Philadelphia Union
Former captain Ryan Richter named head coach of Philadelphia Union II

The first captain of Philadelphia Union’s second team is taking over the reigns as the club’s fourth head coach. Ryan Richter succeeds Marlon LeBlanc, who led the team to the MLS Next Pro final in his fourth season at the helm.
“Ryan’s new role as head coach of Union II is a great testament of our commitment to developing talent not only in our players, but also in our coaches and staff,” said Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner in a news release. “His dedication and alignment to our club’s philosophy makes him a great leader and mentor for players coming through the Union pipeline. We’re excited to see him continue to grow and contribute to the overall success of the organization.”
Richter, a three-sport star and William Tennant High School grad from Southampton, starred at La Salle from 2007-2010, spent summers playing for Ocean City Nor’easters from 2008-2010 and was drafted by the Philadelphia Union in the 2010 SuperDraft. He ended up playing in MLS for Toronto FC and also had stints with the Charleston Battery and Ottawa Fury before returning home to captain Bethlehem Steel in their inaugural season. He finished out his pro career with the New York Cosmos in NASL.
“We are incredibly excited to name Ryan Richter as the next head coach of Union II. Ryan’s experience across our entire pathway has given him a deep understanding of our club’s values, both on and off the pitch,” said Jon Scheer, Philadelphia Union’s Director of Academy and Professional Development. “I am confident Ryan will build upon the unprecedented success Union II achieved last year, while remaining steadfast in his commitment to our core mission of developing players who can ultimately contribute to the sustainable success of our First Team in MLS.”
Prior to his first team assistant coach role, Richter served as the head coach of the Union Academy U15s, which he led to the organization’s first MLS Next Cup final appearance in 2021. He also served as the Director of the Philadelphia Union Junior Academy and as a coach with the Union Academy U12s and U17s.