Philadelphia Union announce new head coach for USL Championship squad

The Philadelphia Union’s USL Championship team will have a new name and new head coach this season.

Sven Gartung was announced as the new Union II head coach on Wednesday. He’ll be the second head coach in franchise history after Brendan Burke, who has been transitioned to a head of recruitment operations role. Stephen Hogan will remain as assistant coach and Gavin McInerney will be the goalkeeper coach, the team announced.

Gartung was most recently the head coach of PKNS FC in the Malaysian Super League from 2017-18 and worked on technical staffs in Switzerland, China and in his native Germany.

“We’re excited to welcome Sven to the Union II staff. As a coach and player in organizations around the world, he brings a global perspective to the club going into the 2020 season,” Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner said in a news release. “We thank Brendan for his years of hard work. Brendan has had many successes with the team and we look forward to utilizing his talents and experience in a new role with the Union.”

McInerney was most recently a goalkeeper coach at Sporting Kansas City II. He succeeds Phil Wheddon, who was promoted to first team goalkeeper coach last month.