With the 2024-25 MLS NEXT campaign kicking off this weekend, Philadelphia Union Academy announced today its complete staff for the upcoming season. The Union Academy is coming off another championship-winning season which saw the U-17s become the first MLS side to win back-to-back Generation adidas Cup Championships at the age level.
2024-25 Technical Staff
Under the direction of Director of Academy and Professional Development Jon Scheer, the Union Academy will see the U-18s led by Head Coach Peter McDonnell with Dominik Schleintiz and Jason Lages as assistant coaches. Pedro Cavalcanti joins the club from Inter Miami CF for his first season as Head Coach of the U-16s and will have Thiago Evangelista as an assistant coach. The U-15s will be led again by Head Coach Henry Apaloo with Idrissa Kone serving as an assistant coach while Phil Karn continues to lead the U-14s as well as being the head of the Union’s Mid-Academy Phase. The Union’s U-13s squad will be led by second-year Head coach Willy Topp.
New additions to the Union Academy staff include Chad Balback, as Academy goalkeeper coordinator, Kenta Mizumoto, as Academy Athletic Trainer, and former Union Academy graduate Tiger Graham joining as a Academy data analyst.
Philadelphia Union Academy has also rebranded the Union Development Squad now playing as Union 3 for the 2024-25 season. Union 3 will be led by former Union midfielder Fred da Silva with Ian Hennessy serving as an assistant coach. The squad will compete this fall in the United Premier Soccer League with the season kicking off at Visit Delco Grass Field No. 3 at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex on Sunday, September 8, against New Jersey Alliance.
New MLS NEXT Age Groups
For the 2024-25 season, MLS NEXT has continued to evolve the Pro Player Pathway which MLS academies moving from U-15 and U-17 age group designations to U-16 and U-18 age groups. All MLS academies will compete in the U19 age group and rosters will be made up of U18 players and a limited number of overage players. The new pathway will create greater alignment by providing a higher level of competition for all MLS NEXT players before signing professionally, playing in college, or pursuing other opportunities. The additional year (i.e., shifting U15 to U16) will provide MLS clubs more opportunity to establish clear and effective development paths for each player. MLS teams will compete in the U19 age group at MLS NEXT Fest, MLS NEXT Flex and the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase.
In addition to the team changes, MLS NEXT has adjusted field sizes for the 2024-25 season, becoming the first North American youth soccer league to make fields less than 100 yards long. Field lengths will now be between 86-96 yards and the change will enhance long-term development by introducing players to tighter space and creating situations that prioritize technical ability over physical attributes.
Philadelphia Union Academy opens its new season this weekend as the U-18s, U-16s, U-14s and U-13s host Achilles FC at the Widener University Turf Fields at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex on Saturday, September 7th.
