Chicago Fire FC

Team Information

Franchise History

Chicago Fire FC joined Major League Soccer in 1998 as one of the league’s first expansion teams. The team made history by winning both the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup in its inaugural season, becoming the first expansion team in MLS history to win a championship.

The “Double” (1998)

The Fire’s inaugural season was unprecedented in American soccer history. Under head coach Bob Bradley, the team won both the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup, a feat known as “The Double.”

Current Status

The Fire compete in the Eastern Conference of MLS. The team has experienced ups and downs throughout its history, with early success followed by periods of rebuilding. The club plays its home matches at Soldier Field, sharing the venue with the NFL’s Chicago Bears.

Ownership History

Management

• General Manager: Georg Heitz
• Head Coach: Frank Klopas
• Team President: Ishwara Glassman Chrein

Historical Significance

• First expansion team in MLS history to win a championship (1998)
• Won “The Double” in inaugural season (MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup)
• 4 U.S. Open Cup championships (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006)
• 1 MLS Cup (1998)
• 1 Supporters’ Shield (2003)

Team Identity

The Fire are named in memory of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the city’s subsequent rebirth. The team’s badge features a stylized flame and the six-pointed Chicago star.

Chicago Fire FC History

Franchise Founding (1997-1998)

MLS Expansion

The Chicago Fire were awarded as one of MLS’s first expansion teams in 1997. The team was owned by AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group) and began play in 1998. The name “Fire” was chosen to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the city’s rebirth.

Building the Inaugural Roster

The Fire selected players through the expansion draft and made key acquisitions including: - Peter Nowak (first-ever Fire player, allocated by MLS) - Lubos Kubik (Czech defender) - Josh Wolff (striker) - C.J. Brown (defender)

The Inaugural Season: The Double (1998)

Unprecedented Success

Under head coach Bob Bradley, the Fire achieved what no expansion team had done before - winning both the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup in their first season.

MLS Cup 1998: - Defeated D.C. United 2-0 in the final - Goals by Jerzy Podbrozny and Diego Gutierrez - Played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California

U.S. Open Cup 1998: - Defeated Columbus Crew 2-1 in overtime - Josh Wolff scored the golden goal - First Open Cup title

Regular Season

The Fire finished 1998 with a 20-12 record (56 points), second in the Western Conference.

The Early Years (1999-2002)

Continued Success

The Fire remained competitive after their inaugural success: - 1999: Reached U.S. Open Cup final, lost to Rochester - 2000: Won second U.S. Open Cup; reached MLS Cup semifinals - 2001: Won third U.S. Open Cup; reached MLS Cup semifinals - 2002: Competitive season but no trophies

The Mid-2000s (2003-2007)

2003: Supporters’ Shield and Open Cup

The Fire won the Supporters’ Shield (best regular season record) and their fourth U.S. Open Cup in 2003.

Key Players: - Ante Razov (forward) - Damani Ralph (Rookie of the Year) - Carlos Bocanegra (defender, transferred to Europe) - Cuauhtemoc Blanco (joined 2007)

Cuauhtemoc Blanco Era (2007-2009)

Mexican international Cuauhtemoc Blanco joined the Fire in 2007, bringing excitement and skill. He was named MLS MVP in 2008 and helped the team reach the MLS Cup Playoffs multiple times.

Soldier Field Era (2006, 2010-2019)

Return to Soldier Field

After playing at Toyota Park (Bridgeview) from 2006-2019, the Fire returned to Soldier Field in 2020.

Toyota Park / SeatGeek Stadium (2006-2019)

The Fire moved to a soccer-specific stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois in 2006. While the stadium was designed for soccer, it proved too far from Chicago’s core fanbase and had transportation challenges.

Return to Chicago

In 2019, new owner Joe Mansueto purchased the team and announced the Fire would return to Soldier Field in 2020. The move was designed to reconnect with Chicago’s fanbase.

Recent Years (2020-Present)

The Return to Soldier Field (2020)

The Fire returned to Soldier Field for the 2020 season, just before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted sports worldwide.

Rebuilding

The Fire have undergone rebuilding phases, focusing on: - Youth development - International signings - Establishing identity in Chicago

Bastian Schweinsteiger Era (2017-2019)

German World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger joined the Fire in 2017, bringing international attention. He retired after the 2019 season.

Franchise Timeline

Chicago Fire FC Championships

Major Championships

MLS Cup (1998)

Season: 1998 (Inaugural Season)
Coach: Bob Bradley
Final Opponent: D.C. United
Result: Won 2-0
Venue: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

The Fire became the first expansion team in MLS history to win the MLS Cup in their inaugural season.

Goals: - Jerzy Podbrozny (29th minute) - Diego Gutierrez (45th minute)

Key Players: - Peter Nowak (captain) - Lubos Kubik - Josh Wolff - Zach Thornton (goalkeeper) - C.J. Brown - Diego Gutierrez

U.S. Open Cup Championships

The Fire have won the U.S. Open Cup 4 times, tied for the most in the MLS era.

