2020 Chicago Fire FC season
Chicago Fire FC 2020 soccer season
The 2020 Chicago Fire FC season was the club's 22nd year of existence, as well as their 23rd in Major League Soccer . This was the Fire's first full year under the ownership of Joe Mansueto following his purchase of the club on September 13, 2019.[ 1] Soldier Field for the first time since 2005.[ 2] [ 3] Atlanta United FC in their first home match. The team also announced a rebrand on November 21, 2019. They became known as Chicago Fire Football Club (Chicago Fire FC) and changed their logo.[ 4] MLS is Back Tournament . After finishing 11th in the Eastern Conference, the team did not qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs .
Current squad
As of March 6, 2020. Sources: Chicago Fire official roster and Official MLS Roster
No.
Name
Nationality
Position
Date of Birth (Age)
Previous Club
Player Notes
1
Bobby Shuttleworth
G
(1987-05-17 ) May 17, 1987 (age 37)
Sacramento Republic
2
Boris Sekulić
D
(1991-10-21 ) October 21, 1991 (age 33)
Górnik Zabrze
International
3
Jonathan Bornstein
D
(1984-11-07 ) November 7, 1984 (age 40)
Maccabi Netanya F.C.
4
Johan Kappelhof
D
(1990-08-05 ) August 5, 1990 (age 34)
FC Groningen
5
Francisco Calvo
D
(1992-07-08 ) July 8, 1992 (age 32)
Minnesota United FC
6
Miguel Navarro
D
(1999-02-26 ) February 26, 1999 (age 25)
Deportivo La Guaira F.C.
International
7
Ignacio Aliseda
M
(2000-03-14 ) March 14, 2000 (age 24)
Defensa y Justicia
International
8
Luka Stojanović
M
(1994-01-04 ) January 4, 1994 (age 31) }
FK Čukarički
International
9
C. J. Sapong
F
(1988-12-27 ) December 27, 1988 (age 36)
Philadelphia Union
10
Álvaro Medrán
M
(1994-03-15 ) March 15, 1994 (age 30)
Valencia CF
International
11
Przemysław Frankowski
M
(1995-04-12 ) April 12, 1995 (age 29)
Jagiellonia Białystok
International
13
Brandt Bronico
M
(1995-06-20 ) June 20, 1995 (age 29)
Charlotte 49ers
14
Djordje Mihailovic
M
(1998-11-10 ) November 10, 1998 (age 26)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
16
Michael Azira
M
(1987-08-22 ) August 22, 1987 (age 37)
Montreal Impact
18
Kenneth Kronholm
G
(1985-10-14 ) October 14, 1985 (age 39)
Holstein Kiel
20
Wyatt Omsberg
D
(1995-09-21 ) September 21, 1995 (age 29)
Minnesota United FC
21
Fabian Herbers
F
(1993-08-17 ) August 17, 1993 (age 31)
Philadelphia Union
22
Mauricio Pineda
D /M
(1997-10-17 ) October 17, 1997 (age 27)
North Carolina Tar Heels
Homegrown
24
Connor Sparrow
G
(1994-05-10 ) May 10, 1994 (age 30)
Nashville SC
25
Nicholas Slonina
D
(2001-03-20 ) March 20, 2001 (age 23)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
27
Robert Berić
F
(1991-06-17 ) June 17, 1991 (age 33)
AS Saint-Étienne
International
28
Elliot Collier
F
(1995-02-22 ) February 22, 1995 (age 29)
Loyola Chicago
30
Gastón Giménez
M
(1991-07-27 ) July 27, 1991 (age 33)
Vélez Sarsfield
International
32
Gabriel Slonina
G
(2004-05-15 ) May 15, 2004 (age 20)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
33
Jeremiah Gutjahr
M
(1997-08-10 ) August 10, 1997 (age 27)
Indiana Hoosiers
Homegrown
36
Andre Reynolds II
D
(2001-05-02 ) May 2, 2001 (age 23)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
—
Chris Brady
G
(2004-03-03 ) March 3, 2004 (age 20)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
—
Javier Casas
M
(2003-05-14 ) May 14, 2003 (age 21)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
—
Brian Gutiérrez
M
(2003-06-17 ) June 17, 2003 (age 21)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
—
Alex Monis
F
(2003-03-20 ) March 20, 2003 (age 21)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
—
Allan Rodríguez
M
(2004-05-07 ) May 7, 2004 (age 20)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
Player movement
In
Date
Player
Position
Previous Club
Notes
Ref
October 10, 2019
Álvaro Medrán M
Valencia CF Signed a TAM contract as a free agent through 2021 with options for 2022 and 2023
[ 5]
October 14, 2019
Michael Azira M
Chicago Fire FC Nelson announced that his option was exercised during a media roundtable
[ 6]
October 14, 2019
Jeremiah Gutjahr D/M
Chicago Fire FC Nelson announced that his option was exercised during a media roundtable
[ 6]
October 14, 2019
Fabian Herbers M/F
Chicago Fire FC Nelson announced that his option was exercised during a media roundtable
[ 6]
November 21, 2019
Raheem Edwards D/M
Chicago Fire FC Option was exercised
