Former Bafana Bafana defender Bradley Carnell, who successfully led St. Louis City SC to the top playoff seed in their inaugural MLS season, has been appointed as the new head coach of Philadelphia Union on Thursday. He succeeds Jim Curtin, a two-time MLS Coach of the Year who was dismissed in November after a ten-year tenure with the team. “Bradley has the attributes we were looking for in a manager and the experience needed as we commit to getting back to our identity as a team,” said Union sporting director Ernst Tanner. “With knowledge of both MLS and international markets, he is tactically astute and aligned with our sporting strategy. “His approach emphasizes a high-press style of play while organizing a structured defense. Additionally, he shares the club’s vision for developing players. We are confident he will bring a clear sporting philosophy that elevates the team and delivers a competitive season.” During their first year in the league, Carnell guided St. Louis City to the Western Conference title in 2023. However, he was dismissed from the club in July 2024 and subsequently joined the Canadian national team’s coaching staff as an assistant. Throughout his tenure with St. Louis, Carnell compiled a record of 22 wins, 15 losses, and 25 draws. Prior to his time with St. Louis, he had previously held interim and assistant coaching roles with the New York Red Bulls from 2017 to 2021. “I’m excited for this opportunity to build upon an already solid foundation and aim to help raise the Union organisation to the next level,” said Carnell. A former defender who competed in the German Bundesliga, Bradley Carnell represented South Africa at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. During his international career, he earned 42 caps for the national team. In his domestic playing career, Carnell featured for prominent South African clubs including Wits University, Kaizer Chiefs, and SuperSport United.