Union’s first pre-season under a new Head Coach for the first time in 10 Seasons is about to kick off in Marbella, Spain, and what a big pre-season it is for the Blue and Gold. It’s the start of a new era and an attempt to right the ship after failing to make the Playoffs last season for the first time since 2017, firing long-time Head Coach Jim Curtin, and moving on from once-reliable names like Leon Flach and Jack Elliott in the off-season.
But with all that, opportunity arises for many within this squad. With holes in the depth chart to be filled and a manager whose strategy better aligns with Ernst Tanner’s vision, it’s a fresh beginning and a chance for each and every player to impress and get on the good side of new Head Coach Bradley Carnell, who is expected to utilize and rely on promising youthful prospects within Union’s internal pipeline much more in 2025.
5 Union Players Who Need a Strong Pre-Season
Here are a few players I think need a big pre-season ahead of the 2025 season
Danley Jean-Jacques
Danley arrived in Philadelphia late last August, just after Union returned to League Play following their Leagues Cup Semi-Final exit. Danley made 4 starts and played a combined 445 minutes across 8 total games for Union last season. He showed positive aspects of his game on both sides of the ball.
After having an off-season to digest the change of coming to America and a full pre-season with a new Head Coach, I’m hoping to see an even better version of Danley out on the field come February 22nd.
Jesús Bueno
Jesús Bueno is a name I’d love to see get a fresh start under Bradley Carnell. Bueno played just under a combined total of 1,740 minutes across all competitions in 2023 but saw his playing time reduced to just 886 minutes across all comps in 2024.
He’s still just 25 years old and has experience playing in this league, and with the departure of Leon Flach from the midfield, it could open up an opportunity for Jesús Bueno to make an impact during 2025 if he can get going during pre-season under Carnell.
Quinn Sullivan
2024 was a “breakout” year of sorts for Quinn Sullivan despite a lot of the attention going to his younger brother, Cavan. Sullivan featured in all 34 MLS Regular Season matches for Union in 2024, notching 5 Goals and 11 Assists in 2,402 minutes played, which was a large jump in workload from his 681 minutes logged during the 2023 regular season.
Union relied on Quinn for creativity a lot last season, and I anticipate next season being more of the same under Bradley Carnell. The question for Quinn Sullivan is if he has it in him to take the next step and build off a really solid 2024, which I think will come down to having a strong pre-season with his new Head Coach and adapting to the new-ish style of play quickly.
Ian Glavinovich
At the time of writing this, 23-year-old Argentinian Centerback Ian Glavinovich is the only new face Union has added to their roster ahead of the 2025 season and is one player they need to hit the ground running in pre-season.
After moving on from Jack Elliott and watching him sign with Chicago Fire as a free agent in the off-season, and selling Damion Lowe to Saudi Pro League’s Al Akhdoud last August, Glavinovich is seemingly set to slot into the starting CB spot next to Jakob Glesnes to start the 2025 season. Having a productive pre-season with his new team and a new Head Coach will be vital to Glavinovich’s transition to MLS.
Neil Pierre
I’m still unsure if he’s made the trip to Spain or if he’ll meet up with the team for the 2nd half of pre-season down in Florida, but Neil Pierre, who doesn’t even turn 18 until October of 2025, is one of the best young players Union have and is one you should keep your eye on over the next few years. Though he’s young, he brings size and a physical presence to the pitch with his 6-foot-4-inch frame, and he has the ability to ping the ball across the field and put it right in the path of his intended target time and time again.
He was really impressive with Union II last season, and with the departure of Jack Elliott, he seems to be the next player in Union’s pipeline who’ll get a shot at making the transition to the first team. I’m not sure we’ll see a ton of Neil Pierre with the first team in 2025, but a solid pre-season could help make the young kids jump up to the first team a little more comfortable for him. If he doesn’t get swiped by another club, expect to see Neil Pierre making his MLS debut in the near future.
Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images
