After announcing their search to hire a Chief Tattoo Officer, a position unlike any other ever sought after in professional sports, Philadelphia Union has announced that they have narrowed the field of applicants to five finalists after previously announcing 13 semifinalists.

The team received over 150 applications for the position, a field that was initially narrowed down to 40 by Union Vice President of Marketing Doug Vosik. From there, designers and tattoo enthusiasts within the Union front office collectively whittled the field down to 13 semifinalists. After consulting with Union players and select fans, the final five have been announced as follows:

Northern Liberties Tattoo

Bone Daddy’s Tattoo

Philadelphia Tattoo Collective

Davidian Tattoo

Dan Czar Tattoo

“After going from 150 to 13, we are excited to narrow our field of applicants down even further and announce our final five for this exciting position,” said Vosik. “The enthusiasm continues to be unlike anything we could have expected, and now we look forward to visiting these five outstanding, local artists as we move toward selecting professional sports’ first Chief Tattoo Officer.”

The next step of the selection process will see the Union personally visit each of the final five to secure a hands-on evaluation. After announcing the Chief Tattoo Officer, Philadelphia Union will then hold the inaugural event at the tattoo artist’s shop with Vosik, original Sons of Ben member Corey Furlan and a Union player all getting tattoos simultaneously to mark the inauguration of the partnership. More information will be provided as to the final Chief Tattoo Officer selection as well as the inaugural event in the near future