On December 17, 1993, in
fulfillment of the U.S. Soccer Federation’s promise to FIFA, World Cup USA 1994
Chairman and CEO, Alan I. Rothenberg, announced the formation of Major League
Soccer and unveiled the league logo. After receiving formal bids from 22 cities
to secure a team, signing many top U.S. and international stars, solidifying
financial investment and welcoming key corporate sponsors, MLS unveiled its
plans for the league’s inaugural season on October 17, 1995.
fulfillment of the U.S. Soccer Federation’s promise to FIFA, World Cup USA 1994
Chairman and CEO, Alan I. Rothenberg, announced the formation of Major League
Soccer and unveiled the league logo. After receiving formal bids from 22 cities
to secure a team, signing many top U.S. and international stars, solidifying
financial investment and welcoming key corporate sponsors, MLS unveiled its
plans for the league’s inaugural season on October 17, 1995.
Entering its third season Major League Soccer added twoteams to the league for a total of 12. The young league chose Chicago and Miami
as its candidates for the first round of expansion.
It all began with a legend. On the
126th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, October 8, 1997, an announcement
was made. The new Major League Soccer team assigned to Chicago would be called
the Chicago Fire. Its inaugural season would be in 1998.
126th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, October 8, 1997, an announcement
was made. The new Major League Soccer team assigned to Chicago would be called
the Chicago Fire. Its inaugural season would be in 1998.
The Fire signed quality players,
marketing to its Polish population (2nd largest in the world to Warsaw), and
scored big with Eastern European players. Poland’s national team captain Peter
Nowak was signed by MLS and allocated to Chicago on December 16, 1997. In
addition to Nowak, Jerzy Podbrozny and Roman Kosecki were added to the Fire
roster. Lubos Kubik from the Czech Republic made four international players for
the team. Chicago native Frank Klopas, a former Chicago Sting player, also
signed with the Fire.
marketing to its Polish population (2nd largest in the world to Warsaw), and
scored big with Eastern European players. Poland’s national team captain Peter
Nowak was signed by MLS and allocated to Chicago on December 16, 1997. In
addition to Nowak, Jerzy Podbrozny and Roman Kosecki were added to the Fire
roster. Lubos Kubik from the Czech Republic made four international players for
the team. Chicago native Frank Klopas, a former Chicago Sting player, also
signed with the Fire.
Chicago also targeted its Spanish
population with the signing of Jorge Campos, Diego Gutierrez and Chris Armas.
Campos stayed for one season, but the other two quickly became long-time
regulars and fan favorites.
population with the signing of Jorge Campos, Diego Gutierrez and Chris Armas.
Campos stayed for one season, but the other two quickly became long-time
regulars and fan favorites.
With current U.S. Men’s National
Team head coach Bob Bradley at the helm, the Fire finished third overall during
the regularseason and took the Western Conference’s second seed heading into
the postseason. Bradley’s men advanced in two matches past Colorado and then
defeated top seeded LA Galaxy to advance to the MLS Cup Final, taking on the
only league champion the league had ever known in two-time winners D.C. United.
Team head coach Bob Bradley at the helm, the Fire finished third overall during
the regularseason and took the Western Conference’s second seed heading into
the postseason. Bradley’s men advanced in two matches past Colorado and then
defeated top seeded LA Galaxy to advance to the MLS Cup Final, taking on the
only league champion the league had ever known in two-time winners D.C. United.
Playing at the Rose Bowl in
Pasadena on Sunday, October 25, the Fire went ahead in the 29th
minute when Roman Kosecki finished off a feed from Peter Nowak. The Polish
national team captain would combine with the club’s future all-time leading
scorer Ante Razov on Diego Gutierrez’s effort just before halftime. The two
goals were all the club would need as the Fire became the first MLS
expansion side to win the league championship – a feat that hasn’t been matched
to this day following five more rounds of expansion.
Pasadena on Sunday, October 25, the Fire went ahead in the 29th
minute when Roman Kosecki finished off a feed from Peter Nowak. The Polish
national team captain would combine with the club’s future all-time leading
scorer Ante Razov on Diego Gutierrez’s effort just before halftime. The two
goals were all the club would need as the Fire became the first MLS
expansion side to win the league championship – a feat that hasn’t been matched
to this day following five more rounds of expansion.
