The Philadelphia Union, MLS's newest expansion team, will introduce Peter Nowak as its first head coach at a press conference on Friday, sources told Soccer By Ives on Wednesday. Nowak, the only man to ever win an MLS Cup as a player and head coach, will leave his post as U.S. national team assistant coach to take over as head coach for the Union, which is set to begin play in 2010.

A decorated player for the Polish national team, Nowak left a long career in Europe to play in MLS, which he joined in 1998 with the Chicago Fire. Nowak captained the Fire to the 1998 MLS Cup title and U.S. Open Cup title, earning a reputation as one of the best central midfielders the league history.

After retiring as a player, Nowak made a seamless transition to coaching, taking over as D.C. United head coach a year after completing a five-year career with the Fire. Known for his no nonsense approach, Nowak led D.C. to the MLS Cup title in 2004, his first season in charge. He spent three years as D.C. United's head coach, compiling a 42-27-25 record during that time. Nowak left D.C. after the 2006 season and joined Bob Bradley's coaching staff after Bradley was named U.S. national team head coach. Nowak served as head coach of the U.S. Under-23 national team, guiding it to an appearance in the 2008 Olympics in China, where the United States finished 1-1-1. Read the original story...