BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Growing up in Brazil and playing almost all of his professional career in Portugal, Chicago Fire defender Marcelo only needed to know one language. As the 29-year-old now adjusts to life in America and Major League Soccer, Marcelo is also handling a language barrier. For the first time in his career, Portuguese is no […]
Author: Dan Santaromita
CHICAGO — This has been quite an eventful last few months for the Chicago Fire Academy and Fire homegrown signings. The Fire lost a standout homegrown prospect in Hermann Trophy winner Andrew Gutman in January. That same month, the team signed Andre Reynolds, one of the youngest homegrown signings in club history and the first player […]
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Moral victories don’t put points in the standings, but the Chicago Fire are trying to take a positive view of the lead that turned into a season-opening loss to the LA Galaxy. On paper, the Fire look to have a talented attacking core and a questionable defense. The loss in LA showed both […]
The Chicago Red Stars are the only team in the National Women’s Soccer League’s young history to make four consecutive playoff appearances. That accomplishment comes with the distinction that the Red Stars have lost in the semifinal round all four of those years. The Red Stars’ inability to get past the semifinal round is not […]
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — In early August 2017, Djordje Mihailović had not yet made a Major League Soccer start. That month, he played and scored in the MLS Homegrown Game, hosted by the Chicago Fire. With MLS media congregating in Chicago for the All-Star Game and Mihailović scoring as the hometown player, there were plenty of […]
With the season just a day away, the Colorado Rapids placed forward Shkëlzen Gashi on waivers. The move means Gashi is no longer on the Rapids’ active roster ahead of Saturday’s opener against the Portland Timbers. This clears up an international spot on the roster with the MLS roster compliance deadline taking place Friday evening. […]
CHICAGO — Coming off a 55-point campaign in 2017, hopes were high for the Chicago Fire in 2018. However, things didn’t go very well. Injuries and a lack of depth led to a 32-point season. Entering 2019, the Fire roster has undergone a notable overhaul. Twelve players departed and eight joined. Defensively, Brazilian centerback Marcelo will […]
The Chicago Fire’s preseason wrapped up with the team picking up a win and two draws at the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, S.C., but it was the formation of what appears to be a mostly stable lineup that is more important going forward. There were no major surprises or lineup decisions in preseason action. […]
C.J. Sapong’s last two seasons mirror the Chicago Fire’s, and now Sapong joins the Fire in hopes of a resurgent season. In 2017, Sapong had the best season of his career. He scored 16 goals and had five assists for the Philadelphia Union. That goal total was tied for eighth most in the league that […]
CHICAGO — For most of the 2018 season, the Chicago Fire and its supporters endured a war of words that featured season ticket holders being banned from matches and supporters boycotting home matches. On Wednesday, the Fire and Section 8 Chicago, the independent association for Fire supporters, announced a compromise as the 2019 season nears. […]