2022 Chicago Fire FC season
Chicago Fire FC 2022 soccer season
The 2022 Chicago Fire FC season was the club's 24th year of existence, as well as their 25th in Major League Soccer . On November 24, 2021, the Fire announced Columbus Crew assistant coach Ezra Hendrickson as the new head coach, making him the tenth full-time head coach in club history.[ 1] For the fifth straight season and 12th season in club history, the Fire failed to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Fire would begin with an unbeaten record in their first four games (2-0-2), but would start a 10-game winless run where the club went 0-7-3 following their 3–1 victory over Sporting Kansas City on March 19. Following an international break from May 29 until June 17, the Fire then went 6-3-1 over their next ten games, which ultimately led them to a 2-5-3 record to finish the season. The club also lost to Union Omaha on penalties in the Third Round of the Open Cup, their worst ever performance in the competition. Despite failing to make the playoffs, goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina set the club record for clean sheets in a season with 12 following the Fire's 0–0 draw with the Columbus Crew on September 3. Slonina would be sold to Chelsea on August 2 for a club record fee, with a loan back for the remainder of the season. On the reverse, the Fire also signed Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri for a club-record fee on February 9.
Current squad
Players signed as of August 5, 2022
No.
Name
Nationality
Position
Date of Birth (Age)
Previous Club
Player Notes
Goalkeepers
1
Gabriel Slonina
G
(2004-05-15 ) May 15, 2004 (aged 18)
Chelsea F.C.
Loaned In
18
Spencer Richey
G
(1992-05-30 ) May 30, 1992 (aged 30)
Seattle Sounders FC
34
Chris Brady
G
(2004-03-03 ) March 3, 2004 (aged 18)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
Defenders
2
Boris Sekulić
D
(1991-10-21 ) October 21, 1991 (aged 30)
Górnik Zabrze
International
3
Jonathan Bornstein
D
(1984-11-07 ) November 7, 1984 (aged 37)
Maccabi Netanya F.C.
5
Rafael Czichos
D
(1990-05-14 ) May 14, 1990 (aged 32)
1. FC Köln
Captain International
6
Miguel Navarro
D
(1999-02-26 ) February 26, 1999 (aged 23)
Deportivo La Guaira F.C.
14
Jhon Espinoza
D
(1999-02-24 ) February 24, 1999 (aged 23)
S.D. Aucas
20
Wyatt Omsberg
D
(1995-09-21 ) September 21, 1995 (aged 27)
Minnesota United FC
22
Mauricio Pineda
D
(1997-10-17 ) October 17, 1997 (aged 24)
North Carolina Tar Heels
Homegrown
23
Carlos Terán
D
(2000-09-24 ) September 24, 2000 (aged 22)
Envigado F.C.
27
Kendall Burks
D
(1999-10-08 ) October 8, 1999 (aged 23)
Washington Huskies
36
Andre Reynolds II
D
(2001-05-02 ) May 2, 2001 (aged 21)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
Midfielders
10
Xherdan Shaqiri
M
(1991-10-10 ) October 10, 1991 (aged 30)
Olympique Lyonnais
Designated Player International
21
Fabian Herbers
M
(1993-08-17 ) August 17, 1993 (aged 29)
Philadelphia Union
30
Gastón Giménez
M
(1991-07-27 ) July 27, 1991 (aged 31)
Vélez Sarsfield
Designated Player
31
Federico Navarro
M
(2000-03-09 ) March 9, 2000 (aged 22)
Talleres de Cordoba
International U-22 Initiative
35
Sergio Oregel
M
(2005-05-16 ) May 16, 2005 (aged 17)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
37
Javier Casas
M
(2003-05-14 ) May 14, 2003 (aged 19)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
38
Alex Monis
M
(2003-03-20 ) March 20, 2003 (aged 19)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
39
Allan Rodriguez
M
(2004-05-27 ) May 27, 2004 (aged 18)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
40
Brian Gutiérrez
M
(2003-06-17 ) June 17, 2003 (aged 19)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
Forwards
7
Jairo Torres
F
(2000-07-05 ) July 5, 2000 (aged 22)
Atlas F.C.
International Young DP
8
Chris Mueller
F
(1996-08-29 ) August 29, 1996 (aged 26)
Hibernian F.C.
11
Kacper Przybyłko
F
(1993-03-25 ) March 25, 1993 (aged 29)
Philadelphia Union
26
Jhon Durán
F
(2003-12-15 ) December 15, 2003 (aged 18)
Envigado F.C.
