2021 Chicago Fire FC season

The 2021 Chicago Fire FC season was the club's 26th year of existence, as well as their 24th in Major League Soccer. This was the Fire's first season with fans in Soldier Field since 2005 (the Fire had officially moved in 2020, however fans were not allowed in Soldier Field due to the pandemic). The Fire would fail to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth season in a row. Head coach Raphael Wicky was ultimately relieved of his position on September 30, with Assistant Coach Frank Klopas taking over on an interim basis.[1]

Chicago Fire FC
2021 season
ChairmanJoe Mansueto
Head coachRaphaël Wicky (Until September 30); Frank Klopas (Interim since September 30)
StadiumSoldier Field
(capacity: 61,500)
MLSConference: 12th
Overall: 22th
U.S. Open CupCanceled
Top goalscorerLeague: Robert Beric (8 goals, 3 assists)
All: Robert Beric (8 goals, 3 assists)
Highest home attendance31,308 (10/23 v. RSL)
Lowest home attendance5,593 (9/29 v. NYC)
Average home league attendance10,703
Biggest winCHI 3–0 ATL (7/3)
Biggest defeatNSH 5–1 CHI (7/17)

Current squad

As of November 1, 2021

No. Name Nationality Position Date of Birth (Age) Previous Club Player Notes
1 Bobby Shuttleworth G (1987-05-17)May 17, 1987 (aged 34) Sacramento Republic
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.
4 Johan Kappelhof D (1990-08-05)August 5, 1990 (aged 31) FC Groningen
5 Francisco Calvo D (1992-07-08)July 8, 1992 (aged 29) Minnesota United
6 Miguel Navarro D (1999-02-26)February 26, 1999 (aged 22) Deportivo La Guaira F.C.
7 Ignacio Aliseda M (2000-03-14)March 14, 2000 (aged 21) Defensa y Justicia International
Young Designated Player
8 Luka Stojanović M (1994-01-04)January 4, 1994 (aged 27) FK Čukarički
9 Chinonso Offor F (2000-05-07)May 7, 2000 (aged 21) FK RFS International
10 Álvaro Medrán M (1994-03-15)March 15, 1994 (aged 27) Valencia CF
14 Jhon Espinoza D (1999-02-24)February 24, 1999 (aged 22) S.D. Aucas International
18 Kenneth Kronholm G (1985-10-14)October 14, 1985 (aged 36) Holstein Kiel
20 Wyatt Omsberg D (1995-09-21)September 21, 1995 (aged 26) Minnesota United
21 Fabian Herbers F (1993-08-17)August 17, 1993 (aged 28) Philadelphia Union
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 21) Envigado F.C. International
25 Nicholas Slonina D (2001-03-20)March 20, 2001 (aged 20) Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
27 Robert Berić F (1991-06-17)June 17, 1991 (aged 30) AS Saint-Étienne Designated Player
28 Elliot Collier F (1995-02-22)February 22, 1995 (aged 26) Loyola Chicago
30 Gastón Giménez M (1991-07-27)July 27, 1991 (aged 30) Vélez Sarsfield International
Designated Player
31 Federico Navarro M (2000-03-09)March 9, 2000 (aged 21) Talleres de Cordoba International
U-22 Initiative
32 Gabriel Slonina G (2004-05-15)May 15, 2004 (aged 17) Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
34 Chris Brady G (2004-03-03)March 3, 2004 (aged 17) Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
36 Andre Reynolds II D (2001-05-02)May 2, 2001 (aged 20) Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
On Loan
37 Javier Casas M (2003-05-14)May 14, 2003 (aged 18) Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
38 Alex Monis F (2003-03-20)March 20, 2003 (aged 18) Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
39 Allan Rodríguez M (2004-05-07)May 7, 2004 (aged 17) Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
40 Brian Gutiérrez M (2003-06-17)June 17, 2003 (aged 18) Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
99 Stanislav Ivanov M (1999-04-16)April 16, 1999 (aged 22) PFC Levski Sofia

