13 Facts About Jim Curtin

Jim Curtin was born on June 23,1979 and is an American professional soccer coach and former player who was most recently the head coach of the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.

Jim Curtin spent most of his playing career with the Chicago Fire.

Jim Curtin excelled in college soccer at Villanova University, where he was named the Big East Rookie of the Year his freshman year and was named a first-team All-Big East selection in both his junior and senior seasons.

Perceptions that Jim Curtin was not athletic enough to play professionally, and the relative obscurity of Villanova, led to Jim Curtin not being drafted until the third round of the 2001 MLS SuperDraft.

Jim Curtin made his professional debut against DC United at Soldier Field during the second week of the 2001 MLS season.

Jim Curtin was named to the starting line-up after starting tandem Diego Gutierrez and Andrew Lewis received straight red cards in the opening match against Columbus Crew.

Jim Curtin started every game for the Fire in 2003, playing alongside Carlos Bocanegra and helped the team's defense compensate for Bocanegra's loss in 2004.

Jim Curtin would go on to play in more than 200 games for the Fire, which included US Open Cup championships in 2003 and 2006.

In 2014, while serving as head coach of the Philadelphia Union, Jim Curtin was ceremonially retired as a Chicago Fire player.

In November 2012, Jim Curtin was named assistant coach for his hometown Philadelphia Union, under John Hackworth and alongside Brendan Burke and Rob Vartughian.

The Union saw a turnaround of form under Jim Curtin, losing only 5 of the remaining 16 matches in the season and advanced to the US Open Cup final, ultimately finishing runners-up to Seattle Sounders FC in extra time.

Jim Curtin was announced to retain his head coach position for the 2018 season.

Ahead of the 2019 season, Union Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner, announced that Jim Curtin would be retained for the upcoming season on a one-year extension.