Chicago Fire coach dismissed
The Chicago Fire announced Monday it has fired second-year head coach Carlos de los Cobos and named technical director Frank Klopas to be the interim coach for the rest of the season.
“Since the Fire has elected to move in a new direction with its coaching staff mid-season, we wanted to ensure a seamless transition by naming Frank Klopas interim head coach,” Javier Leon, managing director of Andell Sports, said in a statement from the team. “Frank’s wealth of knowledge and experience as a player, scout, technical director and coach provide an extraordinary background for him to manage the team successfully as we work towards a MLS Cup playoff spot.”
De los Cobos, 52, a former World Cup player for Mexico, was hired in January 2010 after four years as the El Salvador’s national team coach. The Fire went 9-12-9 in 2010 and missed the playoffs for only the second time in club history. Under previous coach Denis Hamlett the club reached the Eastern Conference championship game in 2008 and 2009.
The Fire (1-4-6, 9 points) got off to a good start this season, earning a draw at FC Dallas and a win at home against Sporting Kansas City. But the team hasn’t won since, a skid of nine games covering more than two months. The Fire is eighth out of nine teams in the Eastern Conference, ahead of only Sporting KC.
De los Cobos arrived promising to bring a new, more creative style of play to MLS. He emphasized a short-passing, possession-based game and refused to consider changing.
The Fire reshaped its roster to find players to fit de los Cobos’ preferred style of play, but injuries were a problem both seasons. Defenders Josip Mikulic and Cory Gibbs, midfielders Logan Pause, Mike Videira and Patrick Nyarko each have missed a few games due to injury this season.
Klopas, 44, played on the Fire’s 1998 double championship team and also played for the Chicago Sting in the NASL, joining the Sting out of Chicago’s Mather High School in 1984. He is a member of the Fire’s Ring of Fire Hall of Fame as well as the Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame. He is in his fourth season as technical director and acquired most of the players on the roster.
“My passion and drive for this club to persevere through this transition is my top priority,” Klopas said. “I believe in this team, the players and the badge and will work tirelessly to ensure the success of the team going forward.”
Klopas will be without midfielder Marco Pappa, the team co-leader in goals scored with 4, for at least the next three games while he joins Guatemala’s national team for the Gold Cup.
The Fire’s next game is 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Toyota Park against Seattle Sounders FC.
The expansion Vancouver Whitecaps (1-5-6) on Monday also fired coach Teitur Thordarson and replaced him with director of soccer operations Tom Soehn. Soehn, an Arlington Heights native, is a former Fire player and assistant coach and the former head coach at D.C. United. Hamlett remains as a Vancouver assistant.