Playing position Name Jim Curtin Spouse Jen Curtin 1997–2000 Villanova Wildcats Role Soccer player Children Ryan Curtin | Years Team Height 1.93 m Siblings Jeff Curtin 2001–2008 Chicago Fire Salary 104,004 USD (2009) | |
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Date of birth (1979-06-23) June 23, 1979 (age 36) Place of birth Oreland, Pennsylvania, United States Similar People Sebastien Le Toux, Nick Sakiewicz, John Hackworth, Raymon Gaddis, Zach Pfeffer | ||
Jim curtin retires as a chicago fire player
Jim Curtin (born June 23, 1979) is a retired American soccer player and currently the head coach for the Philadelphia Union. Curtin spent most of his playing career for the Chicago Fire.
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College
Jim grew up in Oreland, Pennsylvania and played high school soccer at Bishop McDevitt and college soccer at Villanova University. Curtin excelled at Villanova, being named the Big East Rookie of the Year his freshman year, and taking home first-team All-Big East selections his junior and senior seasons.
Professional
Following graduation, Curtin became the first Wildcat to be drafted by the MLS when he was selected by the Chicago Fire. Perceptions that Curtin was not athletic enough to play professionally, and the relative obscurity of Villanova, led to Curtin not being drafted until the third round of the 2001 MLS SuperDraft. He would go on to play in more than 200 games for the Fire, which included U.S. Open Cup championships in 2003 and 2006. He was a 2004 MLS All-Star and the March of Dimes/Comcast Athlete of the Year in 2005. In 2001, the Fire sent Curtin on loan to the Milwaukee Rampage in three early-season games and for the USL A-League playoffs. In his rookie year Curtin saw spot duty, starting 12 games and playing a total of 1194 minutes. In his second year, Curtin secured a starting spot on the team, started 22 games and played 2121 minutes. 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. On January 22, 2008, he was traded to Chivas USA for a conditional pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. Curtin was waived by Chivas USA on January 26, 2010.
Coaching career
On November 29, 2012, Curtin was named assistant coach for his hometown Philadelphia Union.
On November 7, 2014, the Philadelphia Union announced that, after a successful season, Curtin would take the reins as the head coach—removing the "interim" title he had held previously.
On April 23, 2016 with a win over rivals New York City FC, Curtin became the most successful coach in Union history.