Fire already searching for 'best possible coach'

The Chicago Fire hopes to hire a new coach by the end of the year, president and CEO John Guppy said Tuesday.

With the surprising departure of Juan Carlos Osorio, who left to coach the New York Red Bulls, Guppy said the search for a new head coach is under way, and assistant coach Denis Hamlett will be considered. He did not elaborate on other top prospects.

"We want the best possible coach for the Chicago Fire," Guppy said. "Our No. 1 priority is to find a coach right away, and the right coach for the job."

Hamlett served as interim head coach after the team fired Dave Sarachan in June, and then Osorio joined the team on July 9.

Osorio's decision caught them off guard, players said.

"It is disappointing," said goalkeeper Matt Pickens. "We had something good going with Juan Carlos, and we thought he had something good going with us. But that happened yesterday and now it's history. We're focused on rebuilding in 2008."

Osorio led the Fire to a 6-3-7 record, guiding them to within one game of the MLS Cup championship game.

Osorio left for personal reasons, Guppy said. "We absolutely did not want to lose Osorio. But at the end of the day, he did what was best for him and his family."

Despite the setbacks, Guppy said the Fire experienced an incredible year. After opening with its worst losing streak, the team rallied under Osorio and Mexico national star Cuauhtemoc Blanco to make the playoffs with an impressive late-summer unbeaten streak. In addition to undergoing an ownership change and signing Blanco, the Fire set records for attendance, sponsorship and merchandise sales, Guppy said.