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2018 Chicago Fire season

The 2018 Chicago Fire season was the club's 20th year of existence, as well as their 21st in Major League Soccer.


2018 season
Andrew Hauptman
Veljko Paunović
Toyota Park(capacity: 20,000)
Conference: 10thOverall: 20th
Did not qualify
Semifinals
Lost
League: Nemanja Nikolić, 15 goalsAll: Nemanja Nikolić, 19 goals
League: 21,915 (April 14 vs. LA Galaxy)
8,551
14,516
CHI 4-0 ORL (9/16)
TOR 3-0 CHI (7/28)
Home colors

Away colors | Home colors | Away colors | | Home colors | Away colors | | | | | | | | | |

The 2018 Chicago Fire season was the club's 20th year of existence, as well as their 21st in Major League Soccer.

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

No.NameNationalityPositionDate of birth (age)Previous clubPlayer Notes
30Stefan ClevelandGK(1994-05-25) May 25, 1994University of LouisvilleLoaned Out
32Patrick McLainGK(1988-08-22) August 22, 1988Minnesota United FC
45Richard SánchezGK(1994-05-05) May 5, 1994Tigres UANL
2Matt PolsterD/M(1993-06-08) June 8, 1993SIU Edwardsville Cougars
3Brandon VincentD(1994-05-01) May 1, 1994Stanford Cardinal
4Johan KappelhofD(1990-08-05) August 5, 1990FC Groningen
15Grant LillardD(1995-12-05) December 5, 1995Indiana HoosiersHomegrown
16Jonathan CampbellD(1993-06-27) June 27, 1993North Carolina Tar Heels
22Nicolas HaslerD/M(1991-05-04) May 4, 1991Toronto FCInternational
24Nicolás Del GreccoD(1994-11-19) November 19, 1994C.D. OlimpiaInternationalLoaned Out
25Jorge Luis CorralesD(1991-05-20) May 20, 1991Tulsa Roughnecks
26Christian DeanD(1993-03-14) March 14, 1993Vancouver Whitecaps FC
6Dax McCarty (Captain)M(1987-04-30) April 30, 1987New York Red Bulls
7Raheem EdwardsM/D(1995-07-17) July 17, 1995Montreal ImpactInternational
10Aleksandar KataiM(1991-02-06) February 6, 1991Deportivo AlavésInternational
13Brandt BronicoM(1995-06-20) June 20, 1995University of North Carolina Charlotte
14Djordje MihailovicM(1998-11-10) November 10, 1998Chicago Fire AcademyHomegrown
18Drew ConnerM(1994-02-18) February 18, 1994Wisconsin BadgersHomegrown
19Mo AdamsM(1996-09-23) September 23, 1996SyracuseGeneration AdidasInternational
20Daniel JohnsonM(1995-09-08) September 8, 1995University of Louisville
31Bastian SchweinsteigerM(1984-08-01) August 1, 1984Manchester UnitedDesignated PlayerInternational
5Yura MovsisyanF(1987-08-02) August 2, 1987Djurgårdens IF Fotboll
8Michael de LeeuwF(1986-10-07) October 7, 1986FC GroningenInternational
9Luis SolignacF(1991-02-16) February 16, 1991Colorado RapidsInternational
17Diego CamposF(1995-10-01) October 1, 1995ClemsonInternationalLoaned Out
21Alan GordonF(1981-10-16) October 16, 1981Colorado Rapids
23Nemanja NikolićF(1987-12-31) December 31, 1987Legia WarsawDesignated PlayerInternational
28Elliot CollierF(1995-02-22) February 22, 1995Loyola ChicagoInternationalLoaned Out
DatePlayerPositionPrevious clubNotesRef
November 28, 2017Arturo ÁlvarezMChicago FireOption was exercised
November 28, 2017David ArshakyanFChicago FireOption was exercised
November 28, 2017Jorge BavaGKChicago FireOption was exercised
November 28, 2017Brandt BronicoMChicago FireOption was exercised
November 28, 2017Jonathan CampbellDChicago FireOption was exercised
November 28, 2017Stefan ClevelandGKChicago FireOption was exercised
November 28, 2017Drew ConnerMChicago FireOption was exercised
November 28, 2017Daniel JohnsonMChicago FireOption was exercised
November 28, 2017Dax McCartyMChicago FireOption was exercised
November 28, 2017Matt PolsterDChicago FireOption was exercised
November 28, 2017Brandon VincentDChicago FireOption was exercised
January 10, 2018Grant LillardDIndiana HoosiersSigned as a homegrown player through 2019 with options for 2020 and 2021
