Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union Communications

Note: Philly Soccer Page’s Ryan Eichem also contributed to this post.

The Philadelphia Union announced yesterday, just a few days into a multi-month break for the World Cup, that they have parted ways with head coach Bradley Carnell. Carnell won the MLS Coach of the Year award last season in his first campaign at the club, but in 2026, the Union is currently dead last in MLS with just 7 points in fifteen matches (0.47 PPG).

In addition to the departure of Carnell, the Union also announced the hiring of Jon Scheer as Sporting Director, where he will be taking the role of Ernst Tanner. Tanner was suspended without pay during an investigation into his workplace conduct. Scheer has occupied the interim Sporting Director role in his place and will now take over the job fully. Before being given the interim post, Scheer directed the club’s academy and professional development.

https://x.com/tombogert/status/2059703686914281607?s=20

Coaching Changes

Philadelphia Union II head coach Ryan Richter has been named as the MLS side’s interim head coach, while a “global search for the club’s next head coach” will start, as stated in a press release. Richter was the first captain in Bethlehem Steel (now Union II) history, and has risen through the coaching ranks from the Academy levels and has worked with many of the Union’s young talent for as long as they’ve been with the organization. 

Union II is currently 5-2-4 in 11 matches in MLS NEXT Pro this year, good enough to occupy the last playoff spot in eighth place. Replacing Richter in charge of the second team is Academy U18 head coach Chris Harmon, according to Jon Scheer in the press conference held earlier today. Harmon hails from Downington, Pennsylvania, and has MLS NEXT Pro experience as an assistant coach with Austin FC II. He joined the Union organization last summer to take over the U18s and has since won the prestigious Dallas Cup in April, as well as the Union organization’s Snow Bowl tournament in February.

Principal owner Jay Sugarman emphasized during the press conference that the club is committed to its methodology and its pillars. They will not be implementing a system change and will be searching for a head coach who will be able to support the club’s identity in developing players, and that they “want to continue to do what [they’re] doing.” In a statement included in the press release, Sugarman shared, “While the search for a new head coach begins immediately, we have full confidence in Ryan’s ability to lead the team through this transition, given his familiarity with the players and strong commitment to the club’s philosophy and style of play.”

He and Scheer both mentioned that they are committed to finding the best candidate for the head coaching role and are not going to rush the process. They have faith in Richter’s ability to move things forward while this search takes place.

Ernst Tanner’s role

The promotion of Jon Scheer to the full-time sporting director role raised questions about Ernst Tanner’s future with the organization that went unanswered in the initial press releases. Jay Sugarman clarified that Tanner is still in the restoration process following his suspension from Major League Soccer, but he mentioned that he thought Tanner “was always planning to step back and go back to Germany.” Tanner’s contract with the Union is up at the end of 2026 anyway, and Sugarman felt the club “needed certainty,” hence bringing in Scheer permanently ahead of this upcoming transfer window.

Looking ahead to the Summer window

The Union certainly missed the mark with both the outgoing and incoming transfers during the primary window. Jay Sugarman has faith in Scheer’s ability to bring in the necessary pieces to make changes to the group, and he is willing to provide funds to make that happen.

Scheer mentioned that the Union has identified pieces that they want to bring in after the World Cup break. He specifically mentioned leadership, weapons on set pieces, a piece for the back line that is left-footed “to give [them] versatility in how [they] build,” and another attacking piece to give “a different look and a different skillset, especially in front of goal.”

He also mentioned that, “the expectation is that the pieces that [they] bring in, there’s a lot less uncertainty… in terms of how they transition,” meaning that, unlike the risks they took in the winter to bring in young promising talent like Ezekiel Alladoh and Phillipe Ndinga, who are still finding their footing in the squad, these Summer acquisitions must be ready to right the ship and get back on track in the second half of the season.

First team practice does not resume until June 15, and the Union will not return to MLS play until July 22, 59 days after their loss at Inter Miami. There will be time for these pieces, should they actually be brought in, to acclimate to the group and the club’s identity and drive competition within the group.