Ernst Tanner, the academy director at FC Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, will replace Earnie Stewart as the new sporting director of the Philadelphia Union, writes Ryan Rose for The Philly Soccer Page.

Tanner has an extensive managerial background in German and Austrian leagues. He was academy director for TSV 1860 Munich for six years until 2009, when he moved to the same position at the Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim. Within a year, Tanner was promoted to sporting director and spent two years in that position, before moving to FC Red Bull Salzburg in 2012.

The announcement of Tanner as the Union’s new sporting director parallels the team’s focus on youth development. Throughout his career, Tanner has developed a number of big names that include U.S. National Team striker Bobby Wood and Dortmund defender Sven Bender.

This helped Tanner develop a strong reputation across Europe for youth development, and his ability to transfer players for profit made him the ideal fit for the Union.

Read more about the Philadelphia Union’s new sporting director from The Philly Soccer Page by clicking here.

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