Happy Friday! An era has officially ended at the Philadelphia Union Academy with the departure of Tommy Wilson, who was named Charlotte FC’s Technical Director earlier this week. The Union play NYCFC on a regulation field on Saturday that will probably not be streamed but we can still hope? That and some enormous news in world football dropped this morning. Let’s get to it…

In the email today:

1. 🐍 An Era Ends with Departure of Union Academy Director

Charlotte FC’s gain is Philadelphia Union’s loss.

Long-time Philadelphia Union Academy director Tommy Wilson has been named the technical director at Charlotte FC, ending his decade-long tenure overseeing one of the most celebrated youth academies in the United States.

“I have had an incredible 10-year journey with the Philadelphia Union,” Tommy Wilson stated in a news release. “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.”

Wilson came to the U.S. from his native Scotland in 2013 and oversaw the transition of the Union’s youth program into a full-fledged academy. He brought with him a track record working in various levels of the Scottish FA and at Rangers FC.

The Union joined the U.S. Soccer Development Academy in 2013-14 and created a second team to compete in the USL Championship in 2016 and more recently in MLS Next Pro. In recent years, Wilson has been more integrated with the first and second team after he was promoted from academy director to Director of Academy and Professional Development in 2021. Thirty-eight players who spent time in the academy went on to sign professional contracts during Wilson’s tenure.

2. 🇩🇰 Two Local Natives Are Now Pro Teammates in Denmark

Reading native Gia Vicari and Bucks County native Ally Clark have both turned pro recently, signing contracts with Odense Boldklub Q of the top flight Danish league Kvinde-DM Liga.

Vicari played locally at FC Revolution, Penn Fusion and The Baldwin School before playing four seasons at Georgetown and a grad season at Rutgers. Clark grew up in Jamison and played for PDA and at Germantown Academy before playing collegiately at Columbia and the University of Colorado.

Odense is currently in first place through 14 matches. The season resumes in mid-March.

Both players contracts run through the summer of 2025.

3. 🏟️ Tweet of the Day: Former William & Mary Winger

4. 💧 Water Cooler: New Player

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• The enormous news in the world of football this morning is the news that Jurgen Klopp will not be returning to Liverpool after this season. Wonder if he has interest in a certain underperforming national team?

• Where are they now? Here’s a list of former Philadelphia Union, Union II and academy players who turned pro.

• Eighty youth teams from the region will be at WSFS Bank Sportsplex in Chester and Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Del. this weekend for the Main Line Friendlies. The boys play on Saturday, followed by the girls on Sunday.

• North Wales, Pa. native Mackenzie Pluck is a non-roster invite participating in preseason with Racing Louisville. Pluck spent her rookie season at Angel City FC last year.

• Villanova will be hosting the women’s Philly Soccer Six Tournament this spring on April 13. It’s one of five dates the Wildcats have on their spring slate, which includes a visit to national power Penn State.

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