CHESTER, PA (December 14, 2021) – Philadelphia Union today announced that Assistant Coach, Pat Noonan, has come to an agreement with FC Cincinnati to become their new head coach. Noonan, who has been an assistant coach with the Union since 2018, will join Cincinnati as their head coach effective immediately.
“Pat has done an incredible job during his time with the Union and has been an important piece to the team’s recent successes,” said Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner. “His tactical coaching style and investment in his players have set him up for a successful future. He has our appreciation for the work he has done here and wish him the best in Cincinnati.”
“Pat has been integral to helping the players execute the club’s philosophy on the field and has brought his exceptional attacking acumen as a player to a young group that has improved each season he has been with the club,” said Philadelphia Union Head Coach Jim Curtin. “He is more than deserving of this chance and ready to be a head coach. While we’ll greatly miss him here, I know he’ll be successful going forward as he starts this new challenge and wish him all the best.”
Noonan joined the Union as an assistant coach in January 2018. Over the course of his four seasons in his role, Noonan proved to be essential to the development of young players and the Union’s offensive strategy that played a key role in the club’s first Supporters’ Shield victory in 2020 and their run to the Eastern Conference Finals this past season.
Prior to his coaching career, Noonan played professionally for 10 years. In 2003 he was drafted ninth overall by the New England Revolution where he spent five seasons, earning an All-Star nod in 2004 and a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup victory in 2007. Following his time with the Revolution, Noonan would go on to play for four other MLS clubs, earning two more Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup wins, two MLS Cups, and a Supporters’ Shield victory. Overall, Noonan played 183 regular season matches in MLS, scoring 42 goals and adding 43 assists in that time. Prior to the 2013 season, he retired as a player and joined the Galaxy’s coaching staff where he helped the team win another MLS Cup in 2014. In 2017, Noonan left the Galaxy and joined the USMNT as an assistant coach before joining the Union in 2018. Internationally, Noonan earned 14 caps for the USMNT, scoring one goal.