Player movement

In

Date Player Position Previous Club Notes Ref
November 12, 2020 Elliot CollierF Chicago FireOption was exercised[2]
November 12, 2020 Djordje MihailovicM Chicago FireOption was exercised[2]
November 12, 2020 Wyatt OmsbergD Chicago FireOption was exercised[2]
November 12, 2020 Nicholas SloninaD Chicago FireOption was exercised[2]
November 13, 2020 Chinonso OfforF FK RFSSigned on a contract through 2023 with an option for 2024[3]
November 23, 2020 Jhon EspinozaD S.D. AucasSigned on a contract through 2023 with options for 2024 and 2025[4]
December 9, 2020 Stanislav IvanovM PFC Levski SofiaSigned on a contract through 2023 with an option for 2024[5]
August 6, 2021 Federico NavarroM Talleres de CordobaSigned as a U-22 Initiative player on a contract through 2025 with an option for 2026[6]

Out

Date Player Position Destination Club Notes Ref
November 12, 2020 Micheal AziraM New Mexico UnitedOption was declined[2]
November 12, 2020 Jeremiah GutjahrD/M Indy ElevenOption was declined[2]
November 12, 2020 C. J. SapongM/F Nashville SCOption was declined[2]
November 12, 2020 Connor SparrowG Miami FCOption was declined[2]
November 30, 2020 Brandt BronicoM Charlotte FCOption was declined; his rights were ultimately traded to Charlotte FC alongside the Fire's 2022 Fourth Round Draft pick in exchange for Charlotte's Fourth Round Draft pick[7][8]
December 17, 2020 Djordje MihailovicM Montreal ImpactTraded to Montreal in exchange for $800k in GAM in 2021 and 2022, possibly up to $1 million, along with a percentage of any future trade[9]
August 5, 2021 Przemysław FrankowskiM RC LensSold to RC Lens for an undisclosed fee[10]

Loaned Out

Date Player Position Destination Club Notes Ref
May 14, 2021 Andre ReynoldsD Memphis 901 FCLoaned to Memphis for the duration of the season[11]

Unsigned Draft Picks and Trialists

Pick Player Position Previous Club Notes Ref
R2, P33 Jackson RagenD University of MichiganUltimately signed with Tacoma Defiance[12]
R2, P47 Christian PinzonF California State University, FullertonPinzon signed with C.D. Guadalajara[12]
R3, P60 Mitch GuitarM University of WisconsinOfficially a member of Indy Eleven, traded to Memphis 901 FC[12]
Trialist Michael VangM Forward Madison FCInvited to trial with the Fire for the preseason, due to the partnership with Madison[13]

Technical staff

Position Staff
Sporting Director Georg Heitz
Technical Director Sebastian Pelzer
Head Coach Raphaël Wicky (Until September 30)
Assistant Coach/Interim Head Coach Frank Klopas (Until September 30, Interim Head Coach afterwards)
Assistant Coach David Zdrilic (Until May 20)
Interim Assistant Coach Ludovic Taillandier (Since September 30)
Goalkeeping Coach Adin Brown

Last updated: October 30, 2021
Source: Chicago Fire Technical Staff

Match results

Preseason

March 13, 2021 (2021-03-13) Preseason 1 Chicago Fire 2–1 New York City FC Citrus Ridge, Florida
12:00 PM EST Berić 14'
Collier 54'
Report Calvo 1' (o.g.) Stadium: ChampionsGate Sports Complex
March 20, 2021 (2021-03-20) Preseason 2 Philadelphia Union 0–1 Chicago Fire Clearwater, Florida
3:00 PM EDT Martínez  8'
Fontana  31'
Wagner  61'
CHI Report
PHI Report
Kappelhof  37'
Gutiérrez  40'
Casas 100' (Frankowski)
Stadium: Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex
Note: Additional 25-minute period after the full 90 minutes.
March 27, 2021 (2021-03-27) Preseason 3 Chicago Fire 1–2 FC Cincinnati Citrus Ridge, Florida
11:30 AM EDT Sekulić 15' Report Acosta 35'
Harris 78'
Stadium: ChampionsGate Sports Complex
April 3, 2021 (2021-04-03) Preseason 4 Orlando City 2–2 Chicago Fire Orlando, Florida
11:30 AM EDT Michel 25'
Mueller 64'
Report Frankowski 3'
Stojanović 55' (Frankowski)
Stadium: Exploria Stadium
April 7, 2021 (2021-04-07) Preseason 5 Chicago Fire FC 2–0 Forward Madison FC Bridgeview, Illinois
12:00 PM CDT Report
Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium

