Let’s catch everyone up on the news going on with both of Chicago’s soccer teams as we head towards Christmas.
FIRE’S NEW SPORTING DIRECTOR?: Chicago Fire FC are close to hiring Georg Heitz to be the club’s new sporting director according to Sam Stejskal of The Athletic. Heitz made his name at Swiss side FC Basel where he discovered players like Mo Salah, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Ivan Rakitic all of whom would later star at other clubs. As sporting director of FC Basel, the Swiss side won eight league titles between 2008 and 2017.
It has also been reported that Nelson Rodriguez has been moved to a business-only role with the club. Whether or not he officially retains his president and general manager roles remains to be seen.
Should he be hired, Heitz would not have a lot of time to get acclimated to MLS, hire a coach, add depth to just about every position, and maybe get some designated players.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE?: Fire owner Joe Mansueto acknowledged to the Associated Press on Wednesday that they don’t have much time to build the team for 2020.
“We don’t have much time. We got to get going,” Mansueto told the Associated Press. “So I think the sooner the better. So we’re in the midst of that now. We are pushing it ahead as fast as we can on this. So the sooner the better, is the timetable.”
Mansueto also acknowledged the poor reception the rebrand has received, but also urged patience.
“I think among the longer-term fans, we did see that negative reaction. The newer fans, less so. But having worked with logos and new logos, for a long time, it takes a while to judge a new logo. You need to see it used repeatedly. You need to see it get used in context,” he said.
THOUGHTS: The time to rebuild this club should have started after the final whistle of the final game of last season at Orlando. A team looking to make a good first impression as they head back to the old ground in Soldier Field needed to get just about every decision right. In the eyes of many of the longer-term fans, it’s been the opposite from the rebrand, to the lack of new signings, to the lack of the coach. It’s also a frustration for some fans that Nelson Rodriguez is still with the club albeit in a different (maybe reduced) capacity.
The Fire also made a mistake by not rebuilding the bridge to the longer-term fans instead of ignoring them in order to land newer fans. A lot of things need to really need happen now and right if the Fire are to be anything resembling a competitive team in 2020.
ELBY RETIRES: Chicago Red Stars forward Brooke Elby announced here retirement as a player to take on the role of Co-Executive Director of the NWSL Players Association alongside Yael Averbuch. Elby was the PA’s president in 2019 with Averbuch as Executive Director.
Elby made 54 total appearances in the NWSL with Boston, Utah, and the Red Stars. The Red Stars acquired her in 2018 and scored two goals this past season.
“It was always going to be a difficult decision when and how to retire, but playing soccer in this league has provided me with so many experiences and opportunities and I am excited to take on my new role as Co-Executive Director,” Elby said. “I can’t wait to continue working with the players and league to grow the NWSL and I want to thank my teammates, the Red Stars’ organization and the fans for a wonderful playing career.”
RED STARS TRADE FOR DONIAK: On Thursday, the Red Stars traded their natural second round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft to the Utah Royals for forward Makenzy Doniak. Doniak, 25, has made 52 appearances in the NWSL with Western New York, North Carolina, and Utah since entering the league in 2016.
