Brotherly Game: All Posts by Jonathan Abraham

UEFA Euro 2020: A look at what Dániel Gazdag, Hungary will face in the tournament

2021-06-10T10:32:00-04:00

Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

The Union’s newest acquisition is part of a Hungary team with a tough draw in the “Group of Death” at the Euros

This Friday, the matchup between Italy and Turkey will kickstart UEFA Euro 2020. Fans all over the globe have anticipating for the tournament after it was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is an especially momentous occasion for Philadelphia Union fans as recent acquisition Dániel Gazdag is a part of Hungary’s squad for the tournament. Located in Group F of the tournament, also known as the “Group of Death,” the Hungarians will have their hands full.

Here is a look at the other nations looking to win the group.

France: After winning the FIFA World Cup in 2018, the French national team are considered the favorites to win the European championship. Les Bleus were able to reach the final of the tournament in 2018, but fell to Cristiano Ronaldo-less Portugal 1-0 on their home pitch. Led by the likes of PSG’s Kylian Mbappè, FC Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann, Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, and many more stars, it is easy to see why Didier Deschamps squad has what it takes to add some silverware to their trophy cabinet. Another big storyline for the team is the addition of Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, who has not represented the country since 2015, although the striker suffered an injury yesterday in their 3-0 victory in a friendly over Bulgaria.

Portugal: When the European championships begin, every competing nation will look to dethrone the Portuguese, which stunned the French in the last edition of the tournament. With an attacking prowess that features Juventus’ Ronaldo, Atlético Madrid’s João Felix, and many more key players, it is important to never sleep on A Seleção (italicize). After also winning the UEFA Nations League back in 2019, Fernando Santos’ squad will hope their European luck will continue.

Germany: Winners of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the Germans will hope to give Joachim Löw a nice send-off gift as the manager has announced before that it would be the last time he leads Die Mannschaft (italicize). Bayern Munich’s Hansi Flick will take over after the conclusion of the tournament. Featuring some of the best players in the world, including three from the UEFA Champions League winners, Chelsea (Antonio Rüdiger, Kai Havertz, Timo Werner), Germany is a dark horse to win it all.

Dániel Gazdag and Hungary begin their Euro journey on Tuesday, June 15, when they face off against Portugal at Puskás Aréna in Budapest. It should be an eventful tournament as 24 nations compete for a chance to hoist the trophy on July 11.

Ray Gaddis selected as recipient of Jerry Yeagley Award for Exceptional Personal Achievement

2020-12-11T10:46:00-05:00

Morgan Tencza

Gaddis’ contributions on and off the field have earned him the prestigious honor from the United Soccer Coaches

Fresh off of winning the Supporters’ Shield with the Philadelphia Union, right back Ray Gaddis will now be honored with the Jerry Yeagley Award for Exceptional Personal Achievement, named after the former West Chester University player and historic Indiana University men’s soccer coach.

The award will be handed out by United Soccer Coaches. According to a news release, the award is presented annually to “a former collegiate soccer student-athlete who has demonstrated extraordinary accomplishments and service beyond the sport itself.”

If there is anyone who has truly exemplified this, it is the former West Virginia University defender.

“How fitting for an Indiana favorite son to receive the Jerry Yeagley Award for Exceptional Personal Achievement,” Kevin Sims, the President of United Soccer Coaches, said in the news release. “Ray has excelled on the field for the 2020 MLS Supporters’ Shield Philadelphia Union as a longstanding defensive stalwart, holding club records for most matches started and most minutes played. More impressively, Ray has leveraged his success and platform to benefit the Philadelphia area and the nation through meaningful philanthropy, community service, and social activism. United Soccer Coaches proudly salutes Ray Gaddis.”

As reliable as the longest tenured Union player has been on the pitch, it is his work off the pitch, from Philadelphia to his hometown of Indianapolis, that has truly stood out. Some of his accomplishments include being a founding member and executive board member of MLS’ Black Players for Change (BPC), bringing a mini-pitch to Newark, partnering with Chipotle and Honeygrow to provide meals for the homeless in Philadelphia, and many more.