Five days later, the club won the
first of four domestic cup crowns, defeating the Columbus Crew 2-1 in extra
time at Soldier Field. Jerzy Podprozny’s 45th minute penalty
put the side ahead going into the half but the Crew’s Stern John equalized just
after the break, pushing the match to extra time. It took only nine minutes of
the additional period for the Fire to clinch its memorable “American Double”
when Chicago soccer legend Frank Klopas pounded home the winner from close
range in front of a jubilant Fire crowd.
first of four domestic cup crowns, defeating the Columbus Crew 2-1 in extra
time at Soldier Field. Jerzy Podprozny’s 45th minute penalty
put the side ahead going into the half but the Crew’s Stern John equalized just
after the break, pushing the match to extra time. It took only nine minutes of
the additional period for the Fire to clinch its memorable “American Double”
when Chicago soccer legend Frank Klopas pounded home the winner from close
range in front of a jubilant Fire crowd.
The club had a chance at the
double again in 2000 welcoming in the likes of Barcelona legend Hristo
Stoitchkov as well as rookies DaMarcus Beasley and current U.S. Men’s National
Team captain Carlos Bocanegra. The side finished atop the Central Division
while losing out on the Supporters Shield (awarded to the team with the best
regular season record) on a tie breaker with the Kansas City Wizards. Still,
the Fire advanced past the New England Revolution with ease, drubbing the
club’s continuous playoff foe 6-0 in the 2nd leg of the series. It
took three matches in the league semifinal to dispatch the MetroStars, but the
Fire advanced for an MLS Cup Final date with MLS regular season champion Kansas
City.
double again in 2000 welcoming in the likes of Barcelona legend Hristo
Stoitchkov as well as rookies DaMarcus Beasley and current U.S. Men’s National
Team captain Carlos Bocanegra. The side finished atop the Central Division
while losing out on the Supporters Shield (awarded to the team with the best
regular season record) on a tie breaker with the Kansas City Wizards. Still,
the Fire advanced past the New England Revolution with ease, drubbing the
club’s continuous playoff foe 6-0 in the 2nd leg of the series. It
took three matches in the league semifinal to dispatch the MetroStars, but the
Fire advanced for an MLS Cup Final date with MLS regular season champion Kansas
City.
In a match played on October 15
at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., Kansas City ran out to an early lead through
Danish international Miklos Molnar’s 11th minute strike. The Fire
responded by barraging Wizards keeper Tony Meola with 22 shots, forcing the
U.S. international to make an MLS Cup Final record 10 saves. The better
team on the day, the Fire’s high-powered offense featuring internationals
Stoitchkov, Nowak, Razov, Beasley and Josh Wolff couldn’t get past Meola and
the side fell in the final 1-0 in front of almost 40,000 fans in D.C.
at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., Kansas City ran out to an early lead through
Danish international Miklos Molnar’s 11th minute strike. The Fire
responded by barraging Wizards keeper Tony Meola with 22 shots, forcing the
U.S. international to make an MLS Cup Final record 10 saves. The better
team on the day, the Fire’s high-powered offense featuring internationals
Stoitchkov, Nowak, Razov, Beasley and Josh Wolff couldn’t get past Meola and
the side fell in the final 1-0 in front of almost 40,000 fans in D.C.
Still with a chance to take
silverware, the club returned to the Windy City for the newly renamed Lamar
Hunt U.S. Open Cup final at Soldier Field against fellow 1998 expansion side
Miami Fusion. Like the ’98 final a goal just before halftime, this time a 44th
minute strike from Stoitchkov, took the Fire into the break up 1-0. The side
remained with the slim lead until Fusion defender Tyrone Marshall scored a late
own goal in the 88th minute, taking the score to 2-0. A stoppage
time goal from Brazilian attacker Welton served as only consolation for the
Miami-based side as the Fire came out 2-1 winners, taking their second U.S.