[ 7]
November 21, 2019
C. J. Sapong M/F
Chicago Fire FC Option was exercised
[ 7]
December 20, 2019
Nicholas Slonina D
Chicago Fire Academy Signed as a homegrown player for the 2020 season with options through 2023
[ 8]
January 17, 2020
Mauricio Pineda D/M
North Carolina Tar Heels Signed as a homegrown player for the 2020 season with options through 2023
[ 9]
January 18, 2020
Robert Berić F
AS Saint-Étienne Signed to a designated player contract through 2021 with an option for 2022
[ 10]
January 20, 2020
Connor Sparrow GK
Nashville SC Signed for 2020 with options for 2021 and 2022
[ 11]
January 27, 2020
Miguel Navarro D
Deportivo La Guaira F.C. Transferred from Deportivo La Guaira F.C. for an undisclosed amount on a contract through 2022 with options for 2023 and 2024
[ 12]
January 30, 2020
Bobby Shuttleworth GK
Sacramento Republic Signed as a free agent to a contract through 2021
[ 13]
February 6, 2020
Elliot Collier F
Chicago Fire FC Signed after his contract was declined and after a successful trial
[ 14]
February 11, 2020
Wyatt Omsberg D
Minnesota United FC Acquired from Minnesota in exchange for Raheem Edwards
[ 15]
February 15, 2020
Boris Sekulić D
Górnik Zabrze Acquired from Górnik Zabrze on a contract through 2022
[ 16]
February 19, 2020
Ignacio Aliseda M
Defensa y Justicia Acquired from Defensa y Justicia as a Designated Player on a contract through 2023
[ 17]
February 20, 2020
Luka Stojanović M
FK Čukarički Acquired from FK Čukarički on a contract through 2021 with an option for 2022
[ 18]
February 24, 2020
Gastón Giménez M
Vélez Sarsfield Acquired from Velez Sarsfield as a Designated Player on a contract through 2021 with an option for 2022
[ 19]
March 9, 2020
Brian Gutiérrez M
Chicago Fire Academy Signed as a homegrown player through the 2023 season with an option for 2024
[ 20]
March 10, 2020
Javier Casas M
Chicago Fire Academy Signed as a homegrown player through the 2023 season with an option for 2024
[ 21]
March 11, 2020
Alex Monis F
Chicago Fire Academy Signed as a homegrown player through the 2023 season with an option for 2024
[ 22]
March 24, 2020
Chris Brady G
Chicago Fire Academy Signed as a homegrown player through the 2023 season with an option for 2024
[ 23]
March 25, 2020
Allan Rodríguez M
Chicago Fire Academy Signed as a homegrown player through the 2023 season with an option for 2024
[ 24]
Out
Date
Player
Position
Destination Club
Notes
Ref
October 8, 2019
Bastian Schweinsteiger D/M
Retired
[ 25]
October 12, 2019
Nemanja Nikolić F
Fehérvár FC Out of contract
[ 26]
November 12, 2019
Dax McCarty M
Nashville SC Traded in exchange for $50k in TAM and $50k in GAM
[ 27]
November 14, 2019
Grant Lillard D
Inter Miami CF Traded in exchange for $75k in GAM
[ 28]
November 21, 2019
Diego Campos M
FK Jerv Option declined
[ 7]
November 21, 2019
Stefan Cleveland GK
Seattle Sounders FC Option declined; rights traded to Seattle alongside Chicago's 35th overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for Seattle's 26th overall pick
[ 7]
November 21, 2019
Nicolás Gaitán M
LOSC Lille Option declined
[ 7]
November 21, 2019
Aleksandar Katai M/F
LA Galaxy Option declined
[ 7]
November 21, 2019
Cristian Martínez M
Cádiz CF Option declined
[ 7]
November 21, 2019
Amando Moreno M/F
New Mexico United Option declined
[ 7]
November 21, 2019
David Ousted GK
Hammarby Fotboll Option declined
[ 7]
November 21, 2019
Richard Sánchez GK
Sporting Kansas City Option declined; picked up in Round 1 of the 2019 MLS Re-Entry Draft
[ 7]
January 14, 2020
Marcelo DF
F.C. Paços de Ferreira Mutual Termination
[ 29]
February 11, 2020
Raheem Edwards D/M
Minnesota United FC Traded to Minnesota in exchange for Wyatt Omsberg
[ 15]
Unsigned trialists and draftees
The Fire also had several academy players in the camp- Chris Brady (G), Javier Casas (M), Brian Gutierrez (M), Alex Monis (F), and Allan Rodriguez (M).[ 31] [ 32]
Technical staff
Position
Staff
General Manager
Sporting Director
Technical Director
Sebastian Pelzer
Head Coach
Raphaël Wicky
Assistant Coach
Frank Klopas
Assistant Coach
David Zdrilic
Goalkeeping Coach
Adin Brown
Senior Director of Soccer Operations
Eddie Rock
Performance Coach
John Grace
Director of Performance
Ben Donachie
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Raphael Fevre
Massage Therapist
Steven Burrows
Director of Scouting
Matt Pearson
Video Analyst