Gaddis, 30, has been able to do it all and then some during his professional career. Now, all that is left is for him to score a goal for the blue and gold.

Andre Blake voted MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in landslide victory

2020-11-16T16:14:31-05:00

Carl Gulbish

Blake beat out Revs keeper Matt Turner by...a lot

After an impressive season, from dominating in the MLS is Back tournament to carrying the same momentum during the season’s return en route to the Philadelphia Union winning their first-ever trophy, Andre Blake was voted the Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of Year.

This is the second time that he has won the award, previously winning in 2016 (now in a five-way tie for the most in MLS history along with Joe Cannon, Pat Onstad, Zach Thornton, and Donovan Ricketts).

The Jamaican international led the league in several categories, including a 77.8 save percentage while allowing 18 goals (0.88 goals allowed average). Also, prior to suffering a hand fracture in the Union’s 2-1 victory at Subaru Park over the Chicago Fire on October 28, Blake was the leader in wins, posting a 13-3-5 overall record.

For the voting, which was done by MLS club technical staff, media, and current MLS players, the 29-year-old dominated in all three of the categories with 33.02 percent of the player votes, 49.12 percent of the club votes, and 50.21 percent of the media votes. Overall, Blake’s final vote percentage was 44.12 percent. Some of the other goalkeepers in contention were the New England Revolution’s Matt Turner (12.21 percent), the Columbus Crew’s Eloy Room (7.44 percent), Orlando City’s Pedro Gallese (6.86 percent), the Seattle Sounders’ Stefan Frei (5.99 percent), and New York City FC’s Sean Johnson (5.69 percent).

With Blake’s play between the posts this season, he was a vital part in the Chester-based club winning the Supporters’ Shield this season and home-field advantage throughout the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs, where they hope to keep their undefeated record at Subaru Park.

Blake is also a finalist for the league MVP award.

Sergio Santos named MLS Player of the Week following hat trick performance

2020-10-27T09:19:43-04:00

Morgan Tencza / SPP

Santos was one of several superlatives given out to the Union after their big win over Toronto

In a crucial matchup at Subaru Park against Toronto FC that could have decided the Philadelphia Union’s quest to win the club’s first-ever trophy, Sergio Santos came up clutch. Notching the team’s first hat trick since C.J. Sapong back in 2017, the Brazilian forward was named the MLS Player of the Week.

Santos, who scored three goals in 69 minutes in a 5-0 victory over their neighbors to the North, won 51.66 percent of the vote among competitors such as Sporting Kansas City’s Alan Pulido (leading vote-getter among the fans at 48.55%), New York City FC’s Maximiliano Moralez, Nashville SC’s Walker Zimmerman and Randall Leal, and Portland Timbers’ Diego Chara. The voting is conducted by MLS Communications and consists of votes from the North America Soccer Reporters, who accumulate 75 percent of the vote for the league’s player of the week, while the rest of the 25 percent consists of fans who voted through a Twitter poll run by the league.

After an impressive win, and a shutout nonetheless, against one of the top teams in the league, Kai Wagner, Andre Blake, and Jim Curtin were featured with Santos on the MLS’ Team of the Week. Also, José Martinez and Kacper Przybyłko made the bench, which led to six Union players to be honored by the MLS.

The Union, who are now in first-place due to goal differential, aim to win the Supporters’ Shield after the Supporters’ Shield Foundation reversed their previous decision not to award the trophy to the league’s top team. After failing to win in their three U.S. Open Cup finals, the club is aiming to finally bring back some silverware to the City of Brotherly Love.