1998 U.S. Open Cup

Final Opponent: Columbus Crew
Result: Won 2-1 (overtime)
Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago

Josh Wolff scored the golden goal in overtime to complete the Double.

2000 U.S. Open Cup

Final Opponent: Miami Fusion
Result: Won 2-1
Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago

2003 U.S. Open Cup

Final Opponent: MetroStars
Result: Won 1-0
Venue: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

2006 U.S. Open Cup

Final Opponent: Los Angeles Galaxy
Result: Won 3-1
Venue: Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois

Supporters’ Shield

2003 Supporters’ Shield

Regular Season Record: 15-7-8 (53 points)
Goal Difference: +26

The Fire won the Supporters’ Shield for the best regular season record in MLS.

Key Players: - Ante Razov (14 goals) - Damani Ralph (12 goals, Rookie of the Year) - Carlos Bocanegra - Jim Curtin

Other Notable Achievements

MLS Cup Final Appearances

• 1998: Won vs. D.C. United
• 2003: Lost to San Jose Earthquakes

U.S. Open Cup Final Appearances

• 1998: Won vs. Columbus Crew
• 1999: Lost to Rochester Rhinos
• 2000: Won vs. Miami Fusion
• 2003: Won vs. MetroStars
• 2004: Lost to Kansas City Wizards
• 2006: Won vs. LA Galaxy

Conference Championships

• 1998: Western Conference Champions
• 2003: Western Conference Champions

Playoff History

The Fire have qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs 14 times in franchise history.

Notable Playoff Runs

Individual Awards

MLS Most Valuable Player

• 1998: Peter Nowak
• 2003: Preki (finished 2nd)
• 2008: Cuauhtemoc Blanco

MLS Rookie of the Year

• 1998: Ben Olsen (D.C. United, but Fire won Cup)
• 2003: Damani Ralph

MLS Coach of the Year

• 1998: Bob Bradley
• 2003: Dave Sarachan

Championship Legacy

The Fire’s inaugural season success set a standard that remains unmatched in MLS history. No expansion team before or since has won both the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup in their first season. The four U.S. Open Cup championships tie the Fire with the Seattle Sounders for most in the MLS era.

Chicago Fire FC Team Records

Single Season Records

Best Regular Season Records

Goals Scored (Single Season)

Goals Allowed (Single Season)

All-Time Career Records

Career Goals

Career Assists

Career Appearances

Goalkeeping Records

Career Wins: | Rank | Player | Years | Wins | |------|--------|-------|------| | 1 | Zach Thornton | 1998-2006 | 63 | | 2 | Sean Johnson | 2012-2016 | 47 | | 3 | Matt Pickens | 2006-2008 | 22 | | 4 | Jon Busch | 2007-2010 | 21 | | 5 | Stefan Cleveland | 2018-2020 | 8 |

Streaks and Notable Feats

Winning Streaks

• Longest Overall: 6 games (multiple occasions)
• Longest Home: 8 games (1998)
• Longest Unbeaten: 9 games (2001)

U.S. Open Cup Records

• Most U.S. Open Cup titles: 4 (tied with Seattle)
• First MLS team to win back-to-back Open Cups (2000, 2003)

Individual Single-Season Records

Goals (Single Season)

Assists (Single Season)

Clean Sheets (Goalkeepers)

Chicago Fire FC Legendary Players

Franchise Icons

Peter Nowak

Position: Midfielder
Years: 1998-2002

Nowak was the Fire’s first-ever player and the captain of the 1998 Double-winning team. He was named MLS MVP in 1998.

Career Stats (Fire): - Games: 114 - Goals: 26 - Assists: 26

Accolades: - MLS MVP (1998) - 2x MLS All-Star - 1998 MLS Cup champion

C.J. Brown

Position: Defender
Years: 1998-2010

Brown is the Fire’s all-time leader in appearances and spent his entire career with the club.

Career Stats: - Games: 296 (franchise record) - Goals: 1 - Assists: 15

Brown was a stalwart defender who anchored the backline for over a decade.

Ante Razov

Position: Forward
Years: 1998-2000, 2001-2004

Razov is the Fire’s all-time leading scorer.

Career Stats (Fire): - Games: 163 - Goals: 76 (franchise record) - Assists: 24

Cuauhtemoc Blanco

Position: Forward
Years: 2007-2009

The Mexican international brought excitement and skill to the Fire, winning MLS MVP in 2008.

Career Stats (Fire): - Games: 62 - Goals: 16 - Assists: 26

Accolades: - MLS MVP (2008) - 3x MLS All-Star

Josh Wolff

Position: Forward
Years: 1998-2002

Wolff scored the golden goal in the 1998 U.S. Open Cup final and was a key part of the inaugural championship team.