Open Cup title in three years.
silverware, the club returned to the Windy City for the newly renamed Lamar
Hunt U.S. Open Cup final at Soldier Field against fellow 1998 expansion side
Miami Fusion. Like the ’98 final a goal just before halftime, this time a 44th
minute strike from Stoitchkov, took the Fire into the break up 1-0. The side
remained with the slim lead until Fusion defender Tyrone Marshall scored a late
own goal in the 88th minute, taking the score to 2-0. A stoppage
time goal from Brazilian attacker Welton served as only consolation for the
Miami-based side as the Fire came out 2-1 winners, taking their second U.S.
Open Cup title in three years.
The Fire were forced to move west
to Cardinal Stadium in the Chicago suburb of Naperville for the 2002 and most
of 2003 seasons. In the latter year, the Fire used the friendly confines of the
North Central College campus to run up the league’s best regular season record,
winning the MLS Supporters Shield title that barely eluded the side three years
before under the direction of first year head coach Dave Sarachan.
to Cardinal Stadium in the Chicago suburb of Naperville for the 2002 and most
of 2003 seasons. In the latter year, the Fire used the friendly confines of the
North Central College campus to run up the league’s best regular season record,
winning the MLS Supporters Shield title that barely eluded the side three years
before under the direction of first year head coach Dave Sarachan.
Prior to the start of the MLS Cup
playoffs that year, the club won its third Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title with
a 1-0 win over MetroStars at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. Rookie
Jamaican forward Damani Ralph scored the 68th minute winner giving
the club its the third cup championship, the most among Major League Soccer
teams.
playoffs that year, the club won its third Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title with
a 1-0 win over MetroStars at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. Rookie
Jamaican forward Damani Ralph scored the 68th minute winner giving
the club its the third cup championship, the most among Major League Soccer
teams.
In the MLS Cup playoffs, the Fire
easily navigated past DC United over two legs and used a memorable “Golden
Goal” winner from captain Chris Armas to once again defeat the New England
Revolution in the one-off Eastern Conference championship match at Soldier
Field, advancing to their third MLS Cup final in six seasons.
easily navigated past DC United over two legs and used a memorable “Golden
Goal” winner from captain Chris Armas to once again defeat the New England
Revolution in the one-off Eastern Conference championship match at Soldier
Field, advancing to their third MLS Cup final in six seasons.
The 2003 final saw a few
similarities with the previous two the club had played in. First, the Fire
returned to Los Angeles, the area where the team took its first silverware in
1998, this time playing the final at the newly built Home Depot Center in
Carson, CA. Second: the final matched the league’s top two clubs from the
regular season, the Fire as Supporters Shield and Eastern Conference champions
and the West’s top team, the San Jose Earthquakes.
similarities with the previous two the club had played in. First, the Fire
returned to Los Angeles, the area where the team took its first silverware in
1998, this time playing the final at the newly built Home Depot Center in
Carson, CA. Second: the final matched the league’s top two clubs from the
regular season, the Fire as Supporters Shield and Eastern Conference champions
and the West’s top team, the San Jose Earthquakes.
San Jose ran out to a two goal
lead into the half following a 5th minute strike from Ronnie Ekelund
and a 38th minute goal from Landon Donovan. DaMarcus Beasley pulled
one back just after the break but San Jose immediately responded with a goal
from Richard Mulrooney to put things at 3-1.
lead into the half following a 5th minute strike from Ronnie Ekelund
and a 38th minute goal from Landon Donovan. DaMarcus Beasley pulled
one back just after the break but San Jose immediately responded with a goal
from Richard Mulrooney to put things at 3-1.
A Chris Roner own goal pulled the
Fire back to 3-2 and the team had a chance to equalize but Ante Razov’s penalty
take wassaved by Pat Onstad. Landon Donovan put the match away with his second
goal in the 71st minute and San Jose took their second MLS Cup
championship with a 4-2 victory.
Fire back to 3-2 and the team had a chance to equalize but Ante Razov’s penalty
take wassaved by Pat Onstad. Landon Donovan put the match away with his second
goal in the 71st minute and San Jose took their second MLS Cup
championship with a 4-2 victory.
The next season the club failed
to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years of existence but did
make a deep run to the U.S. Open Cup Final, where an extra time goal from
Russian striker Igor Simutenkov kept the side from winning its fourth domestic
cup championship.
to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years of existence but did
make a deep run to the U.S. Open Cup Final, where an extra time goal from
Russian striker Igor Simutenkov kept the side from winning its fourth domestic
cup championship.
