Philadelphia Union supporters may not have picked up a U.S. Open Cup Title this week but the week was not a complete loss. On Thursday Union management announced that CEO Nick Sakiewicz would be leaving the club.
The story was first reported by CBS Philly’s Kevin Kinkead .
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In a statement released to the public Union Chairman and Majority Owner Jay Sugarman said, “Nick was instrumental in helping bring a team to Philadelphia and building our organization from the ground up, and we thank him for the dedication and perseverance he showed in those efforts along with his passion for the club. It’s time to move forward now and execute on our plan to bring a winning team to Philadelphia and its fans.”
Sakiewicz has worked with the Union since the team entered Major League Soccer in 2010. His past with the club actually dates back to 2007 when he helped found Keystone Sports and Entertainment. Prior to coming to Philadelphia Sakiewicz served as the President of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and the New York/New Jersey MetroStars.
Despite entering the league under high hopes and the promise of making the playoffs in their second season things have taken a precipitous drop in recent years. The team has not made the playoffs in the past four seasons and has fallen short in the U.S. Open Cup final in the past two seasons. Curious personnel decisions such as selecting goalkeeper Andre Blake with the first overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft then signing World Cup goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi to a Designated Player deal. His curious comments last season implying that it was then-interim coach Jim Curtin’s decision to sign Mbolhi are a sign of a CEO not willing to shoulder the blame.
Perhaps rather than being supremely negative towards Sakiewicz it is better to look at this situation as a positive. Sakiewicz was, depending on who you talk to, a minor or major part in bringing Philadelphia an MLS club. Despite not being in downtown Philadelphia and not fully fulfilling their promise of redeveloping the city of Chester, PPL Park has been an asset to both the team, the league, the greater Phialdelphia area, and U.S. Soccer.
Now with him gone the question for the Union is what comes next. Earlier in the week it was reported by Empire of Soccer’s Dave Martinez that the team was interested in bringing in former Los Angeles Galaxy and MetroStars coach Octavio Zambrano. The Union did deny the report although given the recent dropping of Sakiewicz the denial may have been a bit premature. Of course a new Sporting Director may mean a new General Manager and Head Coach potentially putting Chris Albright and Jim Curtin’s jobs at risk.
Despite Sakieewicz’s ties to the team it was time to move on. Sakiewicz had taken the team as far as he could and to make that next step as a franchise the team needed a different perspective. What that perspective is only time will tell. No matter who takes the job this will be a pivotal winter for the Union.