Philadelphia will look to continue its great form, and keep their undefeated home record, in a mid-week matchup at Subaru Park on Wednesday, October 28 against the Chicago Fire at 7:30 p.m. ET on PHL 17. Meanwhile, the club will also travel to Columbus, where they suffered a 1-0 defeat on September 2 due to a Lucas Zelarayán goal, to battle the Crew at MAPFRE Stadium at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Former Union player Veljko Paunović named manager of Reading FC

2020-08-31T17:36:31-04:00

Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

Pauno spent one season with the Philadelphia Union as a player in 2011

Championship club Reading FC announced over the weekend that former Philadelphia Union player Veljko Paunović is the new manager for the club.

Paunović had an illustrious career, playing all across Europe, including for Atlético Madrid. After retiring from soccer in 2008, the former forward came back for a brief MLS stint with the Chester-based club in 2011.

The Serbian international began his managerial career in 2012 with the country’s Under-18s and then Under-19s. In 2015, he was able to help his country win the 2015 FIFA Under-20 World Cup title in New Zealand, defeating a Brazil side that had players such as Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus.

After a successful coaching career with the Serbian youth teams, Paunović made the move back to the States in 2015 and accepted a job to become the head coach of the Chicago Fire. While in charge, he boasted a career record of 41W-58L-37D in 136 regular-season matches.

Although Paunović arrives to Madejski Stadium after helping the Fire make the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs once (2017) during his tenure, Reading believes he is the right man for the job, which previously belonged to Mark Bowen, who is now the director of football for the club.

“With vast experience of top flight football as both a player and a coach across Europe and in the United States, and with proven pedigree of successfully working with young up-and- coming footballers on both the domestic and international scene, I am confident Veljko can help take this club forward,” said owner Dai Yongge in a club news release.

“This has been a process and this appointment has been made only after long, careful consideration. After meeting with him, we found Veljko to be an exceptional candidate who impressed us immediately. I am sure he is the right man for Reading Football Club. I’m delighted he has agreed to sign as our new manager.”

As The Royals get ready to begin this season’s campaign at Derby County on September 12, while also hosting Colchester United in a Carabao Cup match one week prior, the club hope Paunović is the right choice to help bring them back to the Premier League for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

Adoptable dogs will be at Tuesday’s Philadelphia Union game in cardboard cutout form

2020-08-21T15:14:56-04:00

The “Dogs of Ben” will be visible in the stadium Tuesday and available for adoption

Would you like to add another Union fan to the family; specifically a furry one? The Philadelphia Union and Subaru of America, Inc. are working together to provide shelter dogs a new home.

Just like fans were able to purchase cardboard cutouts of themselves, there will be cutouts of adoptable dogs in the crowd starting on August 25, the club’s first home game of the season at Subaru Park against rival New York Red Bulls.

“We are thrilled to be hosting the first Philadelphia Union game at Subaru Park on August 25 and to introduce the innovative ways we are incorporating our fans, community, partners, and even adoptable pets into a Union gameday,” said Tim McDermott, President, Philadelphia Union. “As a community-first minded company and alongside our partner Subaru, we will continue to look for ways to help and highlight organizations in need.”

For those wondering where the cardboard cutout of the adoptable dogs will be located, they’ll have their own section in the stadium known as the “Dogs of Ben.” Along with working with shelters such as the Providence Animal Shelter, Subaru will fill the seats at midfield with some of these furry fans in hopes of finding them a new home.

You can head to www.philadelphiaunion.com/subaru to learn more about adopting one of the dogs.

The Union and Subaru America announced their partnership back in February that included renaming the stadium in Chester Subaru Park. Tuesday’s game will be the first in the stadium since it was renamed.

“At Subaru, our love for pets runs as deeply as our love for soccer, and from the onset of our partnership with the Union, we knew we wanted to bring our furry friends out to Subaru Park and bring awareness to adopting shelter pets,” said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Subaru of America, Inc. “While home games may look a bit different this year, we hope the Dogs of Ben add some fun to gameday while helping to unite local dogs in the greater Philadelphia area with loving owners.”

