2018 Chicago Fire season

Chicago Fire
2018 season
Chairman Andrew Hauptman
Head coach Veljko Paunović
Stadium Toyota Park
(capacity: 20,000)
MLS Conference:
Overall:
MLS Cup Playoffs Did Not Qualify
U.S. Open Cup Semifinals
Brimstone Cup Lost
Top goalscorer League: Nemanja Nikolić, 15 goals
All: Nemanja Nikolić, 19 goals
Highest home attendance 21,915
Lowest home attendance 8,551
Average home league attendance 14,516
Home colors
Away colors

The 2018 Chicago Fire season is the club's 23rd year of existence, as well as their 21st in Major League Soccer.

Current squad

As of August 10, 2018. Source: Chicago Fire official roster and Official MLS Roster

No. Name Nationality Position Date of Birth (Age) Previous Club Player Notes
Goalkeepers
30 Stefan Cleveland United States GK May 25, 1994 United States University of Louisville Loaned Out
32 Patrick McLain United States GK August 22, 1988 United States Minnesota United
45 Richard Sánchez Mexico GK May 5, 1994 Mexico Tigres UANL
Defenders
2 Matt Polster United States D/M June 8, 1993 United States SIU Edwardsville Cougars
3 Brandon Vincent United States D May 1, 1994 United States Stanford Cardinal
4 Johan Kappelhof Netherlands D August 5, 1990 Netherlands FC Groningen
15 Grant Lillard United States D December 5, 1995 United States Indiana Hoosiers Homegrown
16 Jonathan Campbell United States D June 27, 1993 United States North Carolina Tar Heels
22 Nicolas Hasler Liechtenstein D/M May 4, 1991 Canada Toronto FC International
24 Nicolás Del Grecco Argentina D November 19, 1994 Honduras C.D. Olimpia International
Loaned Out
25 Jorge Luis Corrales Cuba D May 20, 1991 United States Tulsa Roughnecks
26 Christian Dean United States D March 14, 1993 Canada Vancouver Whitecaps
Midfielders
6 Dax McCarty (Captain) United States M April 30, 1987 United States New York Red Bulls
7 Raheem Edwards Canada M/D July 17, 1995 Canada Montreal Impact International
10 Aleksandar Katai Serbia M February 6, 1991 Spain Deportivo Alavés International
13 Brandt Bronico United States M June 20, 1995 United States University of North Carolina Charlotte
14 Djordje Mihailovic United States M November 10, 1998 United States Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
18 Drew Conner United States M February 18, 1994 United States Wisconsin Badgers Homegrown
19 Mo Adams England M September 23, 1996 United States Syracuse Generation Adidas
International
20 Daniel Johnson United States M September 8, 1995 United States University of Louisville
31 Bastian Schweinsteiger Germany M August 1, 1984 England Manchester United Designated Player
International
Forwards
5 Yura Movsisyan Armenia F August 2, 1987 Sweden Djurgårdens IF Fotboll
8 Michael de Leeuw Netherlands F October 7, 1986 Netherlands FC Groningen International
9 Luis Solignac Argentina F February 16, 1991 United States Colorado Rapids International
17 Diego Campos Costa Rica F October 1, 1995 United States Clemson International
Loaned Out
21 Alan Gordon United States F October 16, 1981 United States Colorado Rapids
23 Nemanja Nikolić Hungary F December 31, 1987 Poland Legia Warsaw Designated Player
International
28 Elliot Collier New Zealand F February 22, 1995 United States Loyola Chicago International
Loaned Out

