Chicago Fire
From Sports Library
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| Year founded | 1997 | |||
| League | Major League Soccer | |||
| Nickname | La Maquina Roja, Men in Red, CF97 |
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| Stadium | Toyota Park Bridgeview, IL |
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| Coach | Dave Sarachan, 2003— | |||
| Owner | AEG | |||
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| First Game Miami Fusion 0–2 Chicago Fire (Lockhart Stadium; March 21, 1998) |
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| Largest Win Kansas City Wizards 0–7 Chicago Fire (Arrowhead Stadium; July 4, 2001) |
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| Worst Defeat New England Revolution 5–1 Chicago Fire (Gillette Stadium; August 30, 2003) Columbus Crew 6–2 Chicago Fire (Crew Stadium; October 26, 2003) |
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| All-time Top Scorer Ante Razov (76) |
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| Supporter Groups Barn Burners 1871, Fire Ultras '98, Ultras Red-Side, Sector Latino, Mike Ditka Street Crew, Arsonists, L97 |
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| MLS Cup | ||||
| 1998 | ||||
| US Open Cup | ||||
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| 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006 | ||||
| Supporters' Shield | ||||
| 2003 | ||||
The Chicago Fire is a Chicago area professional soccer club with offices in Bridgeview, Illinois, USA. It participates in Major League Soccer. The club was founded October 8th, 1997 on the 126th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. In 1998, their first season in the league, the Fire won the MLS Cup as well as the US Open Cup (the "double"). They have also won the 2000, 2003, and 2006 US Open Cup. The team colors are red and white. While the Fire originally played at Soldier Field, the club now have their own stadium, Toyota Park at 71st and Harlem Avenue. Toyota Park is owned by the Village of Bridgeview and operated by AEG, the owners of the Fire.
The Chicago Fire has had a cooperative agreement with Monarcas Morelia, a Mexican First Division football club, since 2001. The partnership incorporates playing, coaching, and executive personnel, as well as sharing of business and development practices.
The club also has through its reserves program, the Chicago Fire Premier amateur team playing in the Premier Development League, and the Chicago Fire Juniors youth clubs, a substantial youth development system by American standards. It also has a charitable community entity, the FireWorks for Kids Foundation. The Fire also keeps a close connection with its predecessor club the Chicago Sting by holding frequent commemmorative events, reunions, and wearing Sting-inspired shirts.
History
Founded October 8th, 1997 in a ceremony on Navy Pier, the Chicago Fire Soccer Club immediately tapped into the ethnic makeup of its city, bringing in Polish players like Peter Nowak, Jerzy Podbrozny, and Roman Kosecki, Mexican Jorge Campos, and Czech Lubos Kubik. While all showed their talent while playing for Chicago (especially Nowak, the club captain for 5 years) it was the young American players that overall proved most successful and integral to success continuing to this day. They won the "double" in 1998, beating DC United to take the MLS Cup, and a week later the Columbus Crew to win the U.S. Open Cup. They are the most successful club in the modern U.S. Open Cup, winning championships in 1998, 2000, 2003, and 2006.
The club's first coach, Bob Bradley, suddenly and unexpectedly left after the 2002 season to lead the MetroStars, the club from his home state. After an extensive search the club selected Dave Sarachan, the top assistant on the US national team, to lead the team. Chicago qualified for the 2003 league final, after a season that saw them resettle at Soldier Field after being forced to play in west suburban Naperville, Illinois while the stadium underwent massive renovations. Despite this, they amassed the best record in the league and captured the 2003 MLS Supporters' Shield, awarded for the regular season's best record. 2003 also saw club captain Peter Nowak retire and take a position in the front office, only to depart a year later to become coach at DC United. In 2006, the club moved into a brand new purpose-built 20,000 capacity stadium at the corner of 71st Street and Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview, on the southwest side of Chicago.
Despite success consistently throughout its history, especially in the U.S. Open Cup, the team is anxious to win another MLS title. Coach Sarachan, entering his fifth season in charge, has been under pressure from fans and the club to produce a league championship sooner rather than later.