How rejection paved Carli Lloyd’s road to stardom

2020-05-18T15:20:45-04:00

Photo by Morgan Tencza

Rejected for a South Jersey select team at 11, Carli Lloyd went on to forge a different path toward stardom

Michael Jordan didn’t make the varsity basketball team his sophomore year of high school. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter was rejected by 12 publishers. There have been many prominent figures who have been rejected but used this obstacle as motivation. Another example is soccer icon, Carli Lloyd.

The Delran, N.J. native posted a photo of a letter on Twitter last month that she received back in 1993 from the South Jersey Girls Soccer League’s selected team, informing her she did not make the team.

My letter I received after I tried out for the SJ select team. I didn’t make it, which led me to then try out for the @medfordstrikers and was determined to not let this failure derail me. pic.twitter.com/FLLEnNyykr
— Carli Lloyd (@CarliLloyd) April 29, 2020

Although Lloyd did not make the squad, she would not let failure define who she was as a soccer player. She decided to try out for the Medford Strikers, the squad that kickstarted an illustrious career.

As a member of the Strikers, Lloyd was able to win the 1997 and 1998 State Cups. She was also able to build a successful pedigree at Delran High School, Rutgers University, the W-League, the WPS, the FA WSL, the NWSL, and representing her country through various international competitions.

The now 37-year-old, who is currently a member of Sky Blue FC, has accumulated several individual honors. Individually, she has been acknowledged twice by FIFA as the best women’s player in the world (2015 and 2016), the CONCACAF Women’s Player of the Year in 2015, and was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2017.

On the other end of the spectrum, most of Lloyd’s team success has come while donning the red, white, and blue, where she has won two Olympic gold medals (2008 and 2012) and two World Cups (2015 and 2019). She has also had the privilege to play for the U.S in 294 appearances, where the forward has tallied 123 goals, third in U.S. soccer history behind Abby Wambach and Mia Hamm.

Even though Lloyd was rejected by the SJ select team at just 11 years old, she didn’t let the experience define her as a soccer player. Instead, this event ignited a fire under her to make her want to be among the greatest to ever play the sport.

MLS players and coaches with ties to Philadelphia

2020-02-28T11:13:00-05:00

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

A look at the players in MLS who are either from the area or played for the Philadelphia Union and other teams locally

Twenty-six teams will be kicking off the 2020 season of MLS on Saturday and most of those teams have players or coaches that are either from the greater Philadelphia area or have played locally for the Philadelphia Union and other local teams or college programs.

Atlanta United

Jeff Larentowicz: The Atlanta United player, who can play both in the midfield and in defense, is a West Chester native. In 2000 and 2001, he helped Chestnut Hill Academy to win back-to-back Interacademic League championships. The 36-year-old also helped FC Delco Arsenal win two USYSA National Championships in 2002 (U-18 for Andy Stone Cup) and 2003 (U-19 for James P. McGuire Cup) as the captain of those squads.

George Campbell: The defender, who has spent most of time with USL-affiliate Atlanta United 2, was born in Chester and played for Nether United as a kid before his family relocated to Atlanta. His older brothers Will Campbell and Rob Campbell both played for the Philadelphia Union Academy and in college. Will played at UNC and Penn State while Rob played at Clemson and Delaware. The 18-year-old is hoping to get his first action with the MLS club this season.

Mo Adams: The 23-year-old midfielder, who spent his entire youth career in England with Nottingham Forest and Derby County, played five matches for Reading United in 2017 before being selected in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by the Chicago Fire. He was then traded to Atlanta in July 2019.

Chicago Fire

C.J. Sapong: The former Union and Reading United forward is now preparing for his second season in the Windy City. However, before being traded from the Union in February 2019, Sapong was a star for the Chester club. He is currently the team’s second all-time leading goal scorer with 38 goals across all competitions, behind club legend and Ring of Honor recipient Sébastien Le Toux (57).