Player movement

In

Date Player Position Previous Club Notes Ref
November 28, 2017El Salvador Arturo ÁlvarezMUnited States Chicago FireOption was exercised[1]
November 28, 2017Armenia David ArshakyanFUnited States Chicago FireOption was exercised[1]
November 28, 2017Uruguay Jorge BavaGKUnited States Chicago FireOption was exercised[1]
November 28, 2017United States Brandt BronicoMUnited States Chicago FireOption was exercised[1]
November 28, 2017United States Jonathan CampbellDUnited States Chicago FireOption was exercised[1]
November 28, 2017United States Stefan ClevelandGKUnited States Chicago FireOption was exercised[1]
November 28, 2017United States Drew ConnerMUnited States Chicago FireOption was exercised[1]
November 28, 2017United States Daniel JohnsonMUnited States Chicago FireOption was exercised[1]
November 28, 2017United States Dax McCartyMUnited States Chicago FireOption was exercised[1]
November 28, 2017United States Matt PolsterDUnited States Chicago FireOption was exercised[1]
November 28, 2017United States Brandon VincentDUnited States Chicago FireOption was exercised[1]
January 10, 2018United States Grant LillardDUnited States Indiana HoosiersSigned as a homegrown player through 2019 with options for 2020 and 2021[2]
January 15, 2018Mexico Richard SánchezGKUnited States Chicago FireRe-Signed after his contract was initially declined; signed through 2019 with an option for 2020.[3]
January 17, 2018Germany Bastian SchweinsteigerMUnited States Chicago FireSigned a new one-year contract after his original expired.[4]
January 18, 2018Portugal Rafael RamosDUnited States Orlando City S.C.Acquired from Orlando City, along with $100,000 in allocation money, for the rights to Fire homegrown prospect Cameron Lindley.[5]
January 19, 2018Spain Jon BakeroFUnited States Wake ForestAcquired via the 5th overall pick in the SuperDraft after signing an MLS contract[6]
January 19, 2018England Mo AdamsMUnited States SyracuseAcquired via the 10th overall pick in the SuperDraft after signing a Generation Adidas contract[6]
February 28, 2018Cameroon Tony TchaniMCanada Vancouver WhitecapsAcquired from Vancouver in exchange for $150,000 in TAM[7]
February 28, 2018Costa Rica Diego CamposFUnited States ClemsonSigned to a contract for 2018 with options for 2019, 2020, and 2021, after being selected with the 38th overall pick in the SuperDraft[8]
February 28, 2018New Zealand Elliot CollierFUnited States Loyola ChicagoSigned to a contract for 2018 with options for 2019, 2020, and 2021, after being selected with the 49th overall pick in the SuperDraft[8]
March 9, 2018United States Kevin EllisDUnited States Sporting Kansas CitySigned to a contract for 2018 with an option for 2019[9]
March 9, 2018United States Patrick McLainGKUnited States Minnesota UnitedSigned to a contract for 2018 with an option for 2019 and 2020[9]
March 16, 2018United States Alan GordonFUnited States Colorado RapidsSigned for the 2018 season[10]
July 11, 2018Serbia Aleksandar KataiMSpain Deportivo AlavesPermanently signed through 2019 with an option for 2020[11]
July 12, 2018Argentina Nicolás Del GreccoDHonduras C.D. OlimpiaSigned for an undisclosed amount through 2019 with an option for 2020[12]
July 17, 2018Canada Raheem EdwardsM/DCanada Montreal ImpactAcquired in exchange for $400k in TAM[13]
July 20, 2018Liechtenstein Nicolas HaslerD/MCanada Toronto FCAcquired in exchange for $50k in GAM and Jon Bakero[14]
September 14, 2018Armenia Yura MovsisyanFSweden Djurgårdens IF FotbollSigned off of waivers[15]

