Under Jim Curtin, Philadelphia Union have been to three US Open Cup finals and made the MLS Cup Playoffs in two of the past three seasons. And while coaching contemporaries like Peter Vermes and Berhalter were given full control of the soccer decisions at their clubs, Ernst Tanner is the third person brought in above Curtin to run the sporting side of the Union.
This is not a novel observation, but it remains underappreciated: When Earnie Stewart and Ernst Tanner — both experienced soccer men with histories full of success — were given the opportunity to move on from Curtin, they declined.