Regular Season

April 17 1 Chicago Fire 2–2 New England Revolution Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM CDT Berić 5'
Stojanović 11'
Kappelhof  79'
Report Buksa 14'
Bou 27'
Jones  90+2'
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 8,102
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
April 24 2 Atlanta United 3–1 Chicago Fire Atlanta, Georgia
7:00 PM CDT Barco 23',  70'
Mulraney  27'
Kappelhof 66' (o.g.)
Hyndman  81', 85'
Report Stojanović 46'
Giménez  90'
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Attendance: 20,335
Referee: Allen Chapman
May 1 3 NY Red Bulls 2–0 Chicago Fire Harrison, NJ
12:00 PM CDT Davis  42'
Cásseres 47'
Clarr 64'
Report Sekulić  44'
Calvo  62'
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: unknown
Referee: Ted Unkel
May 8 4 Chicago Fire 0–2 Philadelphia Union Chicago, Illinois
12:00 PM CDT Kappelhof  26'
Omsberg  48'
Sekulić  90+2'
Report Burke 51'
Glesnes 60'
Santos  90+2'
Bedoya  90+6'
Glesnes  90+7'
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 6,457
Referee: Marcos DeOliviera
May 13 5 D.C. United 1–0 Chicago Fire Washington, D.C.
7:00PM CDT Hines-Ike  4'
Flores 7'
Gressel  47'
Report Omsberg  19'
Frankowski  52'
Herbers  63'
Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 3,935
Referee: Ramy Rouchan
May 22 6 Chicago Fire 1–0 Inter Miami Chicago, Illinois
5:00PM CDT Medrán  9'
Stojanović 69'
Offor  89'
Sekulić  90+1'
Report Pírez  22'
Ulloa  31'
Robinson  61'
Shawcross  67'
Matuidi  68'
Figal  85'
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 10,844
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
May 29 7 Chicago Fire 0–1 CF Montreal Chicago, Illinois
12:00PM CDT Report Camacho  17'
Wanyama  62'
Toye 87'
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 6,680
Referee: Victor Rivas
June 19 8 Columbus Crew 2–0 Chicago Fire Columbus, Ohio
6:30PM CDT Zardes 17', 34'
Etienne  21'
Williams  25'
Report Herbers  44'
Medrán  65'
Stadium: Historic Crew Stadium
Attendance: 20,064
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
June 23 9 Chicago Fire 0–1 FC Cincinnati Chicago, Illinois
7:00PM CDT Report Barreal 50'  79'
Vazquez  84'
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 5,926
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
June 26 10 Chicago Fire 3–3 Philadelphia Union Chicago, Illinois
7:00PM CDT Glesnes 2' (o.g.)
Stojanović  44'
Sekulić 56'
Navarro  62'
Pineda 67'
Herbers  81'
Report Elliott  10'
Sullivan 28'
Santos  34'
Burke 45+2'
Wagner  52'
Powell  55'
Sekulić 79' (o.g.)
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 7,308
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
July 3 11 Chicago Fire 3–0 Atlanta United Chicago, Illinois
7:00PM CDT Bornstein  26'
Frankowski  31' 58'
Aliseda 34, 45+6'
Report Bello  27'
Wolff  52'
Walkes  69'
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 14,898
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
July 7 12 Chicago Fire 3–1 Orlando City Chicago, Illinois
7:00PM CDT Bornstein  12'
Medrán  22'
Sekulić 45+1'
Berić 72'
Herbers  84'
Offor 90+6'
Report Perea 34'
Jansson  79'
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 8,002
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
July 17 13 Nashville SC 5–1 Chicago Fire Nashville, Tennessee
7:30PM CDT Mukhtar 10', 13', 16'
Sapong 39'
Anuga 62'
Report Kappelhof  14'
Pineda  27'
Aliseda 47'
Navarro  49'
Stadium: Nissan Stadium
Attendance: 23,113
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
Note: Hany Mukhtar's Hat-trick for Nashville SC was the fastest hat-trick in MLS history
July 21 14 Chicago Fire 2–2 D.C. United Chicago, Illinois
7:00PM CDT Giménez 32',  62'
Najar 61' (o.g.)
Medrán  65'
Report Najar  55'
Paredes 82'
Skundrich  84'
Kamara 87' (pen.)
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 8,306
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
July 24 15 Chicago Fire 1–2 Toronto FC Chicago, Illinois
7:00PM CDT Pineda  70'
Medrán 77'
Report Soteldo 2'
DeLeon 76'
Singh  81'
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 12,288
Referee: Victor Rivas
August 1 16 Philadelphia Union 1–1 Chicago Fire Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
5:00PM CDT Glesnes  30'
Wagner 36'
Elliott  65'
Report Frankowski 10'
Omsberg  34'
Herbers  41'
Berič  78'
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 16,677
