Union turn to Curtin as new manager

The two men on the dais Thursday morning at PPL Park could not have dressed more differently.

Union CEO and operating partner Nick Sakiewicz, the man tasked with rebuilding the club once more, wore a patterned shirt unbuttoned at the collar, his sleeves rolled up. Work mode, he called it.

At his right elbow, interim manager Jim Curtin sat in a dark suit, his tie crisply knotted, the mop of red hair from his MLS playing days neatly shorn.

Curtin looked dressed for a job interview. His introductory news conference was his first chance to publicly make his case to hold the manager position permanently. An assistant for the last year and a half, he was elevated to the role Tuesday, when John Hackworth was fired.

"I know I'm a 34-year-old coach. That's the reality of this situation," Curtin said. "I have things to learn. But I do think I know what it takes to win in this league, that's for sure."

As Curtin tries to prove his worth for the job, other candidates will be doing the same. Sakiewicz promised an international search for a new manager, adding he has been "shocked" at the quality of resumés he has received.

"Some really important people want to coach in this league," Sakiewicz said.

Sakiewicz has no timetable for how long the task will take.

"Quickly is not a word I'd use to describe this search. I would say we're going to be careful, very deliberate," Sakiewicz said. "Jim is . . . going to get a very serious kick at the can."

Curtin wants to make the decision difficult for Sakiewicz by winning quickly. The Union will begin play in the U.S. Open Cup next week, and with a win they would play two rounds before MLS regular-season play resumes from the World Cup break June 28.

"We've had a bunch of very good players this year have poor first halves of the season," Curtin said. "We have 18 games left, that's the good news. We have 18 games to get this ship right."

His belief in the talent does not mean Curtin, who played 10 years in the league, will stand pat. He promised shorter, sharper training sessions with less repetition. He wants to save his team's legs for the end-of-season grind.

"I'm going to open this up and say every guy has a new crack. I'm going to really open it up for competition," Curtin said. "A little bit of fear, a little bit of motivation for the guys that have been consistently in the lineup is a good thing."

Curtin named Mike Sorber as his assistant manager and Chris Albright as the new technical director.

Curtin knows what he is getting into as the manager of a Philadelphia sports franchise.

He grew up in Oreland and played college soccer at Villanova.

"My wedding revolved around fourth-and-26 with [the Eagles'] Freddie Mitchell, so I know what goes on here," Curtin said. "I was at the Matt Stairs home run game in L.A. I barely got out of Dodger Stadium alive. I know the ups and the downs. . . . I know the passion [the fans] have."

@ByTimMcManus