Philadelphia’s Jim Curtin named MLS Coach of the Year

By: Anne M. Peterson, The Associated Press Posted: 4:17 PM CST Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020 Last Modified: 4:18 PM CST Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020

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Philadelphia Union coach Jim Curtin has been named Major League Soccer's Coach of the Year.

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Philadelphia Union coach Jim Curtin has been named Major League Soccer's Coach of the Year.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/11/2020 (2149 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Philadelphia Union coach Jim Curtin has been named Major League Soccer’s Coach of the Year.

Curtin led the team to its first Supporters’ Shield as the Union finished the coronavirus-shortened season with a league-best 14-4-5 record.

Philadelphia averaged 2.04 points per game to finish atop the league and allowed a league-low 20 goals.

FILE - In this May 25, 2019, file photo, Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin looks on before an MLS soccer match against the Portland Timbers in Chester, Pa. Curtin has been named Major League Soccer's Coach of the Year on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

“Fortunately, I had a group of players who went out on the field and really, really performed each and every day,” Curtin said. “We just try as coaches to create an environment where they can learn and grow and improve, and that’s what we think we’ve done a decent job of this year.”

Curtin, 41, is a native of Pennsylvania and was a defender for the Chicago Fire and Chivas USA during his nine-year playing career in MLS.

He was a coach in the Union’s academy and became an assistant for the first team in 2012, then was named head coach two years later.

The Union will open the post-season on Nov. 24 against a play-in round opponent.

The 2020 Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year award was voted on by MLS team technical staffs, players and the media. Curtin won nearly 44% of the total vote. Orlando’s Oscar Pareja finished as runner-up with 24% of the vote.

Earlier post-season award winners include LAFC forward Diego Rossi, who was named the Young Player of the Year. Rossi, 22, also won the Golden Boot with 14 goals and four assists this season.

LAFC’s Bradley Wright-Phillips was named the Comeback Player of the Year after finishing with eight goals and six assists.

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