Nenad Babic
Manager of Team and Soccer Operations
Alex Boler
Equipment Manager
Brian Sauer
Assistant Equipment Manager
Juan Arreola
Head Athletic Trainer
Reade Whitney
Assistant Athletic Trainer
Hillary Bell
Assistant Athletic Trainer
Tyler Golden
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Joshua Blomgren, D.O.
Head Orthopedic Officer
Dr. Brian Forsythe, M.D.
Physical Therapist
Ryan Perry
Standings
Eastern Conference table
Source: MLS
[ 33] Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) total wins per match played; 3) total goal differential per match played; 4) total goals scored per match played; 5) fewest disciplinary points per match played; 6) away goal differential per away match played; 7) away goals scored per away match played; 8) home goal differential per home match played; 9) home goals scored per home match played; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots.
Notes:
Overall table
Source: MLS
[ 34] Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) total wins per match played; 3) total goal differential per match played; 4) total goals scored per match played; 5) fewest disciplinary points per match played; 6) away goal differential per away match played; 7) away goals scored per away match played; 8) home goal differential per home match played; 9) home goals scored per home match played; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots.
(U) U.S. Open Cup winners
Notes:
Match results
Win Tie Loss
Preseason
Major League Soccer
Due to changes in the schedule, this will be the first season where the Fire don't face every club in the league (three clubs in the Western Conference). They did not compete against Real Salt Lake.
Kickoff times are in CST (UTC-06 )
MLS is Back Tournament
Open Cup
Kickoff times are in CST (UTC-06 )
v
Squad statistics
Games played
Goalkeeping statistics
Goalscoring and assisting record
MLS Regular Season
Rank
Player
A
Open Cup
Rank
Player
A
MLS regular season
Cards
Note: Italics indicates a player who left during the season
Player awards
Fire awards
Man of the Match awards
Game #
Player
Position
Notable Statistics
Reference
1
Robert Berić
FW
1 G
[ 39]
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
Note: Italics indicates player left after his first call up
National team call-ups
Costa Rica Francisco Calvo
New Zealand Elliot Collier
Panama Cristian Martínez
Poland Przemysław Frankowski
Uganda Michael Azira
U-23 Team Djordje Mihailovic
Friendly vs El Salvador , October 15
United International Football Festival Semifinal Match vs Brazil , November 14
United International Football Festival Third Place Match or Final vs United Gran Canaria, November 17 U-20 Team Andre Reynolds II
U-17 Team Gabriel Slonina
UEFA Development Tournament match vs Spain , February 19
UEFA Development Tournament match vs England , February 21
UEFA Development Tournament match vs Denmark , February 24 U-16 Team Gabriel Slonina
2019 NIKE International Friendly vs Netherlands, November 14
2019 NIKE International Friendly vs US U-17, November 16
2019 NIKE International Friendly vs Turkey, November 18 Note: Italics indicates player left after his first call up
References
^ "Chicago Fire announce ownership change and relocation | MLSsoccer.com" . September 13, 2019.^ @FireConf (October 5, 2019). "#cf97 will formally announce their move to Soldier Field Tuesday at 10:15 am" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ "Dear Chicago | A Letter from Joe Mansueto | Chicago Fire" . October 8, 2019.^ "Finding the Fire Inside: Our New Badge" . Chicago Fire FC . November 21, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019 .^ "Chicago Fire Soccer Club Acquire Former Real Madrid Midfielder Álvaro Medrán" . Chicago Fire . October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019 .^ a b c "Chicago Fire Soccer Club Exercises 2020 Contract Options for Micheal Azira, Jeremiah Gutjahr and Fabian Herbers" . Chicago Fire . October 14, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019 .