Jim Curtin Extends Philadelphia Union Contract Through 2026

The Philadelphia Union manager signed a new deal with his hometown club through the 2026 season.

Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin’s contract extension was officially announced on Tuesday afternoon.

The long-time head coach of the franchise had his deal guaranteed through the 2026 Major League Soccer season.

“It feels great. I think the game of soccer has grown a ton in this country. I’m grateful to Jay Sugarman, Richie Leibowitz, Richie Graham, our owners, Ernst Tanner for showing faith in me, to my wife and kids, this is where we want to be. This is home for us. I’m proud of the work we’ve done here in a lot of ways. I’m proud of the consistency,” Curtin said on Tuesday.

Owner Jay Sugarman and sporting director Ernst Tanner provided their thoughts on the deal through a club press release.

“Jim is one of the top coaches in the league and we’re thrilled to have come to an agreement to extend his leadership with the Union,” Sugarman said. “We have set high goals for the club in the coming years and Jim is an essential part of achieving those goals. As we build towards the 2026 World Cup here in Philadelphia, Jim’s leadership is critical to the team’s success and I look forward to watching our players and this team continue to hit new milestones under his direction.”

“Jim continues to bring this team to new heights year after year, proving himself to be one of the most successful coaches in the league as a two-time Coach of the Year,” Tanner said. “His commitment and passion for winning, developing our young players, and steadfast loyalty to this club and city speak volumes to who he is as a coach and as a person. His continued leadership will prove to be crucial to our club strategy going forward.”

Curtin admitted there were overtures from elsewhere while the negotiations were going on.

“There’s always noise and there were different opportunities that came up and different things, but for me, it was always Philly,” Curtin said.