Fire sale

Chicago goes through big changes in MLS offseason

CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago Fire fans need a scorecard just to keep up with all the changes the team made in the offseason.

There's a new coach, with Dave Sarachan replacing Bob Bradley. Peter Nowak, the Fire's original player, retired instead of playing for a new team. Key players Hristo Stoitchkov, Josh Wolff and Dema Kovalenko were all traded, casualties of Chicago's budget constraints.

Even the Fire's uniform has gotten a makeover.

"Emotionally it was extremely difficult," general manager Peter Wilt said of the changes. "But you look at the black-and-white numbers, and you know you have to make certain moves. At the end of the day, I feel really comfortable that we limited the damage to the Fire, both in the short- and the long-term."

Some of the changes were beyond Wilt's control. Bradley, the Fire's original coach, is from New Jersey and he wanted to get closer to home. When the New Jersey MetroStars went looking for a coach, the opportunity was too good to pass up.

But most of the Fire's moves were motivated by financial considerations. Major League Soccer gives each team about $1.7 million to spend on salaries, and there was no way the Fire could meet that and keep last season's playoff squad intact.

"That kind of hit a little hard," defender C.J. Brown said. "But I definitely had a feeling [changes were coming] just knowing the financial status our team was in.

"We pretty much knew something was going to have to happen."

Kovalenko, a two-time MLS All-Star, was the first to go. He was traded to D.C. United in December for Justin Mapp, an up-and-comer who is on the United States' U-20 team. Mapp is also a member of Project-40, so he doesn't count against the Fire's salary cap.

Next up was Nowak, the heart and soul of the Fire since the inaugural season in 1998. The midfielder recorded both assists when Chicago beat D.C. United 2-0 in the 1998 MLS Cup, and his 100 points are second in team history.

Nowak was equally valuable off the field, mentoring young players and serving as the team's captain. He was the team's MVP in 1998, 2000 and 2001.

"We have to try and find another player like Peter, and that's going to be tough," Brown said.

Though Nowak was traded to the New England Revolution for a draft pick, he decided he didn't want to play for another team and retired last week. He'll stay with the Fire in an undisclosed role.

Four days after Nowak was traded, Wolff was shipped to Kansas City for another draft pick. Wolff was one of the Fire's original players and a key member of the U.S. World Cup squad, but he'd signed a four-year extension last June worth at least $1.08 million.

Stoitchkov was the last to be dealt, traded to D.C. United late last month for another draft pick.

"That's a huge hit," Brown said. "We wish we could have them, because they were key to our team."

But the Fire hasn't exactly been gutted. Besides Brown, Chicago still has national team mainstay Chris Armas, who played in 14 of the 16 World Cup qualifiers before hurting his knee; DaMarcus Beasley, at 20, the youngest member of the World Cup team; Ante Razov, the Fire's all-time leading scorer; Carlos Bocanegra, MLS' Defender of the Year last season; and longtime goalie Zach Thornton.

Chicago also has five players on various youth U.S. national teams.

And while Sarachan is a new coach, he's hardly a stranger to many of his players. As top assistant on the U.S. national team for the past three seasons, he's worked or is at least familiar with most of his new team.

"It's definitely going to be a new team and a new dynamic," Wilt said. "It may take a little time for all of the players to get used to each other and used to Dave and for Dave to get used to them.

"But come October, I don't think there's going to be any team that wants to play the Fire."

Chicago has made the playoffs in each of its first five seasons, and advanced to the MLS Cup twice, winning it in 1998. It's also won two U.S. Open Cup championships, in 1998 and in 2000.

Despite all of the changes, Wilt expects the Fire to contend for the MLS championship again.

"Like every year, we tell fans to expect a team that's going to work hard and compete for the MLS championship," he said. "We're all about winning championships.

"And even though many of the faces are new, the goals are the same."

 

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