Bradley Carnell, who won the 2025 MLS Coach of the Year award for guiding Philadelphia Union to the Supporters' Shield, has been dismissed by the club following a historically poor start to the 2026 season. The Union sit bottom of MLS with just seven points through 15 games, marking a dramatic collapse for a team many expected to compete for silverware.
The downturn compounds an already turbulent offseason. Philadelphia lost leading goalscorer Tai Baribo to D.C. United and other key contributors, while star playmaker Quinn Sullivan has battled injury. Despite these departures, the squad was widely regarded as capable of maintaining its playoff status. Instead, the attack has managed just 18 goals—fewer than most MLS contenders—and the defense has proven equally vulnerable.
A Meteoric Fall from Glory
Carnell's dismissal marks the second dramatic reversal of his managerial career. At St. Louis City SC, he lifted the expansion side to the top of the Western Conference in their inaugural 2023 season, only to be sacked as they collapsed the following year. His Philadelphia tenure followed a similar arc: transformative 2025 campaign that restored hope to a budget-constrained franchise, followed by rapid deterioration in 2026.
Jon Scheer has been promoted from interim to full-time Sporting Director, taking over following the suspension of Ernst Tanner, whose position remains unclear. Tanner was sanctioned by MLS after an investigation into alleged racist, anti-gay, and sexist remarks, though he had previously earned recognition as one of the league's shrewdest operators for maintaining competitiveness with minimal financial resources.
New Leadership and Interim Direction
Scheer, employed by the Union since 2018, assumes control of soccer operations at a critical juncture. Ryan Richter will serve as interim head coach while the club conducts a permanent search. Philadelphia's ownership group has expressed confidence in both appointments, emphasizing a return to the development-focused culture that underpinned their recent successes.
The Union's collapse raises fundamental questions about roster construction and tactical adaptation. With the midseason transfer window approaching, Scheer faces pressure to revitalize an offense that ranks among the league's least prolific. How Philadelphia responds in the coming weeks will determine whether this season becomes salvageable or defines a lost campaign.