Out

Date Player Position Destination Club Notes Ref
November 18, 2017Portugal João MeiraD/MSpain Lorca FCAfter his contract expired, he announced that he wouldn't be returning to the Fire[16][1]
November 28, 2017United States Joey CalistriMUnited States St. Louis FCOption was declined[1]
November 28, 2017Croatia Matej DekovicDOption was declined[1]
November 28, 2017United States Patrick DoodyDRetiredOption was declined; on February 13, he announced his retirement.[1]
November 28, 2017United States/Peru Collin FernandezMUnited States Phoenix Rising FCOption was declined[1]
November 28, 2017Netherlands John GoossensMNetherlands ADO Den HaagOption was declined[1]
November 28, 2017United States Michael HarringtonDUnited States North Carolina FCOption was declined[1]
November 28, 2017Brazil JuninhoMMexico Club TijuanaLoan was not extended[1]
November 28, 2017Mexico Richard SánchezGUnited States Chicago FireOption was declined[1]
November 28, 2017Germany Bastian SchweinsteigerMUnited States Chicago FireOut of Contract[1]
December 10, 2017El Salvador Arturo ÁlvarezMUnited States Houston DynamoTraded to Houston for Houston's natural second round selection in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft[17]
December 18, 2018Armenia David ArshakyanFDenmark Vejle BoldklubMutually parted ways[18]
January 14, 2018Uruguay Jorge BavaGKUruguay Liverpool F.C.Mutually parted ways[19][20]
January 19, 2018United States Matt LampsonGKUnited States Minnesota UnitedTraded along with $175 thousand in allocation money to Minnesota for the fifth overall pick in the SuperDraft[21]
January 19, 2018Ghana David AccamMFUnited States Philadelphia UnionTraded for $1.2 million in allocation money over 2018 and 2019[22]
July 20, 2018Spain Jon BakeroFWCanada Toronto FCTraded with $50K in GAM for Nicolas Hasler[23]
August 6, 2018Portugal Rafael RamosDFNetherlands FC TwenteContract was mutually terminated[24]
August 9, 2018United States Kevin EllisDFUnited States D.C. UnitedWaived[25]
August 9, 2018Cameroon Tony TchaniMFWaived[26]

Loaned In

Date Player Position Original Club Loan Ended Ref
February 6, 2018Serbia Aleksandar KataiMFSpain Deportivo AlavésJuly 11, 2018[27]

Loaned Out

Date Player Position Destination Club Loan Ended Ref
August 10, 2018Costa Rica Diego CamposFWUnited States Indy ElevenEnd of season[28]
August 10, 2018New Zealand Elliot CollierFWUnited States Indy ElevenEnd of season[29]

Unsigned Trialists and Draft Picks

Pre-Season

Academy midfielders Gilberto Angeles and Javier Casas also trained with the Fire while they were in Florida.[36][30] Academy goalie Kyle Orciuch trained once they got back to Chicago after their travel to Bradenton as well.[37]

Technical staff

Position Staff
General Manager United States Nelson Rodríguez
Head Coach Serbia Veljko Paunović
Assistant Coach Serbia Marko Mitrović
Assistant Coach United States Eric Gehrig
Goalkeeper Coach Serbia Aleksandar Sarić
Senior Director of Soccer Operations Eddie Rock
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 Steven Purcell
Assistant Athletic Trainer Reade Whitney
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joshua Blomgren, D.O.
Head Orthopedic Officer Dr. Brian Forsythe, M.D.
Physical Therapist Ryan Perry

Last updated: October 30, 2017
Source: Chicago Fire Technical Staff

Standings

Eastern Conference table

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Atlanta United (Q) 32 20 6 6 67 39 +28 66 Conference Semi-finals[lower-alpha 1]
2 New York Red Bulls (Q) 32 20 7 5 60 33 +27 65
3 New York City FC (Q) 32 15 9 8 55 41 +14 53 Knockout round
4 Philadelphia Union (Q) 32 15 12 5 48 46 +2 50
5 Columbus Crew 32 13 10 9 39 41 −2 48
6 D.C. United 31 12 11 8 56 49 +7 44
7 Montreal Impact 32 13 15 4 45 52 −7 43
8 New England Revolution (E) 32 9 12 11 47 51 −4 38
9 Toronto FC (E) 31 9 16 6 55 60 −5 33
10 Chicago Fire (E) 32 8 17 7 47 59 −12 31
11 Orlando City (E) 31 7 20 4 40 70 −30 25
Updated to match(es) played on October 13, 2018. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goal differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots.
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.
Notes:
  1. ↑ Due to a change in format for the CONCACAF Champions League, the regular season conference champions will not automatically earn a berth in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League.[38]

Overall table

Houston Dynamo, Sporting Kansas City and Toronto FC qualified for the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League by winning their respective domestic cup competitions, not through MLS.

