Philadelphia Union’s Quinn Sullivan looks to take on leadership role in 2025

Union, MLS
Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Union

Despite 2024 not going the way anyone had hoped, 2025 is an opportunity for Sullivan and the rest of the Union to turn the page on the past and to help the team get back to winning ways with a new manager at the helm, which Quinn spoke about that on the latest edition of “Something Brewing: Becoming The U”.

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Sep 22, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan (33) before a free-kick against D.C. United during the second half at Subaru Park. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images

A Fresh Opportunity with Union

“It’s a fresh start, a new coach, a fresh opportunity to make my mark on the field. Everyone has a clean slate, and an opportunity to prove themselves. I think it’s going to look different than last season but I’m super excited for it, hopefully a lot of goals and a lot of wins” – Quinn Sullivan

2024 was Sullivan’s most promising season yet, logging 5 goals and 11 assists in 2,402 MLS minutes during a lackluster season where Union missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017. One way Quinn Sullivan is personally looking to bring more joy back to Subaru Park in 2025, is by taking on a bigger leadership role within the team, and being a voice that can help keep players accountable to the expectations and style of play Bradley Carnell has set in place.

Union, MLS
Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Union

“Not necessarily a goal but something that I’ve been focusing on is trying to be a leader, and that comes in different forms. I think there’s definitely moments where you have to be hard on someone and yell at someone, but there’s also moments to pull them to the side and have just a conversation with them on the field.” – Quinn Sullivan

We’re a few weeks out from the 2025 season, and I don’t think Union is quite finished re-shaping their roster just yet. But no matter who or who isn’t on the team sheet come February 22nd, one thing is for sure – Bradley Carnell’s Union is going to work hard and play aggressive, high-pressing football. No ifs, ands, or buts about it, and pre-season might be weeding out who can and can’t hang.

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Image Credit: Philadelphia Union

“This [pre-season] is where you gotta work, you gotta work your ass off to show that you’re willing to work as hard for your teammate as you are for yourself, to make the run back and to make the run forward – it doesn’t matter which way it is. You gotta work hard and coach has kind of set that example already – we’re gonna play at a super high intensity and we’re going to work really hard, and if you’re not bought in, it’s not going to work out for you.” – Quinn Sullivan

That last sentence really hits hard, especially because the video these quotes are from came out the very day that Union announced Jack McGlynn, who very obviously does not fit Carnell’s system, was being traded to Houston Dynamo in a “Cash for Player” deal.

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Oct 2, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan (33) celebrates after scoring a goal against Orlando City in the second half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

It is clear that Ernst Tanner and Bradley Carnell are dead-set on playing the Energy Drink style of soccer and building their success around that style as opposed to one particular player while leaning on Union’s highly touted academy products to provide depth and a youthful spark. Carnell is going to need players to lead by example if Union wants to get back on track in 2025, and I think 20-year-old Quinn Sullivan taking on some of the responsibility will end up being an important piece of that puzzle and Union’s success.

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Oct 19, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan (33) argues with FC Cincinnati defender Teenage Hadebe (16) as referee Joe Dickerson talks during the first half at Subaru Park. Mandatory Credit: Luther Schlaifer-Imagn Images

Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Union