Chicago's chief rival is FC Dallas. Since 2001, the two clubs compete annually for the Brimstone Cup (established by the fans of both teams), which goes to the club that wins the season series between them. While FC Dallas remains the most historically heated rival, recent years have fostered venom between the Fire and the New England Revolution with the clubs ending each other's season every year since 2001.
A number of famous players have worn the Fire shirt, including the US internationals Chris Armas, Frank Klopas, Eric Wynalda, DaMarcus Beasley, Josh Wolff, Tony Sanneh, Carlos Bocanegra, and Justin Mapp; and other Americans like Jesse Marsch, C.J. Brown, Ante Razov, Zach Thornton, and Chris Rolfe. Chicago has also brought in established international talent such as Peter Nowak, Lubos Kubik, Hristo Stoichkov, and younger players like Damani Ralph, and Ivan Guerrero.
On April 3, 2007, the Fire announced that they have signed Mexican international and América star Cuauhtémoc Blanco to a Designated Player contract. However, Blanco would only join the team by the end of the current Mexican football season (Clausura 2007), around June, depending on his current team's performance. Although the exact salary details were not disclosed per policy, Blanco would be under contract with the Fire until 2009.
On July 6, 2007, John Guppy announced that Juan Carlos Osorio would become the teams new head coach. Osorio most recently led Colombian side Millonarios and prior was an assistant manager of Manchester City FC of the EPL. He also was a past assistant coach/conditioning coach in the MLS with Red Bull New York[1].
Club logo and colors
The Chicago Fire logo is derived from the standard style of a Fire Department's crest (also shown by the Chicago Fire Department). The shape is also known as a Florian's cross, often confused with the Maltese cross, and was picked in part due to the wishes of original GM Peter Wilt to create an image that was both as timeless as those of the NHL Original Six and evocative of European soccer. There is a stylized 'C' in the center representing Chicago, similar to the logos of the Bears and Cubs. The six star points around the center reference the four six-pointed stars in the municipal flag of the City of Chicago. The four stars in the city's flag represent the four monumental events in the history of the city, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the 1893 World's Fair, the 1933 World's Fair, and the Fort Dearborn Massacre.
The original Fire shirts in 1998 were chosen because of their resemblance to a Chicago fireman's coat, featuring broad horizontal stripes across the torso and sleeves. The home jerseys were rendered in red and white with "FIRE" in silver on the front; the away shirts were white and black in this same style. Over the years the look has become more stylized but the core idea of the home shirts being all-red with a white horizontal chest stripe has remained constant, even though the uniform manufacturer has changed from Nike in 1998, to Puma in 2003, and then adidas in 2006. Away/secondary shirts have changed over the years from the aforementioned white/black in 1998, to white/navy, and the white/red style currently used. In 2005 a popular light blue-colored third shirt based on the Municipal Flag of Chicago was worn but discontinued during the change in manufacturer to adidas.
Aside from the badge, jersey style, and colors. the club and their fans frequently use the rich civic symbolism of Chicago in materials they produce. The six-pointed Chicago stars are prominent but the light blue color, municipal device (Y-circle), and skyline appear on the club website, scarves, and banners in the stadium. The Municipal Flag is also favored for display by fans of the club; somewhat akin to the use of the flag of Catalonia for FC Barcelona fans - but without the associated nationalism.
Fans
There is a considerable ultras culture for the club, a phenomenon fairly unique in the United States. Ultras groups and fan clubs occupy an area behind the north goal in the Harlem End of Toyota Park (Sections 118 and 117) loosely referred to as Section 8. This term stems from both the numbering of the original sector of Soldier Field they occupied, as well as the American military designation of discharged soldiers declared mentally unfit for service. Section 8 Chicago, the Independent Supporters' Association for the club, oversees the activities of the various groups; the largest include Barn Burners 1871 (the oldest group, established before the club was founded), Fire Ultras '98 (a Polish ultras group), and Ultras Red-Side (a multiethnic ultras group). Other smaller groups are Sector Latino (a Latin "barra"-style group), Mike Ditka Street Crew, Whiskey Brothers Aught Five, Ladder 97, Blitzer Mob and Arsonists. Though emulating varied support styles from Chicago and throughout the world, groups as part of Section 8 are allied and generally fall under the ultras designation. Section 8 Chicago ISA is a non-profit organisation recognised by the state.