Fabian Herbers: The German was drafted sixth overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by the Union after an incredible career at Creighton. During his three-year stint with the MLS-side, along with playing for the Bethlehem Steel, the 26-year-old scored five goals and added nine assists across 56 appearances in all competitions. He was then traded to the Fire for a second-round pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.

FC Cincinnati

Haris Medunjanin: The former Union midfielder played a huge part of the Union’s success after arriving from Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2017. This past season was huge for the Bosnian international as he led the league in total passes (2,571), total completed passes (2,182), passes in the opponent’s half (1,521) and completed passes in the opponent’s half (1,217). After being released by the club, his rights were selected by FC Cincinnati during the MLS waiver draft.

Jimmy McLaughlin: The former Union midfielder, who is from Malvern, represented FC Delco for three seasons, leading the club with 16 goals in 24 appearances during 2010-2011. He played for the Union from 2012 to 2015, but only made five appearances for the club across all competitions, spending more time on loan with Harrisburg City Islanders.

Fatai Alashe: The midfielder is a Reading United alum, playing for club in 2013 as he scored one goal in nine appearances for the USL League Two squad.

Bobby Edwards: The goalkeeper, who was born in Germany but raised in Parsippany, N.J. spent three seasons of his collegiate career at Saint Joseph’s University. The 24-year-old was recently acquired from the club from Portadown FC, which participates in Northern Ireland’s NIFL Championship.

Ben Lundt: The Reading United alum was a part of the squad in 2017, after spending some time with Hertha BSC’s reserve team. He has been with the Ohio club since its inaugural campaign, but spent last season on loan with Louisville City, which is led by former Union head coach John Hackworth.

Austin Berry: The strength and conditioning coach spent two seasons with the Philadelphia Union in 2014-2015, making only six appearances.

Colorado Rapids

Keegan Rosenberry: The former Union and Reading United right back from Ronks, Pa. made an immediate impact with the MLS club after arriving from Georgetown University via the MLS SuperDraft. He was a part of the 2016 MLS All-Star Game and finished second in the race for Rookie of the Year that season. However, his time with the Union, which dates back to his time with the Union Reserves and the Union youth squad at the time, came to an end in 2018 when he was traded to the Colorado Rapids.

Auston Trusty: The former Union center back from Media, who played youth soccer for Nether United and in the Union Academy, signed a Homegrown Player contract in 2016. During the 2018 season, Trusty became the youngest field player to play every minute of every match over a 34-game regular season. Seen as a big part of the club’s future, the 21-year-old was then traded to the Rapids at the conclusion of the 2019 season.

Columbus Crew

Tim Hanley: The former Philadelphia Union goalkeeper coach is now on the technical staff with the Crew.

FC Dallas

Fafa Picault: The former Union player, who played with the squad from 2017 to 2019 after arriving from FC St. Pauli, was a problem for defenses with his electric pace. During his tenure with the club, he scored 18 goals in 73 appearances across all competitions, including scoring the game-tying goal against the New York Red Bulls in the playoffs last season. In November, Picault was traded to FC Dallas.

Matt Hedges: The Reading United alum, who spent time with the club in 2010 and 2011, has been played a huge role for FC Dallas as their center back. The 2016 MLS Defender of the Year and three-time All-Star made 24 appearances for Reading, scoring four goals as a result.

DC United

Russell Canouse: The D.C. United midfielder is a Lancaster native who spent his youth career with the PA Classics, a squad that has also produced American soccer sensation Christian Pulisic, in 2007 and 2008. After spending some time in Germany with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and VfL Bochum, Canouse made the move back to states in 2017 with D.C.

Chris Seitz: The former Union goalkeeper, who was traded for Real Salt Lake to the expansion franchise in 2009, made 22 starts for the club before being dropped to the bench by Brad Knighton after posting the league’s worst goals against average (1.80). That would be his only season in Chester.

