Philadelphia Union have dismissed Bradley Carnell after a dismal start to the MLS season, installing Ryan Richter as interim manager, while former long-serving Union boss Jim Curtin will take over Austin FC at the end of the 2026 campaign — a move that reshapes both clubs’ near-term coaching timelines and leaves Philadelphia searching beyond its most familiar option.
Philadelphia Union part ways with Bradley Carnell as Jim Curtin heads to Austin FC
Bradley Carnell was relieved of his duties following a stricken start to the MLS season, leaving the Philadelphia Union in the basement of the Eastern Conference. Ryan Richter steps in as interim coach while the club begins a search for a permanent replacement — one that will not include Jim Curtin, who has accepted the Austin FC job effective after the 2026 season.
Immediate context: results and standing
The Union failed to register a win through the early stretch, collecting just seven points and one victory in the games leading up to Carnell’s departure. Those results were starkly at odds with last season’s 66-point campaign and a top-table finish, exposing an abrupt and damaging drop-off.
What the Richter interim means
Installing Ryan Richter buys the Union breathing room and stabilizes match-to-match preparation. Interim managers often aim to steady morale and reassert simple tactical identities, but Richter’s role is unlikely to extend beyond a short-term stopgap if ownership pursues a fresh long-term vision.
Jim Curtin’s move to Austin FC and timing implications
Jim Curtin — the long-time Union manager who delivered a Supporters’ Shield and steered the club to the 2022 MLS Cup final — will take charge of Austin FC after the current season. Curtin’s appointment is a headline-grabbing hire for Los Verdes, but the delayed start means Austin must navigate the remainder of 2026 without its incoming leader.
How Curtin’s history shapes expectations
Curtin’s decade at Subaru Park built a reputation for organizational stability and consistent competitiveness: playoff regularity, domestic final appearances, and infrastructure alignment with club identity. That pedigree suggests Austin is betting on sustained culture-building rather than a quick fix.
What this means for both clubs
For Philadelphia, the timing is awkward. A midseason coaching change forces a rapid reassessment of tactical direction, roster usage, and short-term targets. The Union must decide whether to prioritize a seasoned MLS manager who can deliver immediate results or a long-term architect to rebuild the club’s trajectory.
For Austin FC, announcing Curtin now provides a clear succession plan but does nothing to arrest current results; 14 points from 15 games underline how much work remains. The club’s leadership will need to bridge the gap between present performance and Curtin’s future vision.
Wider MLS implications
This pairing of moves highlights an emerging theme in MLS: clubs are willing to separate loyalty and legacy when immediate results are lacking, yet still prize continuity and proven leadership in long-term hires. Curtin’s transfer from one MLS project to another underscores the league’s managerial market becoming more insular and relationship-driven.
Next steps and likely scenarios
Expect the Union to shortlist candidates who can deliver stability and quick tactical clarity. Internal promotion remains plausible, but ownership may prefer an experienced MLS head with a track record of turning around underperforming sides.
Austin’s task is execution: ensuring interim coaching structures keep points accruing while Curtin prepares his offseason blueprint. Once Curtin arrives, roster and tactical shifts should follow, but meaningful change will require time.
Bottom line
Philadelphia’s decision to cut ties with Carnell is a clear signal that last season’s success buys little patience after a rapid decline.
Jim Curtin’s move to Austin is logical for both parties, but the delayed handover leaves both clubs in limbo — one scrambling to stop a slide, the other planning a reset from a distance.
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