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Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Launch Chicago Fire Soccer Academy

July 13, 2007 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, IL (July 13, 2007) - Chicago Fire Soccer announced yesterday the formation of the Chicago Fire Soccer Academy, an elite player development initiative designed to identify and develop the best young talent within the Chicagoland area. The program will be fully funded by the Chicago Fire, with no financial responsibility falling on Academy players. The Academy will be limited to 44 players and will field two Academy teams, under-16 and under-18 men, that have been accepted to participate primarily in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.

"The launch of the Chicago Fire Soccer Academy is one of the most significant developments in the history of the Fire," said Fire President/CEO John Guppy. "I cannot stress enough how important this initiative is to the future of soccer in Chicago, and I'm thrilled that we are now in a position to provide the best young talent with a professional player development environment that is focused solely on the ultimate goal of developing professional caliber players."

The emphasis of the Academy will be on providing a high-level training environment for elite players based around individual player development. Players will train year-round, three to four times per week, and play approximately 32 games per year as part of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. The Fire Academy will be based at TOYOTA PARK, providing access to a number of first team amenities such as practice facilities, weight room, training room, and locker rooms.

Through various recruiting and identification initiatives, 44 players aged 14 through 18 years of age will be invited to join the Academy based on ability, potential, and desire to play at the professional level. The Academy will be managed and funded directly by the Chicago Fire and will seek to develop relationships with all youth soccer clubs, high schools, and programs within the Chicagoland area to identify the top local talent. With the launch of the Chicago Fire Academy, the Fire now has player development programs and partnerships at every level, including the Fire Juniors, Super-20s, and the Fire Premier PDL Team.

The Academy will be directly tied to the Major League Soccer (MLS) Home Grown Talent initiative. This initiative allows players involved in the Chicago Fire Academy that meet specific minimum training standards to be signed directly by the Chicago Fire without entering the MLS SuperDraft or Supplemental Draft. The rule is designed to provide increased opportunities for local players to realize their goal of playing for their local MLS team, while teams strengthen their connection with the community.

Overseeing player selection and all technical instruction and development for the Academy will be former Rockford Raptors Director of Coaching and club co-founder, Louis S. Mateus (pronounced mah-TOOS). Mateus has over 20 years coaching experience, with collegiate head coaching posts at National Louis University (1985-1989), Benedictine University (1989-1996), and most recently Rockford College (1997-2001). He has also been involved in the game at the national and state youth levels, having previously served as an assistant coach for U.S. U-17 National Team (1995-1997) and is currently an assistant with the U.S. U-14 National Team. A former professional player for the Milwaukee Wave, Chicago Shoccers, and the Chicago Power, Mateus has been involved with the game at all levels.

"In Louis Mateus we have found the perfect individual to lead the Academy program," said Fire President/CEO John Guppy. "Louis is well connected and universally respected within the Chicago soccer scene. He is tri-lingual and has a proven record for developing talent."

"I am thrilled that the Fire has given me this unique opportunity to spearhead the Academy program," said Mateus. "I hope that through the quality instruction we will be providing in the Academy, some of the most talented local youth players will be able to realize their true potential and become professional players with the Chicago Fire."

Supporting the launch of the Academy is Red Bull North America and adidas. The Academy will be integrated with and supported by Red Bull North America's Bullieve initiative that is committed to help provide enhanced opportunities for under-privileged youths with special soccer talent.

The Chicago Fire Academy will begin actively recruiting and developing identification programs immediately, with play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy set to begin this fall.

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