Other than the supporters' groups, the club is recognised for its stadiumwide vocal and visual support, especially for important matches. Call-and-response cheering amongst the crowd is commonplace. It is one of the few American sports clubs to engage in the acts of tifo, or visual displays put on by fans before the match to show their pride and inspire the players on the field.
Players
Current roster
As of July 1, 2007
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Changes for the 2007 MLS Season
In
- Mike Banner Signed as draft pick
- Cuauhtémoc Blanco transfer from América of Mexican First Division
- Jon Busch Signed as free agent
- Erik Hort Free transfer from Sparta Prague of the Czech first division
- Jerson Monteiro Signed as draft pick
- Nick Noble Signed as draft pick
- Nate Norman Signed as draft pick
- Bakary Soumare Signed as draft pick
- Osei Telesford Signed as draft pick
- Daniel Woolard Signed as draft pick
- Marcelo Salas Signed as trial
Out
- Craig Capano Released by team
- Ryan Coiner Retired
- Leonard Griffin Released by team, signed for Portland Timbers
- Andy Herron Traded to Columbus
- Nate Jaqua Drafted by Toronto FC, subsequently traded to Los Angeles, then Houston
- Ryan Johnson Failed to reach agreement on new contract
- David Mahoney Released by team
- Jared Montz Released by team, signed for Vancouver Whitecaps
- Adam Ruud Released by team
- John Thorrington Released by team
- Tony Sanneh Failed to reach agreement on new contract
- Zach Thornton Traded to Colorado
- Idris Ughiovhe Released by team, signed for Crystal Palace Baltimore
Notable players
- Chris Armas (1998—)
- DaMarcus Beasley (2000–2004)
- Cuauhtemoc Blanco (2007–)
- Carlos Bocanegra (2000–2003)
- Jorge Campos (1998)
- Frank Klopas (1998–1999)
- Roman Kosecki (1998–1999)
- Dema Kovalenko (1999–2002)
- Lubos Kubik (1998–2000)
- Jesse Marsch (1998–2005)
- Peter Nowak (1998–2002)
- Jerzy Podbrozny (1998–1999)
- Ante Razov (1998–2000; 2001–2004)
- Hristo Stoichkov (2000–2002)
- Zach Thornton (1998–2003; 2005—2007)
- Josh Wolff (1998–2002)
- Eric Wynalda (2001)
Head coaches
- Bob Bradley (1998–2002)
- Dave Sarachan (2003—2007)
- Denis Hamlett (interim) (2007)
- Juan Carlos Osorio (2007–current)[2]
Club presidents
- Robert Sanderman (1997–2000)
- Peter Wilt (2001–2005)
- John Guppy (2005—)
General managers
- Peter Wilt (1997–2005)
- John Guppy (2005—)
Ring of Fire
The "Ring of Fire" was established in 2003 by the Chicago Fire and the Chicago Fire Alumni Association as permanent tribute to honor those who have made the Chicago Fire a proud and successful club over the course of its history. Aside from the initial member, only "Ring of Fire" members can select new inductees, and no more than one can be selected any year. The names of the "Ring of Fire" are prominently displayed in Chicago's home stadium. On July 22, 2006, the first former front office member, ex-General Manager Peter Wilt, was selected for induction into the "Ring of Fire."