Ben Olsen: The head coach of D.C. United since 2010, the Middletown native was already a huge name in the league as a player, where he wore the black and red from 1998 to 2009. Olsen began as an assistant with the club until Curt Onalfo led the nation capital’s squad to a league-worst record, taking over the helm ever since.

Houston Dynamo

Zarek Valentin: The Lancaster native and Reading United alum is set to begin his first season with the Dynamo after playing with the Portland Timbers since 2016. The left back played with Reading in 2009, making four appearances with the club.

Omid Namazi: The Dynamo Assistant Coach was a coach and player for the Philadelphia Kixx and is a former director of soccer for the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals.

Cody Cropper: The Reading United alum is entering his first season with the Houston Dynamo after being at New England since 2016. A member of Reading’s youth squad in 2008 and 2009, his senior career would begin in England, where the goalkeeper played for Southampton and Milton Keynes Dons before moving back to the states to join the MLS.

LAFC

Jordan Harvey: The former Union fullback, who was part of the club’s inaugural season, has been a pivotal player in the MLS for years. After being selected in the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft, Harvey played a little more than one year at the club before being traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in July 2011.

Mike Sorber: LAFC’s Director of Soccer Operations served as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Union for four years.

Inter Miami

Ben Sweat: The Reading United alum is set to begin his first season with the new franchise, Inter Miami, after being selected in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft. Sweat played for Reading in 2013, scoring once in eight appearances for the club.

John McCarthy: The former Union, La Salle, Reading United, Bethlehem Steel and Ocean City Nor’easters goalkeeper will be a second-string goalkeeper for The Herons, backing up New York Red Bull legend Luis Robles. McCarthy made 21 appearances for the Union during his time with the club.

Minnesota United

Tyler Miller: The Woodbury, N.J. native and Ocean City Nor’easters alum makes the move to Minnesota after being the starting goalkeeper for LAFC in the franchise’s first two seasons. The 26-year-old played a key role in helping the team win the Supporters’ Shield last season en route to the most points in MLS history.

Mason Toye: The 21-year-old spent time living in Delaware County and played for Nether United. Toye is considered a name for the future as Minnesota United hope he makes a big impact with the club this season.

Nashville SC

David Accam: The former Union forward scored six goals in 36 appearances for the club. Accam was then traded to Columbus Crew SC last season before being traded eight days later to Nashville.

Derrick Jones: The former Union, Philadelphia Lone Star and Union Academy midfielder was loaned to the USL club last May ahead of a permanent transfer to the MLS squad in January. Throughout most of his career with the Chester side, Jones featured more prominently for the Bethlehem Steel, but did make 27 appearances in the MLS from 2016 to 2019.

Daniel Lovitz: The Wyndmoor native makes the move from Montreal to Nashville as the Music City squad hopes that the experienced left back will help them in their inaugural season.

Ken Tribbett: The former Union, City Islanders, Ocean City Nor’easters and Drexel alum, Tribbett is set to begin his career with the MLS side after playing for their USL team last season. During his tenure with the Union (2016 to 2017), he scored two goals in 23 appearances.

Taylor Washington: The former Union defender, who spent one season with the club in 2016, has been a part of the Nashville side since their USL debut in 2018. Although Washington never played for the Union, he did feature for the Bethlehem Steel 28 times.

New England Revolution

Brad Knighton: The former Union goalkeeper was selected by the club in the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft. After making eight league appearances with the Union in his lone season, he was waived in January 2011.

New York Red Bulls

Brian White: Played for Union U17s in 2012 GA Cup. Now, the 24-year-old forward is getting ready to help the Red Bulls improve after falling in the first round of the playoffs last season.

Tom Barlow: The Reading United alum spent one year at the club in 2015, where he found the back of the net five times in 13 appearances. With the departure of Bradley Wright-Phillips to LAFC, this could be a big season for the forward.

