“The Path to Tomorrow Starts Today”
Well, that is all. It’s all over. Our beloved men in red are mathematically eliminated from MLS playoffs after falling to Charlotte FC 4-3 last week.
Playoff chances looked impossible just a couple of games ago, but we can now officially say the season is dead. It’s another year in a row where the Fire season will not continue past match week 34. Another letdown, another disappointing year. Once again, another meaningless October.
To be fair, the Chicago Fire put on a pretty impressive offensive showing against Charlotte last week. They had 57% of the possession, racking up 18 shots with 7 on target. They scored three times, but it still wasn’t enough as Charlotte found a way to get 4 goals past Chris Brady, with 19 shots in total and 10 on the frame. Even when things seem to go well for the Fire, they ultimately don’t. Aside from the last (meaningless) match later this month, the club as a whole has a whole lot of work to do.
It needs to begin NOW, and I’m discussing changes across the board.
As of this morning, though, the Fire are not waiting for the season to end to begin making some major changes.
Gregg Berhalter has been announced as the new Director of Football and Head Coach of the Chicago Fire.
After leaving the USMNT earlier this Summer, Berhalter had already been linked to the Fire.
Preliminary talks between the two sides had taken place over the past couple of months. Since then, a few other clubs around the league have also reached out and made contact with Berhalter. None of that matters anymore, as Chicago tied him down, making it official just a few hours ago. Gregg will oversee all aspects of the club, including the First Team, Chicago Fire FC II, and the Academy teams.
Frank Klopas is a Fire legend, no doubt about it. He is the epitome of what Tradition, Honor, and Passion (The Fire’s motto) look like in a human being. The blood, sweat, and tears he has sacrificed for the club will never go unnoticed. It’s awesome that Klopas will still be a part of the club, serving as the Vice President of Football once Berhalter takes over at the end of the 2024 season. Frank Klopas will step down after the last match of the season on October 19th.
Gregg Berhalter has a decorated career.
As a player, he spent time in Europe and MLS over the stretch of 18 years. He also played in two World Cups, including the 2002 Korea/Japan edition, in which he played a vital role. As a coach, he started as an assistant with LA Galaxy. After a successful season, he coached Hammarby IF in Sweden. This made him the first American-born male to coach a pro team in Europe. From 2013 to 2018, he served as the Head Coach and Sporting Director for the Columbus Crew. He led them to 4 MLS Cup Playoff appearances in 5 seasons, including one MLS Cup Final.
Gregg is a man who knows MLS playoffs very well. The Fire are looking just to get a chance at playoffs. Say what you want about his past, methods, or style, but beggars can’t be choosers. The decision to bring Berhalter in is a bold statement heard around the league. Fire owner Joe Mansueto means business. It’s simply a start, though, a positive one, I will say. As I stated, the Fire did not wait until the end of the season to begin making moves. I’ll give credit where credit is due, but what should we expect next?
Well, with a head coach like this, I’d be looking for some big player names to be linked to the Fire.
Let the rumors begin… “The Path to Tomorrow Starts Today!”
PHOTO: Chicago Fire FC
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