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification[lower-alpha 1]
1 Atlanta United 32 20 6 6 67 39 +28 66
2 New York Red Bulls 32 20 7 5 60 33 +27 65
3 FC Dallas 32 16 7 9 51 39 +12 57
4 Los Angeles FC 32 16 8 8 65 48 +17 56
5 Sporting Kansas City 31 15 8 8 56 38 +18 53 2019 CONCACAF Champions League
6 New York City FC 32 15 9 8 55 41 +14 53
7 Portland Timbers 32 14 9 9 50 46 +4 51
8 Seattle Sounders 31 15 11 5 45 33 +12 50
9 Philadelphia Union 32 15 12 5 48 46 +2 50
10 Columbus Crew 32 13 10 9 39 41 −2 48
11 Real Salt Lake 32 13 12 7 51 54 −3 46
12 LA Galaxy 32 12 11 9 61 60 +1 45
13 D.C. United 31 12 11 8 56 49 +7 44
14 Montreal Impact 32 13 15 4 45 52 −7 43
15 Vancouver Whitecaps 31 12 12 7 49 60 −11 43
16 New England Revolution 32 9 12 11 47 51 −4 38
17 Minnesota United 32 11 18 3 46 65 −19 36
18 Houston Dynamo 32 9 15 8 53 53 0 35 2019 CONCACAF Champions League
19 Toronto FC 31 9 16 6 55 60 −5 33
20 Chicago Fire 32 8 17 7 47 59 −12 31
21 Colorado Rapids 32 7 19 6 34 62 −28 27
22 Orlando City 31 7 20 4 40 70 −30 25
23 San Jose Earthquakes 32 4 20 8 48 69 −21 20
Updated to match(es) played on October 13, 2018. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) coin toss or drawing of lots
Notes:
  1. ↑

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldPtsWLTGFGAGDWLTGFGAGDWLTGFGAGD
32 31 8 17 7 47 59  −12 6 7 3 28 25  +3 2 10 4 19 34  −15

Source: MLSsoccer.com standings
Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

Match results

  Win   Tie   Loss

Preseason

Kickoff times are in CST (UTC-06)

Major League Soccer

Kickoff times are in CST (UTC-06)

Open Cup

Kickoff times are in CST (UTC-06)

International Friendlies

Kickoff times are in CST (UTC-06)

Squad statistics

Games Played

No. Pos. Nat. Name MLS Open Cup Total
Starts Apps Minutes Starts Apps Minutes Starts Apps Minutes
2 DF/MF  USA Matt Polster 1 1 89 0 0 0 1 1 89
3 DF  USA Brandon Vincent 29 30 2,648 2 2 180 31 32 2,828
4 DF  NED Johan Kappelhof 28 28 2,514 3 3 270 31 31 2,784
5 FW  ARM Yura Movsisyan 0 2 28 0 0 0 0 2 28
6 MF  USA Dax McCarty 24 24 2,079 3 4 305 27 28 2,384
7 M/D  CAN Raheem Edwards 9 11 800 1 1 90 10 12 890
8 FW  NED Michael de Leeuw 4 8 390 0 0 0 4 8 390
9 FW  ARG Luis Solignac 8 11 702 2 2 155 10 13 857
10 MF  SER Aleksandar Katai 25 31 2,248 3 4 294 28 35 2,542
13 MF  USA Brandt Bronico 16 22 1,441 4 4 372 20 26 1,813
14 MF  USA Djordje Mihailovic 6 7 439 0 0 0 6 7 439
15 DF  USA Grant Lillard 6 8 562 1 1 120 7 9 682
16 DF  USA Jonathan Campbell 10 14 915 2 3 217 12 17 1,132
17 FW  CRC Diego Campos 11 21 1,034 3 3 275 14 24 1,309
18 MF  USA Drew Conner 5 11 462 0 1 5 5 12 467
19 MF  ENG Mo Adams 10 15 908 0 0 0 10 15 908
20 MF  USA Daniel Johnson 3 7 261 1 1 79 4 8 340
21 FW  USA Alan Gordon 7 22 799 0 2 19 7 24 818
22 DF  LIE Nicolas Hasler 7 9 701 1 1 85 8 10 786
23 FW  HUN Nemanja Nikolić 27 29 2,291 4 4 378 31 33 2,669
24 DF  ARG Nicolás Del Grecco 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
25 DF  CUB Jorge Luis Corrales 15 17 1,292 4 4 374 19 21 1,666
26 DF  USA Christian Dean 2 2 178 0 0 0 2 2 178
28 FW  NZL Elliot Collier 9 16 904 1 1 90 10 17 994
30 GK  USA Stefan Cleveland 5 5 450 0 0 0 5 5 450
31 MF  GER Bastian Schweinsteiger 28 29 2,546 3 4 319 31 33 2,865
32 GK  USA Patrick McLain 3 3 224 0 0 0 3 3 224
45 GK  MEX Richard Sánchez 24 25 2,207 4 4 390 28 28 2,597
FW  ESP Jon Bakero 1 4 75 0 0 0 1 4 75
DF  USA Kevin Ellis 19 20 1,537 0 2 41 19 22 1,578
DF  POR Rafael Ramos 1 3 105 1 2 136 2 5 241
MF  CMR Tony Tchani 9 13 825 1 3 106 10 16 731

