Philadelphia Union head coach Bradley Carnell has been named the 2025 Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year, following his sensational first season at the helm.

Upon being hired in January, Carnell took the Union from 23rd in last year’s overall league standings to the Supporters’ Shield title with a league-high 66 points. Among all clubs in 2025, Philadelphia had the largest points increase from 2024 (+29).

Philly set a club record with 20 regular-season wins, went undefeated in 16 of 17 home games, and are currently riding a 16-game home unbeaten streak through the regular season and Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Carnell’s Union also boast MLS’s best defense, which features two Best XI selections in Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner. Philly allowed a league-low 35 goals against and tied for the league-low with 349 shots against, while 18 different players scored during the regular season.

In Philly, Carnell took over from two-time Coach of the Year winner Jim Curtin. The South African manager previously led then-expansion side St. Louis CITY SC to the Western Conference No. 1 seed in 2023 and served as interim manager for the New York Red Bulls.

The Coach of the Year award is voted on by MLS club technical staff, media, and current MLS players.

Carnell finished ahead of fellow finalists Jesper Sørensen (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) and Mikey Varas (San Diego FC).

Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year winners

2025: Bradley Carnell – Philadelphia Union
2024: Wilfried Nancy – Columbus Crew
2023: Pat Noonan – FC Cincinnati
2022: Jim Curtin – Philadelphia Union
2021: Bruce Arena – New England Revolution
2020: Jim Curtin – Philadelphia Union
2019: Bob Bradley – Los Angeles Football Club
2018: Gerardo “Tata” Martino – Atlanta United
2017: Greg Vanney – Toronto FC
2016: Oscar Pareja – FC Dallas
2015: Jesse Marsch – New York Red Bulls
2014: Ben Olsen – D.C. United
2013: Caleb Porter – Portland Timbers
2012: Frank Yallop – San Jose Earthquakes
2011: Bruce Arena – LA Galaxy
2010: Schellas Hyndman – FC Dallas
2009: Bruce Arena – LA Galaxy
2008: Sigi Schmid – Columbus Crew
2007: Preki – Chivas USA
2006: Bob Bradley – Chivas USA
2005: Dominic Kinnear – San Jose Earthquakes
2004: Greg Andrulis – Columbus Crew
2003: Dave Sarachan – Chicago Fire FC
2002: Steve Nicol – New England Revolution
2001: Frank Yallop – San Jose Earthquakes
2000: Bob Gansler – Kansas City Wizards
1999: Sigi Schmid – LA Galaxy
1998: Bob Bradley – Chicago Fire FC
1997: Bruce Arena – D.C. United
1996: Thomas Rongen – Tampa Bay Mutiny