2011 Philadelphia Union season

The 2011 Philadelphia Union season was the second season of the team's existence, competing in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The team was managed by former MLS player Peter Nowak, in his second season with the club.

Background
At the end of the 2010 season, Philadelphia was 7th in the Eastern Conference, which unfortunately was not enough to get them into the MLS Playoffs. During the off-season, the team lost Fred, Seitz, Salinas, and Moreno through re-entry and expansion drafts. The Union did acquire 2 new players before the 2011 SuperDraft in January: one through trade (Brian Carroll from Columbus Crew) and their first homegrown player (Zach Pfeffer). In the MLS SuperDraft, Philadelphia had selected three new players for the team: Zac MacMath (GK from University of Maryland and 5th pick overall), Michael Farfan (M from University of North Carolina, 23rd overall) and Levi Houapeu (F from University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 41st overall). During the Supplemental Draft, the Union picked up another 3 players: Ryan Richter (MF/F), Josh Walburn (D) and Matt Marcin (MF).

Shortly after the SuperDraft, the team released MF Toni Ståhl, who had only played a handful of minutes with the team in 2010, and was sent off in the first game of the season with 2 yellow cards. Toward the end of January, Philadelphia released their other goalie from the 2010 season, Brad Knighton.

On January 20, Philadelphia introduced two new players: Colombians Faryd Mondragón (GK) and Carlos Valdés (D). Mondragón had recently come from playing with F.C. Cologne in the German Bundesliga, and has at least 50 caps with the Colombia nationaltTeam. Valdés comes from Club Independiente Santa Fe in the Colombian First Division, where he served as captain before coming to Philadelphia.

On January 11, the Union became the 13th team in the MLS to gain a shirt sponsor. Bimbo Bakeries USA will sponsor the team in exchange for US$12 million (three million for four years). Bimbo Bakeries has sponsored other teams in Mexico and Costa Rica, but this is their first time in the MLS.

Preseason
Philadelphia Union will play their first pre-season game against the U-17 US Men National Team on February 6. They will then play two friendlies against university teams, University of South Florida and University of Central Florida, on February 10 and 13 respectively. Their last pre-season game in Orlando will be against Orlando City, a new team in the USL Professional Division, on February 19.

The club announced the signing of former MLS Most Valuable Player Carlos Ruiz on February 22.

March
Philadelphia Union's first game will be away against Houston Dynamo on March 19. Their first home game at PPL Park will be against the Vancouver Whitecaps on March 26.

2011 roster
As of September 23, 2011.

MLS regular season
The Union are 11-8-15 overall, 7-1-9 at home, 4-7-6 on the road.

MLS Reserve League
The Union Reserves are 2-7-1 overall, 2-3-0 at home, 0-4-1 on the road.

League table
Conference

Overall

Squad breakdown
Ages are as of March 19, 2011 (the date of their season opener).

Statistics
Statistics are from all MLS league matches.

* = Not currently part of team.

Goalkeepers
* = Not currently part of team.

Statistics
Statistics are from all MLS Cup Playoffs matches.

Allocation ranking
Philadelphia is in the #17 position in the MLS Allocation Ranking. The allocation ranking is the mechanism used to determine which MLS club has first priority to acquire a U.S. National Team player who signs with MLS after playing abroad, or a former MLS player who returns to the league after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee. Philadelphia started 2011 ranked #5 on the allocation list and used its ranking to acquire Freddy Adu. A ranking can be traded, provided that part of the compensation received in return is another club's ranking.

International roster spots
Philadelphia has 8 international roster spots. Each club in Major League Soccer is allocated 8 international roster spots, which can be traded. Philadelphia has not dealt or acquired any spots in trades. There is no limit on the number of international slots on each club's roster. The remaining roster slots must belong to domestic players. For clubs based in the United States, a domestic player is either a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident (green card holder) or the holder of other special status (e.g., refugee or asylum status).

Future draft pick trades
Future picks acquired: 2012 SuperDraft Round 2 pick acquired from Sporting Kansas City; 2013 SuperDraft Round 2 pick acquired from FC Dallas.

Future picks traded: None.