A lot of news coming from both the Fire and Red Stars on Monday. Some of it includes the first transfer between clubs owned by Joe Mansueto and the Red Stars letting everyone know that a coaching search is on. Now the details.
GIMENEZ STAYS: The Fire signed midfielder Gaston Gimenez to a new designated player contract through 2023. Gimenez is the only designated player from the three signed prior to the 2020 season that will remain with the club.
“Gastón is highly motivated to help lead the Fire back into the playoffs,” said Sporting Director Georg Heitz. “He will benefit from a new start under Ezra Hendrickson and will partner with Federico Navarro to form one of the best and hardest working midfields in MLS next season. We have high expectations for Gastón and are confident that he will deliver for the Club.”
Gimenez has made 43 appearances (39 starts) in his first two seasons with the Fire.
“I’m very grateful and excited to continue representing the Chicago Fire,” said Giménez. “The Club has shown their confidence in me, and it is a responsibility that I do not take lightly. I look forward to giving the best version of myself for our fans and the city of Chicago.”
ALISEDA GOES TO FC LUGANO: In the first of what may be quite a few transfers of the kind, the Fire transferred midfielder Ignacio Aliseda to Swiss Elite League side FC Lugano which is also owned by Joe Mansueto. Mansueto purchased FC Lugano back in August.
“After many discussions with Ignacio, we were all in agreement that this was the right time for a new challenge,” said Sporting Director Georg Heitz. “This move allows Ignacio to continue his development in a competitive European league, while providing us with more roster flexibility going into the 2022 MLS season. On behalf of the Fire, I’d like to thank Ignacio for his contributions over the last two seasons. We wish him all the best as he begins this exciting new chapter with our partner Club, FC Lugano.”
Aliseda made 43 appearances over two seasons for the Fire.
FIRE ANNOUNCE PROTECTED PLAYERS FOR EXPANSION DRAFT: Also on Monday, the Fire announced their protected and unprotected players ahead of Tuesday’s Expansion Draft for Charlotte FC.
The following Chicago Fire players are exempt from selection in the Expansion Draft:
Protected Players (12): forward Ignacio Aliseda, defender Jonathan Bornstein, defender Jhon Espinoza, midfielder Gastón Giménez, midfielder Fabian Herbers, midfielder Stanislav Ivanov, defender Miguel Navarro, midfielder Federico Navarro, forward Chinonso Offor, defender Wyatt Omsberg, defender Boris Sekulić and defender Carlos Terán.
Homegrown Exempt Players (11): goalkeeper Chris Brady, midfielder Javier Casas Jr., midfielder Brian Gutiérrez, midfielder Alex Monis, midfielder Sergio Oregel Jr., defender/midfielder Mauricio Pineda, defender Andre Reynolds II, midfielder Allan Rodríguez, forward Missael Rodríguez, goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina and defender Nicholas Slonina.
The following players are available for selection:
Unprotected Players (8): forward Robert Berić, defender Francisco Calvo, midfielder Elliot Collier, defender Johan Kappelhof, goalkeeper Kenneth Kronholm, midfielder Álvaro Medrán, goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth and midfielder Luka Stojanović.
Once a player is selected from a team, that team cannot lose any more players. Charlotte will have a chance to select up to five players. San Jose Earthquakes, New York Red Bulls, Nashville SC, LA Galaxy, and Orlando City SC are all exempt from the Draft after losing players last year to Austin FC.
RED STARS ANNOUNCE COACHING SEARCH: The Chicago Red Stars announced that they are indeed searching for a replacement to Rory Dames, who resigned a day after the NWSL Championship amid allegations of emotional abuse towards players on the Red Stars. They have formed a search committee which includes current and former Red Stars players, assistant coaches, sports psychologist, the Chief Business Officer, and members of club ownership.
Goalkeeper coach Rade Tanaskovic and assistant coach Julianne Sitch are currently in charge of preparations for preseason before the 2022 season.
US SOCCER HALT NWSL ALLOCATIONS: US Soccer issued a statement that they will no longer allocate players from the US National Team to NWSL clubs. This deal was reached between the federation and the US Women’s National Team and to extend the no-strike/no-lockout agreement thru March 31st, 2022. US Soccer will also no longer pay the salaries of any USWNT players who play in the NWSL.