January 15, 2018Richard SánchezGKChicago FireRe-Signed after his contract was initially declined; signed through 2019 with an option for 2020.
January 17, 2018Bastian SchweinsteigerMChicago FireSigned a new one-year contract after his original expired.
January 18, 2018Rafael RamosDOrlando City S.C.Acquired from Orlando City, along with $100,000 in allocation money, for the rights to Fire homegrown prospect Cameron Lindley.
January 19, 2018Jon BakeroFWake ForestAcquired via the 5th overall pick in the SuperDraft after signing an MLS contract
January 19, 2018Mo AdamsMSyracuseAcquired via the 10th overall pick in the SuperDraft after signing a Generation Adidas contract
February 28, 2018Tony TchaniMVancouver Whitecaps FCAcquired from Vancouver in exchange for $150,000 in TAM
February 28, 2018Diego CamposFClemsonSigned to a contract for 2018 with options for 2019, 2020, and 2021, after being selected with the 38th overall pick in the SuperDraft
February 28, 2018Elliot CollierFLoyola ChicagoSigned to a contract for 2018 with options for 2019, 2020, and 2021, after being selected with the 49th overall pick in the SuperDraft
March 9, 2018Kevin EllisDSporting Kansas CitySigned to a contract for 2018 with an option for 2019
March 9, 2018Patrick McLainGKMinnesota United FCSigned to a contract for 2018 with an option for 2019 and 2020
March 16, 2018Alan GordonFColorado RapidsSigned for the 2018 season
July 11, 2018Aleksandar KataiMDeportivo AlavésPermanently signed through 2019 with an option for 2020
July 12, 2018Nicolás Del GreccoDC.D. OlimpiaSigned for an undisclosed amount through 2019 with an option for 2020
July 17, 2018Raheem EdwardsM/DMontreal ImpactAcquired in exchange for $400k in TAM
July 20, 2018Nicolas HaslerD/MToronto FCAcquired in exchange for $50k in GAM and Jon Bakero
September 14, 2018Yura MovsisyanFDjurgårdens IF FotbollSigned off of waivers
DatePlayerPositionDestination ClubNotesRef
November 18, 2017João MeiraD/MLorca FCAfter his contract expired, he announced that he wouldn't be returning to the Fire
November 28, 2017Joey CalistriMSt. Louis FCOption was declined
November 28, 2017Matej DekovicDOption was declined
November 28, 2017Patrick DoodyDRetiredOption was declined; on February 13, he announced his retirement.
November 28, 2017/ Collin FernandezMPhoenix Rising FCOption was declined
November 28, 2017John GoossensMADO Den HaagOption was declined
November 28, 2017Michael HarringtonDNorth Carolina FCOption was declined
November 28, 2017JuninhoMClub TijuanaLoan was not extended
November 28, 2017Richard SánchezGChicago FireOption was declined
November 28, 2017Bastian SchweinsteigerMChicago FireOut of Contract
December 10, 2017Arturo ÁlvarezMHouston DynamoTraded to Houston for Houston's natural second round selection in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft
December 18, 2018David ArshakyanFVejle BoldklubMutually parted ways
January 14, 2018Jorge BavaGKLiverpool F.C.Mutually parted ways
January 19, 2018Matt LampsonGKMinnesota United FCTraded along with $175 thousand in allocation money to Minnesota for the fifth overall pick in the SuperDraft
January 19, 2018David AccamMFPhiladelphia UnionTraded for $1.2 million in allocation money over 2018 and 2019
July 20, 2018Jon BakeroFWToronto FCTraded with $50K in GAM for Nicolas Hasler
August 6, 2018Rafael RamosDFFC TwenteContract was mutually terminated
August 9, 2018Kevin EllisDFD.C. UnitedWaived
August 9, 2018Tony TchaniMFWaived
DatePlayerPositionOriginal ClubLoan EndedRef
February 6, 2018Aleksandar KataiMFDeportivo AlavésJuly 11, 2018
DatePlayerPositionDestination ClubLoan EndedRef
August 10, 2018Diego CamposFWIndy ElevenEnd of season
August 10, 2018Elliot CollierFWIndy ElevenEnd of season