- 10 Peter Nowak (inducted 2003)
- 41 Frank Klopas (inducted 2004)
- 3 Luboš Kubík (inducted 2005)
- GM Peter Wilt (inducted 2006)
Honors
- CONCACAF Champions Cup:
- Third-place (2): 1999, 2004
- MLS Cup:
- Winner (1): 1998
- Runner-up (2): 2000, 2003
- MLS Supporters' Shield:
- Winner (1): 2003
- Runner-up (2): 2000, 2001
- US Open Cup:
- Winner (4): 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006
- Runner-up (1): 2004
International competition
- 1999 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
- Quarterfinals v. Joe Public F.C. -- 2:0
- Semifinals v. LD Alajuelense -- 1:1 (Alajuela advance 5:4 on penalties)
- Third place game v. D.C. United -- 2:2
- 2002 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
- 1st round v. CSD Municipal -- 2:0, 1:0 (Fire advance 3:0 on aggregate)
- Quarterfinals v. CA Monarcas Morelia -- 0:2, 2:1 (Monarcas advance 3:2 on aggregate)
- 2004 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
- Quarterfinals v. CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh -- 2:5, 4:0 (Fire advance 6:5 on aggregate)
- Semifinals v. Deportivo Saprissa -- 0:2, 2:1 (Saprissa advance 3:2 on aggregate)
Club records
- Games: C.J. Brown, 222
- Goals: Ante Razov, 76
- Assists: Peter Nowak, 48
- Shutouts: Zach Thornton, 57
MLS regular season only, through 2006
Home stadiums
- Soldier Field (1998–2001)
- Cardinal Stadium (2002–2003)
- Soldier Field (2004–2005)
- Toyota Park (2006—)
Average attendance
regular season/playoffs
- 1998: 17,887/22,677
- 1999: 16,016/8,197
- 2000: 13,387/8,431
- 2001: 16,388/11,239
- 2002: 12,922/9,434
- 2003: 14,005/14,961
- 2004: 17,153/missed playoffs
- 2005: 17,238/11,493
- 2006: 14,088/10,217
- All-Time: 15,419
Famous supporters
- Lupe Fiasco - Hip Hop artist/rapper
- Ozzie Guillen - Chicago White Sox manager
- Carlos Zambrano - Chicago Cubs pitcher
Club system
- Chicago Fire — MLS (First Team)
- Chicago Fire Reserves — MLS Reserves Division (Professional Reserve Team)
- Chicago Fire Premier — USL Premier Development League (4th division) (U20 and U23 Collegiate Amateur Select Teams)
- Chicago Fire Elite — Statewide (U14 to U18 Youth Select Teams); run in conjunction with Illinois ODP
- Chicago Fire Juniors — Local (U-8 to U-23 Youth Club); satellite clubs in Milwaukee, Western Michigan and Mississippi.
Television and radio
Fire matches are televised by Comcast Sports Network of Chicago. Kenn Tomasch, Kenny Stern and Chris Doran are the announcers.
On radio, the Fire have all matches broadcast in Spanish by "La Tremenda" WRTO-AM; Oscar Guzman, Adrian Camacho and Enrique Fernandez handle the announcers duties. All matches are also broadcast in Polish by WNVR with Jacek Zielinski doing the announcing and Leszek Dorosz on commentary.
Year-by-year
| Year | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
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| 1998 | 2nd, West | Champions | Champions |
| 1999 | 3rd, West | Quarterfinals | Round of 16 |
| 2000 | 1st, Central | Final | Champions |
| 2001 | 1st, Central | Semifinals | Semifinals |
| 2002 | 3rd, East | Quarterfinals | Round of 16 |
| 2003 | 1st, East* | Final | Champions |
| 2004 | 5th, East | Did not qualify | Final |
| 2005 | 3rd, East | Semifinals | Semifinals |
| 2006 | 3rd, East | Quarterfinals | Champions |
* Won MLS Supporters Shield
External links
- Chicago Fire Soccer Club Official club website
- Chicago Fire Soccer Club - History Official club history (with photos and uniforms)
- Section 8 Chicago ISA Independent Supporters' Association website
- Barn Burners 1871 Supporter's Group website
- Mike Ditka Street Crew Supporter's Group website
- Ultras Red-Side Supporter's Group website
- Ladder Ninety-Seven SG Supporter's Group website
- The Fire Alarm News and opinion site about the Fire
- Official Fire Message Board, courtesy of BigSoccer
- Chicago Fire Premier, PDL (amateur) Affiliate Club
- Chicago Fire Juniors, Chicago-based Youth Affiliate Club
- West Michigan Fire Juniors, Michigan-based Youth Affiliate Club
- Elm Grove Soccer, Milwaukee-based Youth Affiliate Club
- Chicago Fire Juniors of Mississippi, Mississippi-based Youth Affiliate Club
- Chicago Fire on Wikipedia
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