Referee: Michael Radchuk
August 4 17 Chicago Fire 0–0 New York City FC Chicago, Illinois
7:00PM CDT Kappelhof  90' Report Parks  42'  73'
Tajouri-Shradi  84'
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 8,371
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
August 8 18 Chicago Fire 2–1 New York Red Bulls Chicago, Illinois
5:00PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 11,894
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
August 15 19 Chicago Fire 1–0 Columbus Crew Chicago, Illinois
5:00PM CDT Stojanovic 77' Report Etienne  27' Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 13,005
Referee: Nima Saghafi
August 18 20 Inter Miami 3–2 Chicago Fire Fort Lauderdale, Florida
6:30PM CDT Vassilev 34'
González Pírez  50'
Robinson 62'  74'
Carranza  84'
Pizarro 90+3'
Report Calvo 40'
Stojanović 48'
Herbers  60'
Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium
Attendance: 13,196
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
August 21 21 Orlando City 1–0 Chicago Fire Orlando, Florida
6:30PM CDT Michel 51'
Mueller  78'
Report Terán  72' Stadium: Exploria Stadium
Referee: Tim Ford
August 28 22 New York Red Bulls 0–1 Chicago Fire Harrison, New Jersey
6:00PM CDT Reyes  73'
Duncan  78'
Report Berić 32'
Terán  81'
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: 12,018
Referee: Victor Rivas
September 11 23 Sporting Kansas City 2–0 Chicago Fire Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 PM CDT José Mauri 4'
Russel 6'
Report Stojanović  32'
F. Navarro  53'
M. Navarro  68'
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 18,467
Referee: Jon Freemon
September 15 24 D.C. United 3–0 Chicago Fire Washington, D.C.
7:00PM CDT Kamara 9' (pen.), 35' (pen.), 44'
Pines  12'
Gressel  53'
Report Terán  7'
Giménez  11'
Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 13,524
Referee: David Gantar
September 19 25 CF Montréal 2–0 Chicago Fire Montreal, Quebec
12:00 PM CDT Quioto 60'
Terán 80' (o.g.)
Report Stojanović  39'
Terán  49'
Stadium: Saputo Stadium
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
September 22 26 Chicago Fire 2–3 New England Revolution Chicago, Illinois
7:00 PM CDT Terán  17', 40'
Medrán  34'
Giménez 63'
Report Kessler 11'
Caldwell  31'
Bunbury 62'
Gil 90+1',  90+1'
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 7,052
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
September 26 27 Chicago Fire 0–0 Nashville SC Chicago, Illinois
7:00 PM CDT Pineda  50' Report Anunga  56' Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 15,915
Referee: Timothy Ford
September 29 28 Chicago Fire 2–0 New York City FC Bridgeview, Illinois
7:00 PM CDT Navarro  16'
Beric 48'
Gimenez  59'
Navarro 66'
Report Medina  10'
Acevedo  27'
Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium
Attendance: 5,593
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
October 3 29 Toronto FC 3–1 Chicago Fire Toronto, Canada
3:00PM CDT Soteldo  9', 36', 70'
Delgado 44'
Gonzalez 56'
Laryea  89'
Report Berić 16'
Offor  86'
Stadium: BMO Field
Referee: Nima Saghafi
October 16 30 New England Revolution 2–2 Chicago Fire Foxborough, Massachusetts
6:00PM CDT Kaptoum 47'
Bou 76'
Buchanan  90+3'
Report Medrán 49'
F. Navarro  60'
Aliseda 88'
M. Navarro  90+3'
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 28,414
Referee: Joseph Dickerson
October 20 31 FC Cincinnati 3–4 Chicago Fire Cincinnati, Ohio
6:30PM CDT Acosta 28'
Bailey  30'
Vázquez 36'
Gyau  48'
Cameron  80'
Blackett 90+1'
Report Berić 14', 17'
Kappelhof  45+1'
Medrán 71'
F. Navarro  68'
G. Slonina  79'
Stojanović 90+3'
Stadium: TQL Stadium
Attendance: 21,369
Referee: Jon Freemon
October 23 32 Chicago Fire 1–0 Real Salt Lake Chicago, Illinois
7:00PM Central Time Zone Herbers  29'
Berić 45'
Pineda  67'
Gimenez  74'
Gutiérrez  86'
Report Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 31,308
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
October 27 33 New York City FC 1–0 Chicago Fire The Bronx, New York
6:30Pm CDT Castellanos 51' (pen.),  90+1' Report Pineda  32' Stadium: Yankee Stadium
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
November 7 34 Columbus Crew 2–0 Chicago Fire Columbus, Ohio
2:30PM CST Zelarayán 31'
Berry 58'
Report Navarro  59'
Offor  62'
Espinoza  88'
Ivanov  89'
Stadium: Mapfre Stadium
Attendance: 19,351
Referee: Timothy Ford