Pre-Season

  • Midfielder Omar Castro
  • Midfielder/Forward Joshua Gatt, last played for Colorado Rapids; left the team on February 26
  • Goalkeeper Sam Howard, last played for IFK Åmål in Sweden; left the team on February 19
  • Defender Maxi Moreira, last played for Huracán F.C. in Uruguay
  • Defender Josh Morton from California, picked 84th overall in the SuperDraft; was not part of the starting camp roster
  • Forward Albert Ruiz, last played for Florida Gulf Coast Eagles after not being selected in the SuperDraft; left camp sometime after the game against Kansas City

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

PositionStaff
General ManagerNelson Rodríguez
Head CoachVeljko Paunović
Assistant CoachMarko Mitrović
Assistant CoachEric Gehrig
Goalkeeper CoachAleksandar Sarić
Senior Director of Soccer OperationsEddie Rock
Strength and Conditioning CoachRaphael Fevre
Massage TherapistSteven Burrows
Director of ScoutingMatt Pearson
Video AnalystNenad Babic
Manager of Team and Soccer OperationsAlex Boler
Equipment ManagerBrian Sauer
Assistant Equipment ManagerJuan Arreola
Head Athletic TrainerSteven Purcell
Assistant Athletic TrainerReade Whitney
Chief Medical OfficerDr. Joshua Blomgren, D.O.
Head Orthopedic OfficerDr. Brian Forsythe, M.D.
Physical TherapistRyan Perry

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

  Tie   Loss

Kickoff times are in CST (UTC−06)

Kickoff times are in CST (UTC−06)

Kickoff times are in CST (UTC−06)

Kickoff times are in CST (UTC−06)

No.Pos.Nat.NameMLSOpen CupTotal
2DF/MFUSA12106000
3DFUSA30312,73822180
4DFNED29292,60433270
5FWARM0345000
6MFUSA25252,16934305
7M/DCAN9128261190
8FWNED59454000
9FWARG81170222155
10MFSER26322,33834294
13MFUSA17231,53144372
14MFUSA78512000
15DFUSA6856211120
16DFUSA101491523217
17FWCRC12221,10733275
18MFUSA511462015
19MFENG1015908000
20MFUSA372611179
21FWUSA7227990219
22DFLIE797011185
23FWHUN28302,38144378
24DFARG000000
25DFCUB15171,29244374
26DFUSA22178000
28FWNZL9169041190
30GKUSA55450000
31MFGER29302,63634319
32GKUSA44314000
45GKMEX24252,20744390
FWESP1475000
DFUSA19201,5370241
DFPOR1310512136
MFCMR91382513106
No.Pos.Nat.NameMLSOpen CupTotal
30GKUSA0258000
32GKUSA0126000
45GKMEX380472125
RankPlayerA
1Nemanja Nikolić152
2Aleksandar Katai125
3Bastian Schweinsteiger46
4Alan Gordon40
5Kevin Ellis24
6Michael de Leeuw22
7Brandt Bronico15
8Brandon Vincent14
9Djordje Mihailovic13
10Diego Campos12
Raheem Edwards
12Elliot Collier11
13Tony Tchani10
14Johan Kappelhof04
15Dax McCarty03
16Jonathan Campbell01
Drew Conner
Matt Polster
Luis Solignac
RankPlayerA
1Nemanja Nikolić40
2Aleksandar Katai11
3Diego Campos10
Elliot Collier
5Bastian Schweinsteiger02
6Jorge Luis Corrales01
Rafael Ramos
Luis Solignac
RankPlayerA
1Nemanja Nikolić192
2Aleksandar Katai136
3Bastian Schweinsteiger48
4Alan Gordon40
5Kevin Ellis24
6Diego Campos22
Michael de Leeuw
8Elliot Collier21
9Brandt Bronico15
10Brandon Vincent14
11Djordje Mihailovic13
12Raheem Edwards12
13Tony Tchani10
14Johan Kappelhof04
15Dax McCarty03
16Luis Solignac02
17Jonathan Campbell01
Jorge Luis Corrales
Drew Conner
Matt Polster
Rafael Ramos
RankPlayerMatches Missed
1Johan Kappelhof901June 23 vs Seattle SoundersJune 30 vs New York City FC
2Drew Conner110July 21 vs Toronto
3Aleksandar Katai600
Bastian Schweinsteiger
5Jorge Luis Corrales500
6Brandt Bronico400
Kevin Ellis
Dax McCarty
9Mo Adams300
Richard Sánchez
Brandon Vincent
12Alan Gordon200
Nemanja Nikolić
14Jonathan Campbell100
Diego Campos
Elliot Collier
Michael de Leeuw
Grant Lillard
Rafael Ramos
Tony Tchani
RankPlayerMatches Missed
1Aleksandar Katai300
2Elliot Collier100
Dax McCarty
Rafael Ramos
Tony Tchani
RankPlayerMatches Missed
1Johan Kappelhof901June 23 vs Seattle SoundersJune 30 vs New York City FCOctober 28 vs D.C. United
2Drew Conner110July 21 vs Toronto
3Aleksandar Katai900
4Bastian Schweinsteiger600
5Jorge Luis Corrales500
Dax McCarty
7Brandt Bronico400
Kevin Ellis
9Mo Adams300
Richard Sánchez
Brandon Vincent
12Elliot Collier200
Alan Gordon
Nemanja Nikolić
Rafael Ramos
Tony Tchani
17Jonathan Campbell100
Diego Campos
Michael de Leeuw
Grant Lillard

