Union Name Earnie Stewart Sporting Director

WTXF- PHILADELPHIA - The Phillies aren't the only local team naming a new front office executive on Monday.

The Philadelphia Union announced that Earnie Stewart, a veteran of three World Cups with the U.S. mens' national team, will take over as Sporting Director. Stewart will assume his new position on January 1, 2016.

According to the Major League Soccer club, Stewart will "oversee and guide all Union technical and soccer-related decisions working closely with the Union First Team, USL team and Youth Academy."

"In searching for a Sporting Director, we defined specific criteria we were looking for a candidate to fulfill. Earnie rated highly on all our key metrics. His understanding of the international soccer landscape and viewpoint on Major League Soccer, combined with his experience in player development and strong work ethic, make Earnie an excellent fit for this important role," Philadelphia Union Owner Jay Sugarman said in a statement.

"Earnie's long-term vision and desire to positively impact soccer in the United States aligns closely with our vision for the Philadelphia Union and we are excited to welcome him back to the USA and put him in a position to drive the Union to long term success."

Stewart is currently Director of Football Affairs for the Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, known as "The Cheese Farmers," who compete in the Eredivisie and the Europa League.

The Union recently finished the regular season with a record of 10 wins, 17 losses and 7 ties, good for 9 th place in the 10-team Eastern Conference.