Squad Statistics

Note: Italics indicate the player left the squad or was loaned out and hasn't returned from loan

Games Played

No. Pos. Nat. Name MLS
Starts Apps Minutes
1 GK  USA Bobby Shuttleworth 23 23 2070
2 DF  SVK Boris Sekulić 27 28 2312
3 DF  USA Jonathan Bornstein 25 30 2220
4 DF  NED Johan Kappelhof 16 19 1230
5 DF  CRC Francisco Calvo 16 17 1455
6 DF  VEN Miguel Navarro 25 28 2226
7 MF  ARG Ignacio Aliseda 16 23 1592
8 MF  SER Luka Stojanovic 15 27 1347
9 FW  NGR Chinonso Offor 11 34 1326
10 MF  ESP Alvaro Medran 26 32 2288
11 MF  POL Przemyslaw Frankowski 12 13 1064
14 DF  ECU Jhon Espinoza 8 20 807
18 GK  USA Kenneth Kronholm
20 DF  USA Wyatt Omsberg 9 18 754
21 MF  GER Fabian Herbers 22 27 1833
22 DF  USA Mauricio Pineda 28 29 2409
23 DF  COL Carlos Terán 11 13 978
25 DF  USA Nicholas Slonina
27 FW  SLO Robert Beric 26 33 2204
28 FW  NZL Elliot Collier 3 17 327
30 MF  PAR Gaston Gimenez 22 25 1958
31 MF  ARG Federico Navarro 10 12 968
32 GK  USA Gabriel Slonina 11 11 990
34 GK  USA Chris Brady
36 DF  USA Andre Reynolds
37 MF  USA Javier Casas 2 55
38 FW  USA Alex Monis 1 18
39 MF  USA Allan Rodriguez
40 MF  USA Brian Gutierrez 6 17 595
99 FW  BUL Stanislav Ivanov 6 11 520

Goalkeeping Statistics

No. Nat. Name MLS
Clean Sheets Saves GA
1 Bobby Shuttleworth 4 73 38
18 Kenneth Kronholm
32 Gabriel Slonina 4 46 16
34 Chris Brady

Goalscoring and Assisting Record

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