International U-22 Initiative
32
Missael Rodriguez
F
(2003-02-09 ) February 9, 2003 (aged 19)
Chicago Fire Academy
Homegrown
33
Victor Bezerra
F
(2000-02-05 ) February 5, 2000 (aged 22)
Indiana Hoosiers
Homegrown
99
Stanislav Ivanov
F
(1999-04-16 ) April 16, 1999 (aged 23)
PFC Levski Sofia
Player movement
Returning, options, and new contracts
Date
Player
Position
Notes
Ref
November 29, 2021
Jonathan Bornstein
D
Georg Heitz and Ezra Hendrickson confirmed Bornstein would be returning during a press conference; it was later announced that he'd signed a one-year deal
[ 2] [ 3]
December 3, 2021
Wyatt Omsberg
D
Re-signed with the Fire on a contract for 2022 with options for 2023 and 2024
[ 4]
December 6, 2021
Miguel Navarro
D
Signed a new contract that runs through 2024 with an option for 2025
[ 5]
December 13, 2021
Gastón Giménez
M
Re-signed as a Designated Player through 2023
[ 6]
April 19, 2022
Gabriel Slonina
GK
2023 option was exercised
[ 7]
May 16, 2022
Chris Brady
GK
Signed a contract through 2026 with an option for 2027
[ 8]
September 20, 2022
Brian Gutiérrez
MF
Signed to a contract through 2026 with an option for 2027
[ 9]
September 27, 2022
Federico Navarro
MF
Signed to a new U-22 contract through 2027 with an option for 2028
[ 10]
October 7, 2022
Gastón Giménez
M
Signed to a new TAM deal through 2025
[ 11]
In
Date
Player
Position
Previous Club
Notes
Ref
January 11, 2021
Jhon Durán
F
Envigado F.C.
Signed as a U-22 Initiative Player to a contract starting in 2022 until 2024 with options for 2025 and 2026
[ 12]
October 12, 2021
Missael Rodriguez
F
Chicago Fire Academy
Signed as a homegrown player to contract through 2025 with an option for 2026
[ 13]
October 23, 2021
Sergio Oregel
M
Chicago Fire Academy
Signed as a homegrown player to a contract through 2025 with an option for 2026
[ 14]
December 20, 2021
Spencer Richey
G
Seattle Sounders FC
Signed as a free agent to a contract through 2023 with an option for 2024
[ 15]
December 22, 2021
Victor Bezerra
F
Indiana Hoosiers
Signed to a homegrown contract through 2024 with an option for 2025
[ 16]
January 2, 2021
Rafael Czichos
D
1. FC Köln
Acquired from 1. FC Köln on a contract through 2024
[ 17]
January 22, 2021
Kacper Przybyłko
F
Philadelphia Union
Acquired from Philadelphia in exchange for $1,150,000 in GAM spread out over 2022 and 2023, under contract through 2023
[ 18]
February 9, 2022
Xherdan Shaqiri
M
Olympique Lyonnais
Acquired from Lyon for an undisclosed fee- though it was the highest in the team's history- on a Designated Player contract through 2024.
[ 19]
February 19, 2022
Jairo Torres
F
Atlas F.C.
Acquired from Atlas for an undisclosed fee as a young Designated Player on a contract through 2025
[ 20]
February 25, 2022
Kendall Burks
D
Washington Huskies
Signed a contract through 2023 with options for 2024 and 2025 after being drafted eleventh overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft
[ 21]
May 5, 2022
Chris Mueller
F
Hibernian F.C.
Acquired from Hibernian for free on a contract through 2025 with an option for 2026; the Fire acquired Mueller's rights from Orlando City in exchange for $250k GAM in 2022 and 2023, the Fire's first round draft pick in the 2023 superdraft, and the rights to an unnamed player, while also retaining a percentage of any future sale with Mueller
[ 22]
Loaned in
Date
Player
Position
Loaning Club
Notes
Ref
August, 2022
Gabriel Slonina
G
Chelsea F.C.
Loaned back to the Fire for the remainder of the season after being sold for a club record fee.
Out
Date
Player
Position
Destination Club
Notes
Ref
November 8, 2021
Robert Berić
F
Tianjin Jinmen Tiger F.C.
Option Declined; was drafted by Sporting Kansas City in the Re-Entry Draft , but has not signed with the club
[ 23] [ 24]
November 8, 2021
Francisco Calvo
D
San Jose Earthquakes
Option Declined
[ 23]
November 8, 2021
Elliot Collier
F
San Antonio FC
Option Declined
[ 23]
November 8, 2021
Johan Kappelhof
D
Real Salt Lake
Out of Contract
[ 23]
November 8, 2021
Kenneth Kronholm
G
Retired
Option Declined
[ 23]
November 8, 2021
Álvaro Medrán
M
Al Taawoun FC
Option Declined
[ 23]
November 8, 2021
Bobby Shuttleworth
G
Atlanta United FC
Out of Contract
[ 23]
November 8, 2021
Nicholas Slonina
D
Retired
Option Declined after stepping away from the game earlier in the 2021 season
[ 23] [ 25]
November 8, 2021
Luka Stojanović
M
Al-Hazem F.C.
