The 2022 Philadelphia Union II season was the club's sixth competitive season and first season competing in the inaugural MLS Next Pro.[1]Union II competes in the MLS Next Pro's Eastern Conference. The team is managed by Marlon LeBlanc, his first competitive season with the club.
Background
After taking a competitive hiatus during the 2021 season, by December 2021 Union II was announced as one of the founding clubs of MLS Next Pro.[2]Marlon LeBlanc, who was appointed head coach of Union II in March 2021, would now have his first competitive season with the team.[3] In April 2022, Jose Kleberson was announced as an assistant coach under LeBlanc, after several years coaching in the Union's youth academy system.[4]
Union II's roster construction began with their inaugural signing, Nelson Pierre from the Union academy system.[5] Largely supplemented with first team and academy players, the front office made a marquee signing with José Riasco, paying a reported transfer fee over $1 million.[6]