Beach session in Spain -- Tuesday, January 14th
After more than 10 of hours of travel, Philadelphia Union made it to Marbella, swapping below-freezing East Coast temps for 55 degree days and sunny Spain skies.
The travel party featured 29 players including veterans like returning captain Alejandro Bedoya, new faces like 23-year-old Argentinian center back Ian Glavinovich, and promising youth coming up through the club's renowned 'Pathway to the Pros' like Neil Pierre, Sal Olivas, and CJ Olney -- to name a few.
The only player currently asbent from the group is midfielder Jack McGlynn, but for good reason. The 21-year-old Homegrown was called up to the United States Men's National Team's January camp in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, but he's expected to rejoin Philadelphia near the tail end of their trip.
Those in Marbella wasted no time getting to work on Tuesday; less than three hours after checking into the hotel, they traded their boots for bare feet, bussing to the coast for a beach session to shake out their travel legs.
The team's first official training under newly-appointed Head Coach Bradley Carnell will take place on the pitch at Marbella Football Center on Wednesday, but with the team gathered in one place at last, he opened the 2025 campaign with a introductory speech to set the tone for the weeks to come.
Check out some of the best photos from the team's first day back together in the new year.
Wheels up to Spain -- Monday, January 13th
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Bags are packed, boarding passes are in hand, and the Boys in Blue are off to Marbella, Spain for a two-week training stint abroad before their official 2025 preseason kicks off in February.
The trip signals the commencement of a new era for the club -- this year will be Philadelphia Union’s first with a new Head Coach in over a decade, and since this time last year, roster changes have been aplenty.
During the offseason, which began mid-November, players were scattered across the globe, recharging with family and loved ones after a season that left something to be desired.With a new team leader and a collective desire to level-up last year's performance on the pitch, the team is back together once again for their first official outing of 2025.
Philadelphia Union is one of almost 50 clubs that'll send a team to Marbella Football Complex throughout January. During their stay, they'll go head-to-head with two fellow visitors – Czech top division's Slavia Praha and Danish SuperLiga's Aarhus Gymnastikforening.
Training is set to begin on Tuesday, January 14th -- stay tuned for daily updates about the team's trip to Spain on PhiladelphiaUnion.com and the club's official social media channels.