Goalkeeping Statistics

No. Pos. Nat. Name MLS Open Cup Total
Clean Sheets Saves GA Clean Sheets Saves GA Clean Sheets Saves GA
30 GK  USA Stefan Cleveland 0 25 8 0 0 0 0 25 8
32 GK  USA Patrick McLain 0 8 4 0 0 0 0 8 4
45 GK  MEX Richard Sánchez 3 80 47 2 12 5 5 92 52

Goalscoring and Assisting Record

Cards

Notes

Player left during the season

  1. 1 2 While Adams was sent off against Orlando on May 26, his card was later removed by an independent panel

Awards

MLS Team of the Week

Week Player Position Report
5 Germany Bastian Schweinsteiger M Report
6 Germany Bastian Schweinsteiger D Report
Hungary Nemanja Nikolić Bench
8 Mexico Richard Sanchez GK Report
United States Dax McCarty Bench
13 United States Alan Gordon Bench Report
United States Patrick McLain
14 United States Alan Gordon Bench Report
15 Netherlands Johan Kappelhof D Report
16 Serbia Aleksandar Katai M Report
17 Serbia Aleksandar Katai F Report
United States Brandt Bronico Bench
18 Serbia Aleksandar Katai F Report
United States Dax McCarty Bench
26 Hungary Nemanja Nikolić Bench Report
29 Hungary Nemanja Nikolić Bench Report
31 United States Djordje Mihailovic M Report

MLS Goal of the week

Week Player Game Score Report
18 Serbia Aleksandar Katai vs New York City FC 3-2 Report
31 United States Djordje Mihailovic vs LAFC 1-0 Report

Tulsa Loanee Statistics

The Fire renewed their affiliation with Tulsa for another season on January 12, 2018.[40] The affiliation allows for players to be called back at any point or loaned out at any point.

Loaned Out

The following players were loaned out during the season:

Player Position Notes Ref
United States Stefan ClevelandGK
Spain Jon BakeroFWTraded to Toronto on July 20
Argentina Nicolás Del GreccoFWOfficially loaned out on August 10[41]
England Mo AdamsMF

Games Played

No. Pos. Nat. Name USL Open Cup Total
Starts Apps Minutes Starts Apps Minutes Starts Apps Minutes
4 DF Argentina Nicolás Del Grecco 1 1 90 0 0 0 1 1 90
30 GK United States Stefan Cleveland 1 1 90 0 0 0 1 1 90
91 MF England Mo Adams 0 1 45 0 0 0 0 1 45
FW Spain Jon Bakero 2 3 202 0 0 0 2 3 202

Goalscoring and Assisting Record

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