NYCFC

Rob Vartughian: The NYCFC Assistant Coach was an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Union for five seasons and spent time also serving as technical director during his time in Chester.

Orlando City

Joey DeZart: DeZart, a midfielder who graduated with the Union Academy and spent time with Reading United, recently signed a first team deal with Orlando City after being drafted out of Wake Forest No. 31 overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.

Kamal Miller: The Reading United alum spent one season with the club (2018), where the defender made nine appearances.

Philadelphia Union

Ray Gaddis: The Indianapolis native played two seasons for Reading United in 2010 and 2011 while he was in college at West Virginia University and was drafted by the Union in 2012.

Matt Freese: The homegrown goalkeeper is from Wayne, Pa. and is a graduate of the Philadelphia Union Academy and Episcopal Academy. He also played youth soccer at Penn Fusion Academy and was signed by the Union after two seasons at Harvard.

Mark McKenzie: The Union Academy grad and former Delaware FC standout was born in the Bronx but grew up in Bear, Del. He signed a homegrown deal with the Union in 2018 after a season at Wake Forest.

Cole Turner: Turner is a first-year homegrown player from Maryland who joined the Union Academy in 2014 and signed a USL contract with the Steel and a first team pre-contract last July.

Jack de Vries: De Vries relocated to Wayne, Pa. with his family in 2015 to join the Union Academy and officially joined the first team as a homegrown player in January.

Matthew Real: The left back from Drexel Hill, Pa. played for FC Delco prior to joining the Union Academy in 2013 and was signed to a homegrown in contract in 2018 after going pro with the Bethlehem Steel in 2017.

Anthony Fontana: The midfielder from Newark, Del. played for Kirkwood FC and Penn Fusion Academy before joining the Union Academy in 2013. He joined the first team in 2018 and scored a goal in his MLS debut.

Brenden Aaronson: The midfielder from Medford, N.J. played for Real Jersey FC prior to joining the Union Academy in 2013 and was a finalist for Rookie of the Year in 2019 after joining the first team roster as a homegrown in January 2019 and scoring in his MLS debut in Atlanta.

Jim Curtin: The Union’s head coach grew up Oreland, Pa. and played soccer at Villanova University.

Chris Albright: The Union’s technical director played his last two seasons in MLS with the Union. He grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from William Penn Charter School.

Real Salt Lake

Zac MacMath: The former Union goalkeeper was selected by the club with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft out of Maryland. He was a part of the team until 2015, where he was traded to the Colorado Rapids for a second-round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. MacMath is expected to be the starting goalkeeper after the departure of club legend, Nick Rimando.

Luke Mulholland: The Reading United alum spent two seasons with the club (2009 to 2010), where he scored eight goals in 30 appearances. The attacking midfielder has been a part of Real Salt Lake since 2014.

Justin Portillo: Portillo spent one season with Reading United, where the midfielder made two appearances for the club.

Todd Hoffard: The RSL goalkeeper coach is a Lancaster, Pa. native and former Lebanon Valley College women’s head coach. He previously coached for the Harrisburg City Islanders and at Penn and Temple and had stints during his playing career with the Harrisburg Heat and Philadelphia Kixx.

San Jose Earthquakes

Paul Marie: The Reading United alum arrived in 2015 after playing for Caen II in France. From 2015 to 2017, Marie scored 14 goals in 30 appearances for Reading.

Shea Salinas: Salinas was selected by the Union during the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft. In his lone season in Chester, he scored one goal in 17 appearances before being selected by the Vancouver Whitecaps in the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft.

Seattle Sounders

Trey Muse: The Sounders goalkeeper had a brief stint with the Union Academy for a tournament in the Middle East. However, the 20-year-old from Louisville, Ky. has spent a majority of his time with the Sounders organization, where he signed a Homegrown Player contract in 2019.

