Former U17 Men’s National Team coach John Hackworth is now with the Philadelphia Union as an assistant coach and is also overseeing the club’s youth development arm, which has already resulted in one professional contract signed, by then 15-year old Zachary Pfeffer.

While the club fields a team in certain youth competitions, each of the players remain with their existing area youth club, a distinct feature for Philadelphia compared to most MLS sides.

Hackworth and Richie Graham of YSC, the club’s youth development partner, discussed the approach with us last month at the U.S. Soccer Summit at  Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.

Tomorrow: Wrapping it Up

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