Player left during the season

WeekPlayerPositionReport
5Bastian SchweinsteigerMReport
6Bastian SchweinsteigerDReport
Nemanja NikolićBench
8Richard SánchezGKReport
Dax McCartyBench
13Alan GordonBenchReport
Patrick McLain
14Alan GordonBenchReport
15Johan KappelhofDReport
16Aleksandar KataiMReport
17Aleksandar KataiFReport
Brandt BronicoBench
18Aleksandar KataiFReport
Dax McCartyBench
26Nemanja NikolićBenchReport
29Nemanja NikolićBenchReport
31Djordje MihailovicMReport
WeekPlayerGameScoreReport
18Aleksandar Kataivs New York City FC3-2Report
31Djordje Mihailovicvs LAFC1-0Report

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

The following players were loaned out during the season:

PlayerPositionNotesRef
Stefan ClevelandGK
Jon BakeroFWTraded to Toronto on July 20
Nicolás Del GreccoFWOfficially loaned out on August 10
Mo AdamsMF
No.Pos.Nat.NameUSLOpen CupTotal
4DFNicolás Del Grecco1190000
30GKStefan Cleveland1190000
91MFMo Adams0145000
FWJon Bakero23202000
RankPlayerA
Jon Bakero21
RankPlayerMatches Missed
1Nicolás Del Grecco100
No.Pos.Nat.NameUSLOpen CupTotal
30GKStefan Cleveland042000

Player left during the season

Armenia

Yura Movsisyan

  • UEFA Nations League Match vs Gibraltar, October 13 (Started, played 69 minutes)
  • UEFA Nations League Match vs Macedonia, October 16 (Started, played 74 minutes, scored one goal)

Hungary

Nemanja Nikolić

  • Friendly vs Luxembourg, November 9, 2017 (Started, played 75 minutes, scored one goal)
  • Friendly vs Costa Rica, November 14, 2017 (Started, played 81 minutes, scored one goal)
  • Friendly vs Kazakhstan, March 23 (Started, played 76 minutes)
  • Friendly vs Scotland, March 27 (Subbed on, played 7 minutes)

Liechtenstein

Nicolas Hasler

  • UEFA Nations League Match vs Armenia, September 6 (Started, played 90 minutes, assisted one goal)
  • UEFA Nations League Match vs Gibraltar, September 9 (Started, played 90 minutes)
  • UEFA Nations League Match vs Macedonia, October 13 (Started, played 90 minutes)
  • UEFA Nations League Match vs Gibraltar, October 16 (Started, played 90 minutes)

United States

Matt Polster

  • Friendly vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, January 28 (Started, played 90 minutes)

Brandon Vincent

  • Friendly vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, January 28 (Did not play)

  • Official website

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