Sporting Kansas City

Peter Vermes: As the head coach of Sporting Kansas City, the Delran, N.J. native has notched 134 wins in 317 league games as the coach of the squad, who he has led since 2009. Some of the accomplishment Vermes has had as the boss are winning the MLS Cup in 2013 and being part of the U.S. Open Cup in 2012, 2015, and 2017.

Kerry Zavagnin: The assistant coach spent one season playing in the Lehigh Valley for the Lehigh Valley Storm in the A-League in 1999.

Toronto FC

Alex Bono: The goalkeeper spent two summers playing for Reading United in 2013 and 2014 while at Syracuse and joined Toronto FC via the MLS SuperDraft in 2015.

Jon Conway: The goalkeeper coach is a native of Aston, Pa. He graduated from Sun Valley High School and played club soccer for Lower Merion SC. The former MLS goalkeeper (Chivas USA, Toronto FC and Chicago Fire) joined Toronto FC initially as an academy coach and then as the first team goalkeeper coach.

Jim Curtin finishes third in MLS Coach of the Year voting

2019-10-24T13:12:45-04:00

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Bob Bradley and Dome Torrent finished ahead of the Philadelphia Union head coach in voting for the award

Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin was recognized for his efforts this season as he finished third in votes for the Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year award. Curtin finished behind Dome Torrent, who led New York City FC to the best record in the Eastern Conference after a slow start to the season, and overall winner Bob Bradley, who led second-year franchise LAFC to a Supporters’ Shield while setting a new single-season points record with 72.

Curtin, who finished with average of 13.11% of the votes for the award (7.59% from players, 19.9% from clubs and 12.36% from media), led the Union to its best season in franchise history as they accumulated a team-record 55 points (16-7-11). His efforts led to the Union being able to host their first playoff game at Talen Energy Stadium since 2011, which they took advantage of last week with a 4-3 victory over rival New York Red Bulls.

The Oreland native and Villanova alum has been a part of the organization since starting out as a coach in the academy in 2010. He became a first team assistant in 2013 before taking over as interim manager after the firing of now-Louisville City FC head coach John Hackworth during the 2014 season. After the Union’s great start to this season, Curtin was able to sign a two-year extension, which keeps him as the head coach through the 2021 season.

Since taking over, Curtin has led the team to three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Runners-up (2014, 2015, and 2018). Also, with the victory over the Red Bulls, the Union won their first ever playoff game after being unsuccessful in their four previous attempts.

Although Curtin has been scrutinized through much of his tenure as the Union head coach, he was able to help the team make a huge leap this season, and Major League Soccer recognized his efforts to help the team as well.

Team Liberia captures third straight Unity Cup trophy

2019-10-17T14:45:46-04:00

@PHLUnityCup Twitter account

Team Liberia topped Team USA 3-0 in the final at Talen Energy Stadium on Saturday

Talen Energy Stadium held the fourth final of the Philadelphia International Unity Cup on October 12, where Team Liberia defended their title against Team USA with a 3-0 victory.

The Unity Cup, the annual event started by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney in 2016, is a World Cup-style tournament that is meant to unite the city’s neighborhoods and celebrate its diverse immigrant communities through soccer, according to the tournament’s website. With 52 teams representing nations across the globe, these several months are huge for those involved in the event.

Team Liberia, which has made it to all four finals, opened the game on a high note as they scored seven minutes into the game to take the lead against Team USA, making it the only goal before halftime. The team would end up scoring two goals in the second, clinching a third straight Unity Cup title in the process.

Daniel Yallah, a Philadelphia Union Academy and YSC Academy grad who is battling liver cancer, made a cameo in the second half.

Daniel Yallah coming off for Liberia.#UnityCup @PhilaUnion pic.twitter.com/rixIpIEBIY
— x - SoB Tifo (@SoBTifo) October 12, 2019

As the Unity Cup comes to a close, the tournament proved to be another successful way to unite the city of Brotherly Love through the world’s most popular and beautiful game.