Option Declined
[ 23]
December 13, 2021
Ignacio Aliseda
F
FC Lugano
Transferred to FC Lugano
[ 26]
August 2, 2022
Gabriel Slonina
G
Chelsea F.C.
Sold for a club record fee- reportedly $10 million, with up to $5 million in add-ons. Loaned back to the Fire for the remainder of the season.
[ 27]
August 5, 2022
Chinonso Offor
F
CF Montreal
Sold to Montreal for $325k in 2023 GAM
[ 28]
Player
Position
Movement
Notes
Ref
Allan Rodriguez
M
To second team
Was delisted from the senior roster and added to the second team's roster at an unknown time, with his bio page reflecting him as a Fire II player; he was later added back to the Fire's senior roster page prior to Fire II's final match on September 19
[ 29] [ 30]
Mihajlo Mišković
GK
To first team temporarily
Signed a short-term contract with the Fire for the May 28th game against Toronto FC
[ 31]
Technical staff
Competitions
Major League Soccer
Eastern Conference table
Source:
MLS Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Notes:
^ a b Canadian clubs cannot qualify for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.
^ as 2022 U.S. Open Cup champions
Overall table
Source:
MLS Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
(C) Champions;
(S) Supporters' Shield winners;
(U) U.S. Open Cup winners;
(V) Canadian Championship winners
Notes:
Results summary
Overall
Home
Away
Pld
Pts
W
L
T
GF
GA
GD
W
L
T
GF
GA
GD
W
L
T
GF
GA
GD
34
39
10
15
9
39
48
−9
6
6
5
18
17
+1
4
9
4
21
31
−10
Last updated: October 9
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
Preseason
Regular season
U.S. Open Cup
International friendlies
Statistics
Note: italics indicates a player who left during the season
Games played
Main starting XI
This starting group is based on players who started in the indicated position more than any other player across all competitions.
Detailed Starting Positions
Goalkeeping
Goals and assists
Cards
Awards
Man of the Match awards
MLS Team of the Week
MLS Player of the Week
Week
Player
Statistics
Report
20
Jhon Durán
2 goals vs Toronto FC
[ 72]
Note: italics indicates a player who left during the season.
Games played
Goalkeeping
No.
Nat.
Name
MLS Next Pro
Clean Sheets
Saves
GA
34
USA
Chris Brady
5
45
10
Goals and assists
References
^ "Chicago Fire FC Names Ezra Hendrickson Head Coach" . November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021 .
^ "LIVE: Ezra Hendrickson formally introduced as #cf97 head coach" . November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Re-Signs Defender Jonathan Bornstein" . December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Re-Signs Defender Wyatt Omsberg" . December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Signs Defender Miguel Navarro to New Contract" . December 6, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Sign Midfielder Gastón Giménez to New Contract" . December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Exercise Homegrown Goalkeeper Gaga Slonina's 2023 Contract Option" . April 19, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Sign Homegrown Goalkeeper, Naperville Native Chris Brady to New Contract" . May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Sign Homegrown Midfielder, Chicago-Native Brian Gutiérrez to New Contract" . September 19, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Sign Midfielder Federico Navarro to New Contract" . September 27, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Signs Midfielder Gastón Giménez to New Contract, Opening a 2023 Designated Player Roster Slot" . October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires 17-Year-Old Colombian Forward Jhon Jáder Durán" . Chicago Fire . January 11, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Sign Academy Forward Missael Rodríguez to Homegrown Player Contract" . October 12, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Sign Academy Midfielder Sergio Oregel to Homegrown Player Contract" . October 23, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquire Goalkeeper Spencer Richey" . December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Sign Academy Product Victor Bezerra to Homegrown Player Contract" . December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquire Defender Rafael Czichos from FC Köln" . January 2, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquire Polish Striker Kacper Przybyłko from the Philadelphia Union in Exchange for General Allocation Money" . January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquire Switzerland International Xherdan Shaqiri as Designated Player" . February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquire Mexican Winger Jairo Torres as Young Designated Player" . February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Sign MLS SuperDraft Pick Kendall Burks to First Team Contract" . February 25, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquire Chicagoland Native Chris Mueller from Scottish Premier League side Hibernian F.C." May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022 .
