Carnell debuts at new coaching job this weekend

Former South African defender Bradley Carnell debuts as coach of Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer when they take on Orlando City away on Saturday.

Carnell returns to the bench in the league after being fired by St Louis City midway through the last season.

Carnell was appointed Union’s coach at the start of 2025 as only the fourth head coach in the franchise’s 16-year history.

The 48-year-old guided St. Louis City to a 17 wins, 12 draws and five losses in their first league season in 2023 when they finished top of the standings in the regular season.

But Carnell had won only three of 17 matches in 2024 before he was dismissed on July 1 last year.

Welcome to Philly, Coach Carnell! 🐍

Philadelphia Union name Bradley Carnell as the fourth head coach in club history.

📝 https://t.co/gUOpjUUBN8#DOOP pic.twitter.com/bDRKtIrtDh

— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) January 2, 2025

The former Wits University fullback has had almost eight weeks of preparation at his new club with training camps in Spain and Florida.

There is a chance that Olwetu Makhanya could finally get to make his debut in defence after 18 months in Union’s reserve team.

The former Stellenbosch defender left for the United States aged 18 but was not shown much confidence by previous coach Jim Curtin.

Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s Minnesota United play in the league’s opening game away at Los Angeles FC on Saturrday.

Midfielder Katlego ‘Tsiki’ Ntsabeleng, who had his contract at FC Dallas extended last month, starts the new season with an away game at Houston Dynamo in a Texas derby.