In 2006, the club finally had a
stadium to call their own when Toyota Park was completed. After playing a then
MLS record nine consecutive matches on the road, the Fire opened their
state-of-the art ground in Bridgeview, IL with a 3-3 draw against the New
England Revolution as Nate Jaqua tallied the first goal in stadium history as
part of his brace on the day and rookie Calen Carr scored his first career
goal.
stadium to call their own when Toyota Park was completed. After playing a then
MLS record nine consecutive matches on the road, the Fire opened their
state-of-the art ground in Bridgeview, IL with a 3-3 draw against the New
England Revolution as Nate Jaqua tallied the first goal in stadium history as
part of his brace on the day and rookie Calen Carr scored his first career
goal.
Later that year, the club found
the fourth U.S. Open Cup title that eluded them just two years before when they
defeated the LA Galaxy 3-1 behind goals from Jaqua, Andy Herron and Thiago at
Toyota Park. Though only 9,000 were in attendance, the match is often hailed as
one of the most memorable in Fire history.
the fourth U.S. Open Cup title that eluded them just two years before when they
defeated the LA Galaxy 3-1 behind goals from Jaqua, Andy Herron and Thiago at
Toyota Park. Though only 9,000 were in attendance, the match is often hailed as
one of the most memorable in Fire history.
The Fire were bolstered in July
2007 when Mexican superstar attacker Cuauhtemoc Blanco joined the club, helping
lead to a lateseason playoff push. Two months later, the team was purchased
from AEG by Los Angeles-based Andell Holdings, led by Andrew Hauptman, with
Andell being the second owners in club history. The Fire ran to the Eastern
Conference finals where they fell 1-0 to the New England Revolution.
2007 when Mexican superstar attacker Cuauhtemoc Blanco joined the club, helping
lead to a lateseason playoff push. Two months later, the team was purchased
from AEG by Los Angeles-based Andell Holdings, led by Andrew Hauptman, with
Andell being the second owners in club history. The Fire ran to the Eastern
Conference finals where they fell 1-0 to the New England Revolution.
A year later the club added U.S.
legend and native Chicagoan Brian McBride to the roster, uniting two rival
internationals players under one banner. McBride and Blanco worked
to help the Fire back to the Eastern Conference final in both 2008 and 2009 but
came up short handed in both matches.
legend and native Chicagoan Brian McBride to the roster, uniting two rival
internationals players under one banner. McBride and Blanco worked
to help the Fire back to the Eastern Conference final in both 2008 and 2009 but
came up short handed in both matches.
The 2010 season was disappointing
my club standards as the team failed to make the playoffs for just the second
time in 13seasons. Despite a disappointing year, the club saw the last
remaining “Fire Original” C.J. Brown reach 371 career all competitions
appearances for the club, the third most all-time for an MLS player behind only
Jaime Moreno (DC United) and Cobi Jones (LA Galaxy).
my club standards as the team failed to make the playoffs for just the second
time in 13seasons. Despite a disappointing year, the club saw the last
remaining “Fire Original” C.J. Brown reach 371 career all competitions
appearances for the club, the third most all-time for an MLS player behind only
Jaime Moreno (DC United) and Cobi Jones (LA Galaxy).
Both Brown and McBride announced
their retirements effective at the close of the 2010 season, bringing to end
two very different careers that had major impacts on American soccer.
their retirements effective at the close of the 2010 season, bringing to end
two very different careers that had major impacts on American soccer.
July 16, 2010 also saw the club’s
U16 Academy become the first MLS Academy side to win a USSFDA National
Championship as they dispatched Cal Odyssey on penalties in the final. A
month later, Academy product Victor Pineda became the club’s first-ever Home
Grown player signing, rising all the way from the club’s Juniors program to the
first team.
U16 Academy become the first MLS Academy side to win a USSFDA National
Championship as they dispatched Cal Odyssey on penalties in the final. A
month later, Academy product Victor Pineda became the club’s first-ever Home
Grown player signing, rising all the way from the club’s Juniors program to the
first team.
Source : http://www.chicago-fire.com/history
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