^ a b c d e f g h i "Chicago Fire FC Announce 2021 Roster Decisions" . Chicago Fire . November 8, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021 .
^ "Sporting KC selects Robert Beric in Stage 2 Re-Entry Draft" . December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021 .
^ "A Look Both Back and Forward as the Fire Offseason Begins" . Chicago Fire . November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Transfer Forward Ignacio Aliseda to FC Lugano" . December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Agrees to Club-Record Transfer of Homegrown Goalkeeper Gabriel "Gaga" Slonina to English Premier League Club Chelsea FC" . August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires $325,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money from CF Montréal" . August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire Roster" . Retrieved April 12, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire II Roster" . Retrieved April 12, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC Signs Goalkeeper Mihajlo Mišković to Short-Term Agreement" . May 28, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022 .
^ a b c "Chicago Fire FC Announce Roster for Preseason Training Camp" . January 16, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022 .
^ "Harold Osorio, sobre el Chicago Fire: "Espero se llegue a un acuerdo" " . July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022 .
^ "☀️ Buenos días #Honduras🇭🇳👏🏿 Nuestro capitán U-20 👤Aarón Zúniga que logró con el equipo nacional la clasificación al mundial de #Indonesia 🇮🇩 viajó a #USA 🇺🇸.💪🏾Hará una prueba con el 🔥 @ChicagoFire de la @MLSes.🔝Muchos éxitos a nuestro capitán desde #Lacasadelfutbol 👏🏾" . August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022 .
^ "MOTM goes to @XS_11official" . February 26, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2022 .
^ "Captain Czichos 👏" . March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022 .
^ "Mr. Ivanov. 🔥" . March 12, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022 .
^ "For obvious reasons. 🔥" . March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022 .
^ "MOTM ➡️ Gastón Giménez" . April 2, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022 .
^ "MOTM" . April 9, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022 .
^ "👏👏👏" . April 16, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2022 .
^ "MOTM" . May 14, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022 .
^ "With his first in a #cf97 kit. 👏" . May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022 .
^ "MOTM" . May 22, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022 .
^ ".@cmueller1662's first MOTM!" . June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022 .
^ "obviously 🔥" . June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022 .
^ "Final" . July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022 .
^ "duh" . July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 .
^ "only one man it could be" . July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022 .
^ "Big Shaq balled out" . July 23, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022 .
^ "heck of a game from Fede 👏" . July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022 .
^ "NEVER DOUBTED HIM" . August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022 .
^ "MOTM goes to Fabi" . August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022 .
^ "no surprise here 🔥" . September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022 .
^ "MOTM obvis!!" . September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022 .
^ "DUH" . October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022 .
^ "MOTM" . October 9, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022 .
^ "Team of the Week presented by Audi: Who made the Week 1 cut as 2022 season begins" . February 28, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022 .
^ "Omsberg, Slonina named to MLS Team of the Week following D.C. victory" . March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022 .
^ "MLS Team Of The Week | Hollingshead's Brace Earns Him A Spot - Week 4" . March 21, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022 .
^ "Team of the Week presented by Audi: Austin FC dominate lineup in Week 12" . May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022 .
^ "Team of the Week presented by Audi: South American stars, DP newcomers among Week 15's best" . June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022 .
^ "Team of the Week presented by Audi: Old heads, young stars among Week 17's standouts" . July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022 .
^ "Team of the Week presented by Audi: Atlanta, Chicago show signs of life in Week 20" . July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022 .
^ "Team of the Week presented by Audi: Chicago Fire, Inter Miami CF turn upstream in Week 21" . July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022 .
^ "Team of the Week presented by Audi: RBNY youngsters, Toronto's stars highlight Week 22" . July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022 .
^ "Team of the Week presented by Audi: Colorado Rapids, MVP candidates highlight Week 24" . August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022 .
^ "Team of the Week presented by Audi: CF Montréal, Philadelphia Union show elite status in Week 29" . September 6, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022 .
^ "Team of the Week presented by Audi: Atlanta United, Seattle Sounders roar back in Week 30" . September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022 .
^ "Team of the Week presented by Audi: Austin FC make history in Week 31" . September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022 .
^ "Team of the Week presented by Audi: LAFC, Vancouver create Decision Day momentum in Week 33" . October 3, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Fire FC teenage sensation Jhon Durán named Week 20 Continental Player of the Week" . July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022 .
External links
Club Stadiums Affiliated clubs Culture Key personnel
Major honors (6)
MLS Cup (1) Supporters' Shield (1) U.S. Open Cup (4)
Major League Soccer
Seasons (24)
National teams
League competitions
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Amateur Collegiate
Cup competitions
Domestic International Friendly
Youth competitions