History of Chicago Fire

Club Overview

The club was founded on October 8, 1997. They are the most successful club in the modern U.S. Open Cup, winning championships in 1998, 2000, 2003, and 2006. Chicago's chief rival is FC Dallas. Since 2001, the two teams compete annually for the Brimstone Cup (established by the fans of both teams), which goes to the victor in 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. The Fire originally played at Soldier Field, but now have their own stadium, Toyota Park at 71st and Harlem Avenue. Toyota Park is owned by the Village of Bridgeview and operated by the owners of the Fire, Andell Holdings -- who purchased the club in 2007. The Fire also keeps a close connection with its predecessor team the Chicago Sting by holding frequent commemmorative events, reunions, and wearing Sting-inspired shirts.

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 imported both established international talent such as Peter Nowak, Lubos Kubik, Hristo Stoichkov, Tomasz Frankowski, and Cuauhtémoc Blanco; and younger developmental players like Damani Ralph, Ivan Guerrero, Bakary Soumare, and Patrick Nyarko.

Club History

Founded on the anniversary of the Great Fire in a 1997 ceremony at 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 captain for 5 years) it was the young American players that overall proved most successful and integral to success continuing to this day. The club, against all expectation, completed the "double" in 1998: beating DC United in the league final at the Rose Bowl to take the MLS Cup, and a week later defeating the Columbus Crew in Chicago to win the U.S. Open Cup.

Success continued for several seasons to come, reaching the 2000 MLS Cup Final (only to lose to Kansas City) and winning the 2000 U.S. Open Cup. Notable internationally seasoned players like Hristo Stoitchkov, and young American talents such as DaMarcus Beasley competed for the club's first head coach, Bob Bradley.

After spending the season exiled to play in west suburban Naperville, Illinois while Soldier Field underwent massive renovations, Coach Bradley left unexpectedly after the 2002 season to lead the MetroStars, the club from his home state of New Jersey. After an extensive search the team selected Dave Sarachan, the top assistant on the US national team, to lead the Fire. Chicago, returning to play again at Soldier Field, qualified for the 2003 league final, capturing the 2003 MLS Supporters' Shield (awarded for the league's best regular season record) and winning the 2003 U.S. Open Cup. 2003 also saw team captain Peter Nowak retire and take a position in the front office, only to depart a year later to become coach at DC United. New talents emerged for the team, including Jamaican striker Damani Ralph and Justin Mapp. The growing strength of the Eastern Conference made Chicago's league life more difficult in ensuing seasons, and they missed the playoffs in 2004 for the first time in their history.

The 2005 season began abruptly with the unexpected dismissal of popular club president Peter Wilt by owners AEG despite the brokering of a $100m stadium deal in Bridgeview, and replaced him immediately with Metrostars executive John Guppy; a move decried by most fans, many players, and club staff. The year was also notable for the blockbuster exhibition match against A.C. Milan and the shocking 4-0 away defeat of DC United in the first round of the league playoffs.

In 2006, the club moved from Soldier Field into a $100m purpose-built 20,000 capacity stadium at the corner of 71st Street and Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview, on the southwest side of Chicago. A unspectacular league campaign followed, but an impressive cup run led to the 2006 U.S. Open Cup title.

Despite a record of consistent success throughout its history, especially in the U.S. Open Cup, the anxiety to win another league title continued to grow. Coach Sarachan entered 2007, his fifth season in charge, under intense pressure from fans and the club to produce a league championship sooner rather than later. On April 3, 2007, the Fire signed Mexican international and América star Cuauhtémoc Blanco to a Designated Player contract. Blanco would join the team at the conclusion of his contract with Club America that June. Although the exact salary details were not disclosed per policy, Blanco would be under contract with the Fire until 2009. After a 3-0-1 start, the Fire won only one game of their next eight, leading to Sarachan's dismissal. John Guppy, after a brief search, named Millionarios manager Juan Carlos Osorio as head coach.

On September 6, 2007, Andell Holdings, a Los Angeles-based private investment firm with global business and investment interests controlled by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Hauptman, announced their acquisition of AEG's interests in the Chicago Fire Soccer Club and Toyota Park. While not officially disclosed, reports estimated the purchase price to be upwards of $35 million. Behind Blanco and the acquisition of Osorio's central defender at Millionarios, Wilman Conde, the Fire went on an extended unbeaten run to close the season and qualify for the playoffs; only to fall to New England again in the Eastern Final at Gillette Stadium.

On December 10, 2007, the club announced the resignation of Juan Carlos Osorio. Osorio was named head coach of Red Bull New York on December 18, 2007. Chicago were compensated by New York for Osorio's hiring with draft picks and cash. Owner Andrew Hauptman filed tampering charges with the league in protest of RBNY's handling of the matter.

On January 17, 2008, former Fire star Frank Klopas was named Technical Director in charge of player personnel, and longtime assistant Denis Hamlett was appointed head coach. Former Fire assistant and Dallas manager Mike Jeffries and retired Fire legend Chris Armas were hired as assistants.

In preparation for the 2008 season, Chicago signed Polish international forward Tomasz Frankowski, recently of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Lider Marmol. However, the club failed to reach an agreement on a contract for both starting goalkeeper Matt Pickens who departed for Queens Park Rangers F.C. and their drafted US U23 international Dominic Cervi.

On April 11th 2008, club owner and Chairman Andrew Hauptman relieved president John Guppy of his duties effective immediately. It is believed the removal of Guppy was due directly to the mishandling of the Juan Carlos Osorio departure over the past offseason. Javier León, head of Andell Sports (the club's holding company)) will become the interim president while a search is conducted; but many fans are already calling for the reinstatement of former club president Peter Wilt.

Club Rivalries

FC Dallas
New England Revolution
Columbus Crew

Stars of the Current Squad

Cuauhtémoc Blanco
Tomasz Frankowski
C.J. Brown
Justin Mapp
Chris Rolfe
Jon Busch
Bakary Soumare

Club Legends

Ante Razov
Chris Armas

Most Appearances

Most Goals

Most Assists

* = Currently Active

Records Current as of 25 May 2008

Player Recognition & Awards

MLS Goalkeeper of the Year

1998- Zach Thornton
2008- Jon Busch

MLS Rookie of the Year

2000- Carlos Bocanegra
2003- Damani Ralph

MLS Defender of the Year

1998- Lubos Kubik
2002- Carlos Bocanegra
2003- Carlos Bocanegra

MLS Comeback Player of the Year

2003- Chris Armas

Ring of Fire

Peter Nowak- 2003
Frank Klopas- 2004
Lubos Kubik- 2005

Club Honors

MLS Cup: 1998, Runners-up 2000, 2003
MLS Supporters' Shield: 2003, Runners-up 2000, 2001
US Open Cup: 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, Runners-up 2004

Club Management

Club President- Javier Leon
General Manager- Javier Leon
Head Coach- Denis Hamlett
Assistant Coach- Daryl Shore

Uniforms

2008 Away Shirt

2008 Home Shirt

Stadium

Soldier Field- 1998-2001
Cardinal Stadium- 2002-2003
Soldier Field- 2004-2005
Toyota Park- 2006-

Sponsors

Best Buy- 2008-

Important Links

Official Site- <http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/t100/>

References

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Fire_%28soccer%29> <http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/mls/history/alltime_leaders.jsp?team=t100>