^ a b c d e f g h i j "Chicago Fire FC Exercises Contract Options on CJ Sapong and Raheem Edwards" . Chicago Fire . Retrieved November 21, 2019 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Signs Academy Defender Nicholas Slonina" . Chicago Fire . December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Signs Academy Product Mauricio Pineda" . Chicago Fire . January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Slovenia National Team Forward Robert Berić as Designated Player" . Chicago Fire . January 18, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2020 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Goalkeeper Connor Sparrow" . Chicago Fire . January 20, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2020 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires 20-Year-Old Venezuelan Defender Miguel Ángel Navarro" . January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth" . Chicago Fire . January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Re-Signs Forward Elliot Collier" . Chicago Fire . February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020 .^ a b Chicago Fire FC Acquires Defender Wyatt Omsberg from Minnesota United FC | Chicago Fire FC ^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Slovakia National Team Defender Boris Sekulić" . Chicago Fire . February 14, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Argentine Winger Ignacio Aliseda as Young Designated Player" . Chicago Fire . February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Serbian Midfielder Luka Stojanović" . Chicago Fire . Retrieved February 20, 2020 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Argentine Midfielder Gastón Giménez as Designated Player" . Retrieved February 24, 2020 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Sign Academy Midfielder Brian Gutiérrez" . Chicago Fire . March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Signs Academy Product Javier Casas" . Chicago Fire . March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020 .[permanent dead link ] ^ "Chicago Fire FC Sign Forward Alex Monis to Homegrown Player Contract" . Chicago Fire . March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Signs Academy Goalkeeper Chris Brady" . Chicago Fire . March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Sign Academy Product Allan Rodríguez" . Chicago Fire . March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020 .^ "Chicago Fire's Bastian Schweinsteiger announces retirement | MLSsoccer.com" . October 8, 2019.^ @niko_nemanja (October 12, 2019). "Thank you for everything @ChicagoFire ⬇️⬇️⬇️ My letter for YOU #cf97" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ "Chicago Fire Receives $100,000 in Allocation Money from Nashville SC for Midfielder Dax McCarty" . November 12, 2019.^ "Chicago Fire Receives $75,000 General Allocation Money from Inter Miami CF" . November 14, 2019.^ "Chicago Fire FC, defender Marcelo mutually agree to part ways" . January 14, 2020.^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires $100,000 in General Allocation Money, Selects Defender/Midfielder Jonathan Jimenez in 2020 MLS SuperDraft" . January 9, 2020.^ a b c d "Chicago Fire FC announces preseason training camp roster" . Chicago Fire . January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020 .^ a b c d @FireConf (February 17, 2020). "The Fire's current preseason roster. #cf97" (Tweet ). Retrieved February 16, 2020 – via Twitter . ^ "Conference Standings – 2020" . Major League Soccer. Retrieved January 21, 2024 .^ "Supporters' Shield Standings – 2020" . Major League Soccer. Retrieved January 21, 2024 .^ "MLS is Back Group Stage Standings" . Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2024 .^ "MLS Announces Postponement of Tonight's Chicago Fire FC at Minnesota United FC Match" . ChicagoFireFC.com . October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020 .^ "Chicago Fire FC Away Match against Minnesota United FC Rescheduled to November 4" . chicagofirefc.com . October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020 .^ a b c "MLS suspends 2020 season for 30 days due to coronavirus impact" . mlssoccer.com . March 12, 2020. Archived from the original on March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020 .^ @ChicagoFire (March 2, 2020). "@calvo05oficial @AlvaroMedran @gerbercollision One match, one goal for Berić. #SEAvCHI x @Heineken_US" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
External links
Club Stadiums Affiliated clubs Culture Key personnel
Major honors (6)
MLS Cup (1) Supporters' Shield (1) U.S. Open Cup (4)
Major League Soccer
Seasons (28)
International
Club competitions
