It’s the day before Christmas and the first day of Hanukkah and while the Philadelphia Union gift haul is rather small, the one package that’s been delivered is a big one in the form of 23-year-old Argentine center back Ian Glavinovich.

In the email today:

1. 🇦🇷 Robust, Fast Center Back

The new Philadelphia Union No. 2 Ian Glavinovich gives up plenty of height to the player he is replacing - he’s listed at 6-foot to Jack Elliott’s 6-foot-6 but Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner’s description of him as a “robust, fast center back who’s skillset matches what we are looking for in the position” is reason enough to feel positive about the only offseason move of significance so far.

Yes it’s basically trading a veteran for a younger player with something to prove - his deal is a one-year loan with option to buy - but if you watch some of the video of the Newell’s Old Boys defender you see a player that resembles star left back Kai Wagner more than any of the trees in the Union’s roster from Jakob Glesnes and Olwethu Makhanya to presumed to be promoted Union II teenager Neil Pierre.

The grit and tenacity on display is what Tanner wants to see more of in a defense that took a massive nosedive last season from 26 goals conceded in 2022, 41 in 2023 to 55 in 2024.

2. 🐍 From Curtin to Carnell?

With a week left in the 2024, the Philadelphia Union still have a massive vacancy in the form of a head coach and a technical staff to support that coach.

Thomas Letsch seemed like the ideal Ernst Tanner guy for the job but it turns out he was such an ideal candidate he landed a job at Red Bull Salzburg instead of in Chester. Next.

Enter Bradley Carnell, who strangely was not talked about a ton as a candidate when Curtin was fired. The former St. Louis City manager also fits the mold of a coach who has drank the Red Bull kool-aid and is ready to step in and implement a style of play Tanner claims Curtin was no longer good enough at implementing.

His dismissal from St. Louis was a bigger shock than Curtin’s.

Carnell is currently an assistant under another Red Bull disciple, Jesse Marsch, on the Canadian National Team. That he already understands the nuances of MLS could be helpful in the transition. It would also create a strange timeline where Carnell would replace the former assistant of John Hackworth, who became the interim head coach at St. Louis when Carnell was canned.

3. 👕 Tweet of the Day: Union T-Shirt

4. 💧 Water Cooler: Union Wishlist

Readers Responded to our question of one thing to put on their Union wishlist.

“A Borek Dockal quality #10, and Gazdag can move up to striker.”

“A ‘player’s coach’ that can work with Tanner et al and rebuild the locker room ethic that seemed lost this season.”

“An Aurelien Collin type veteran who is a fan favorite, gives good quotes in the media and can give the team something to talk about that doesn’t involving use of the word homegrown in every other tweet.”

Email us at [email protected].

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• Philadelphia Soccer Now is still accepting nominations this week for year-end awards. Look for an announcement and coverage of the awards this week.

• The Union had the eighth most amount of general allocation money going into the offseason, according to a transparent release of those figures for the first time by MLS.

• Two former Philadelphia Union Academy and FC Delco standouts, a Philadelphia Union Academy grad and a Phelps School grad were drafted in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft.

• Lower Merion SC will have a new president in 2025 with Michele Burns being named to succeed local youth soccer legend Biff Sturla at the club.

• Shawnee girls soccer had an unreal 2024 season going 25-0 and winning the South Jersey high school treble (South Jersey Coaches Cup, South Jersey Sectional and State Championship) and their head coach Drew Wagner has been named a national high school coach of the year.

• Houston in July, Messi in May and a first meeting with a team that is always screaming the City part of its name is on tap for the Philadelphia Union in 2025.

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