Philadelphia Union today announced that Tommy Wilson, Director of Academy and Professional Development, has come to an agreement with Charlotte FC to become their new Technical Director. Wilson, who has been with the Union since 2013, will join Charlotte FC as their Technical Director effective immediately.
“Under Tommy’s guidance, the Philadelphia Union Academy has continuously been named one of the best academies in the country,” said Philadelphia Union Principal Owner, Jay Sugarman. “He has helped us build a key pillar of our competitive strategy and successfully implement our “pathway to the pros” methodologies. He will always be a part of the Union and he has our full gratitude as he begins this next step in his career.”
“Tommy has done an incredible job during his time with the Union and was a crucial piece to our academy’s success,” said Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner. “Over the past two seasons, his newest role of overseeing not only the academy but the overall professional development of our club’s players has helped identify a number of significant players for our pro-player pathway, as well as solidify the club’s commitment to the development of youth in our pipeline. We are greatly appreciative of the work he has done here and wish him the best in Charlotte.”
“I have had an incredible 10-year journey with the Philadelphia Union,” said Tommy Wilson. “I am immensely proud of what has been achieved and leave the Union as an organization that is synonymous with development and acknowledged as the leading club in North America for holistic player development. I thank the entire Union organization and look forward to this next step in my journey."
In the past two seasons, Wilson played a key role in overseeing the signing of 17 players to MLS NEXT Pro contracts, including five from the Union Academy. His player development strategy has yielded impressive results, with 38 players moving on to sign professional contracts and 18 players joining the Union as Homegrown players. Notably, Wilson has significantly contributed to talent identification and development, shaping the careers of notable individuals such as Brenden and Paxten Aaronson and Mark McKenzie.
During his time in Philadelphia, Wilson's efforts were recognized, with the Union Academy named the best Boys Soccer Club in the United States by SoccerWire.com. Additionally, the Academy received the highest overall rating in Major League Soccer from Double Pass, an organization collaborating with U.S. Soccer and MLS to assess and support club academies. In 2022, Major League Soccer honored the Philadelphia Union with the Academy of the Year award.
Wilson's journey within the Philadelphia Union saw him rise to the position of Director of Academy and Professional Development in 2021, a role that integrated his previous position as Academy Director. In this capacity, he had oversight of the Union's entire development pathway, spanning from the Junior Academy to Philadelphia Union II. This involved managing teams, staff members, and players to ensure a unified approach in implementing the club's methodology and development strategy. Before this role, Wilson had served as the Director of Union Academy since its establishment in 2013.
