Chicago Fire Hold Final Training Sessions of 2012 Season
November 12, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club will close out the 2012 season this week, with the final training session of the season scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 15 at Toyota Park.
The Men in Red finished the 2012 season by returning to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the 12th time in the club's 15-year history, before falling to the Houston Dynamo 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Knockout Match Oct. 31.
In his first full season as head coach, Frank Klopas led the Men in Red to a 17-11-6 regular season record and fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The 57 points the team earned is tied with the 2000 season for the highest point total in club history.
SEAN JOHNSON TO REPRESENT UNITED STATES IN INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Monday that goalkeeper Sean Johnson has been called up by the U.S. Men's National Team for an international friendly against No. 9-ranked Russia on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at Kuban Stadium in Krasnodar, Russia at 9:00 a.m. CT (ESPN2/WatchESPN/Univision Deportes).
Johnson, 23, made his international debut Jan. 22, 2011 against Chile at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Johnson has been capped twice for the United States and was recently named to the travel squad for the FIFA World Cup Qualifier in Jamaica Sept. 7.
Johnson appeared in a career-high 31 regular season games for the Men in Red in 2012, accumulating a 16-10-5 record, including five shutouts. Johnson's 1.24 goals against average was the lowest in his three years as a professional. The Lilburn, Ga. native made 108 saves in 2012, including a career-high 10 saves against the San Jose Earthquakes July 28.
CHICAGO FIRE HOLIDAY PACKS NOW ON SALE
The Chicago Fire holiday pack gives fans the opportunity to witness the Men in Red in action in their first match of the 2013 season at a discounted price. This limited time offer includes four (4) Corner Kick tickets ($112 value) to Opening Night at Toyota Park, 4 Fire hats, and 4 Fire gloves all for just $99. Chicago Fire Holiday Packs are available through Ticketmaster or by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE.
2012 Holiday Pack - $99 Includes:
Four (4) Corner Kick tickets to the Fire's Opening Night at TOYOTA PARK
- Four (4) Fire Hats
- Four (4) pairs of Fire gloves
CHICAGO FIRE TO HOLD FIFTH ANNUAL OPEN TRYOUTS DECEMBER 14-15 AT BRIDGEVIEW SPORTS DOME
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club will hold its Fifth Annual Open Tryouts on Friday, Dec. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 15 at the Bridgeview Soccer & Sports Dome at 8900 S. 77th Ave. in Bridgeview, IL 60455. A map to the Bridgeview Soccer & Sports Dome can be found here . The tryout is open to male soccer players ages 18 and older who believe they can succeed at the Major League Soccer level. Members of the Fire Technical Staff will be on hand at the tryouts to observe and rank players and the winner of the Open Tryout will be awarded the chance to train with the Fire first team during the club's preseason camp.
At the Fire's Third Annual Open Tryout in January 2011, Chicago Fire defender Pari Pantazopoulos emerged from a group of over 200 participants from 19 different countries to win the club's Open Tryout and a spot on the first team's preseason roster. The Mt. Prospect, IL product advanced through all three phases of the club's preseason camp to sign on as a member of the Chicago Fire. Pantazopoulos made his first team debut on June 28, 2011 in a U.S. Open Cup match vs. the Rochester Rhinos and went on to appear in the club's midseason friendly against English giants Manchester United at Soldier Field on July 23.
Tryout registration is $150 (non-refundable plus processing fees) with each player guaranteed an hour of playing time. Space at the tryout is limited. All interested players must register online by visiting Chicago-Fire.com: http://www.chicago-fire.com/opentryout. Applications must be submitted online and applicants must have a valid e-mail address as registration forms will not be accepted via fax or over the phone. All registrants will be contacted with a schedule via e-mail on or before Tuesday, Dec. 11.
The registration deadline is Monday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m. CT. No registration forms will be accepted after that date.
Questions can be answered by e-mailing opentryout@Chicago-Fire.com. For more information visit the club's official website www.chicago-fire.com.
TRYOUT FORMAT*:
The first round of tryouts will take place on Friday, Dec. 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CT. Each player is required to attend the first round of tryouts and is guaranteed one hour of playing time. Each registrant will receive their time slot via email on or before Tuesday, Dec. 11. All players will be notified on site if they are to return for Day Two of the tryouts on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 9:00 a.m. CT
Day 1 December 14 (All Participants)
Day 2 December 15 (Call backs from previous day)
Day (1)
Players will be placed into teams of (7) v (7) + goalkeepers and each team will be allocated a one hour time slot. Players will be notified on site if they have been selected for the next stage.
DAY (2)
Players will be placed into teams of (11) v (11) and each team will be allocated a one hour time slot. Systematically players will be selected to move onto the next stage or notified if they have been cut.
*Information is subject to change.
• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...
Major League Soccer Stories from November 12, 2012
- Sounders FC News & Notes - Seattle Sounders FC
- Martinez Called up to Honduras National Team - Seattle Sounders FC
- Weekly Update: Rapids Break Camp this Friday After Final Week of Training - Colorado Rapids
- Timbers Development Update - Portland Timbers
- Three FC Dallas Players Called in to Represent Their Countries - FC Dallas
- Earthquakes Weekly Update - San Jose Earthquakes
- Sporting KC Forward Jacob Peterson to Undergo Shoulder Surgery on Friday - Sporting Kansas City
- Dynamo to Host Year-End Celebration at Hotel Zaza on November 27 - Houston Dynamo FC
- Impact Faces Fiorentina Primavera this Tuesday - Club de Foot Montreal
- U.S. Women's National Team to Hold Public Training at Jeld-Wen Field - Portland Timbers
- Juan Agudelo Called up to USMNT for International Duty - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- D.C. United Academy Update - D.C. United
- MF Peterson Joseph to Represent Haiti in Caribbean Cup Qualifying - Sporting Kansas City
- Chicago Fire Hold Final Training Sessions of 2012 Season - Chicago Fire FC
- United Soccer Club's "Fall Fest" to Take Place Wednesday, November 14th - D.C. United
- Nick Rimando Called-Up to U.S. National Team for Upcoming Friendly - Real Salt Lake
- D.C. United's Andy Najar Called up to Honduras National Team - D.C. United
- Sean Johnson to Represent United States in International Friendly - Chicago Fire FC
- Keane Pushes Galaxy past Sounders FC 3-0 - Seattle Sounders FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Chicago Fire FC Stories
- Chicago Fire FC Weekly Update
- Chicago Fire FC Ties New York Red Bulls 0-0 at Red Bull Arena
- Chicago Fire FC Announces Details for Legendary Goalkeeper Zach Thornton's Ring of Fire Induction Ceremony
- Midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri Selected to MLS Team of the Matchday
- Chicago Fire FC Weekly Update: Training Schedule and Match Preview