate the team and lead us to a competitive season. We eagerly anticipate welcoming him to Philadelphia.”