Career Stats (Fire): - Games: 84 - Goals: 32 - Assists: 18

Other Notable Players

Lubos Kubik

Position: Defender
Years: 1998-2001

The Czech international was a key defender on the 1998 championship team.

Zach Thornton

Position: Goalkeeper
Years: 1998-2006

Thornton is the Fire’s all-time leader in wins and clean sheets.

Career Stats: - Games: 199 - Wins: 63 - Clean Sheets: 48

Diego Gutierrez

Position: Midfielder
Years: 1998-2001, 2006-2008

Gutierrez was a two-time Fire player and a key member of the 1998 team.

Damani Ralph

Position: Forward
Years: 2003-2005

Ralph won Rookie of the Year in 2003 and was a dynamic scorer.

Career Stats: - Games: 72 - Goals: 26 - 2003 Rookie of the Year

Bastian Schweinsteiger

Position: Midfielder
Years: 2017-2019

The German World Cup winner brought international star power to the Fire.

Career Stats: - Games: 92 - Goals: 8 - Assists: 11

Nemanja Nikolic

Position: Forward
Years: 2017-2019

Nikolic won the MLS Golden Boot in 2017 with 24 goals.

Chris Rolfe

Position: Forward
Years: 2005-2009, 2012-2014

Rolfe was a consistent scorer and fan favorite during two stints with the Fire.

Career Stats (Fire): - Games: 192 - Goals: 48

Logan Pause

Position: Midfielder
Years: 2003-2014

Pause was a homegrown player who served as captain and made over 250 appearances.

Career Stats: - Games: 254 - Goals: 3 - Assists: 14

Gonzalo Segares

Position: Defender
Years: 2007-2013, 2014

Segares was one of the best left backs in Fire history.

Career Stats: - Games: 214 - Goals: 11 - Assists: 20

Chicago Fire FC Rivalries

Primary Rivalries

Columbus Crew

The Fire and Crew have a geographic rivalry known as the “Hell Is Real Derby,” named after a billboard on Interstate 71 between the cities.

Key Matches: - 1998 U.S. Open Cup Final: Fire defeated Crew 2-1 - Multiple playoff matchups - MLS Cup 2008: Columbus defeated Fire in conference semifinals

D.C. United

The Fire defeated D.C. United in the 1998 MLS Cup final, creating lasting animosity between the clubs.

Secondary Rivalries

FC Dallas

The teams have met in U.S. Open Cup finals and have a competitive history.

LA Galaxy

The Fire defeated the Galaxy in the 2006 U.S. Open Cup final.

Rivalry Statistics

vs. Columbus Crew

vs. D.C. United

• 1998 MLS Cup Final: Fire won 2-0
• Multiple regular season battles

Chicago Fire FC Stadium History

Soldier Field (1998-2001, 2020-Present)

Overview

Soldier Field has been the Fire’s primary home, hosting their inaugural 1998 season and again since 2020.

Current Capacity: 61,500 (full stadium) / 28,000 (lower bowl for soccer)

History with Fire

• 1998-2001: Original home; won Double in first season
• 2020-Present: Returned to Soldier Field after Toyota Park era

The return to Soldier Field in 2020 was designed to reconnect the team with Chicago’s core fanbase.

Toyota Park / SeatGeek Stadium (2006-2019)

Overview

The Fire played at Toyota Park (later SeatGeek Stadium) in Bridgeview, Illinois from 2006-2019.

Capacity: 20,000

Challenges

• Located far from Chicago’s city center
• Limited public transportation options
• Difficult to build consistent fanbase

Successes

• Soccer-specific stadium
• Won 2006 U.S. Open Cup there
• Hosted U.S. Men’s National Team matches

Cardinal Stadium (2002-2005)

The Fire played at Cardinal Stadium (later Toyota Park, not to be confused with Bridgeview) at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois.

Stadium Comparison

Chicago Fire FC Fanbase and Culture

Fanbase Demographics

The Chicago Market

The Fire draw from Chicago’s diverse population: - Hispanic communities on South and West Sides - Soccer enthusiasts throughout the metro area - Suburban families - International communities

Section 8

The Fire’s main supporters’ group, Section 8 Chicago, is named after the section where they originally gathered at Soldier Field.

Traditions

The Double

The 1998 inaugural season remains the defining moment in Fire history.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco

The Mexican star’s time with the Fire (2007-2009) created lasting memories for fans.

Return to Soldier Field

The 2020 return was celebrated as a homecoming for the club.

Supporters’ Groups

Section 8 Chicago

The largest and most active supporters’ group, organized since 1998.

Ultras

Various ultra groups provide atmosphere at matches.

Community

Chicago Fire Foundation

• Youth soccer programs
• Community outreach
• Education initiatives

Academy

The Fire academy develops young talent from the Chicago area.