MLS Chicago Fire FC

Fire Players Report this Week

Published on January 20, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


The Chicago Fire players and staff will report to TOYOTA PARK this week for team physicals on Saturday, Jan. 24 and 25, before departing for their first leg of preseason in Bradenton, Fla. on Monday, Jan. 26.

CHICAGO FIRE PRESEASON AGENDA

**Sites/times subject to change. Please call 708.496.6725 to confirm training schedule. All times Central.

Saturday, Jan. 24 Team Physicals - TOYOTA PARK

Sunday, Jan. 25 Team Physicals - TOYOTA PARK

Jan. 26-Feb. 11 IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Sunday, Feb. 1 Fire vs. University of Central Florida - IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Wednesday, Feb. 4 Fire vs. Kansas City Wizards - IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Saturday, Feb. 7 Fire vs. Puerto Rico Islanders - IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Tuesday, Feb. 10 Fire vs. Toronto FC - IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Wednesday, Feb. 11 Team Returns to Chicago

FIRE TO FACE CLUB AMERICA

The Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer and Club America of the Mexican Primera Division has announced that the two teams will compete for a Cup in a home-and-away series to be hosted at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and at TOYOTA PARK in Chicago. The matches will take place in 2009. More details about the upcoming matches will be announced in the coming weeks. Club America opened the 2009 Clausura tournament with a 2-1 win over Santos on Sunday, Jan. 18 and will next face Toluca on Sunday, Jan. 25 at home in Azteca Stadium.

FIRE ADD FOUR IN DRAFT

The Chicago Fire selected four players during the 2009 MLS SuperDraft held last Thursday in St. Louis. With their first pick (2nd round, 20th overall), the Fire selected midfielder/forward and Generation adidas player Baggio Husidic of the University of Illinois-Chicago. Husidic, a Libertyville, Ill. native, was named as a 2008 NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division I First Team All-American, was a Soccer America MVP First Team player and a College Soccer News All-America Second Team selection, after scoring nine goals and six assists as a junior in 2008. The Fire next selected University of California-Irvine defender David Sias (3rd round, 43rd overall) who was named to the All-Big West Second Team in his junior season of 2007 at UC-Irvine for his 18 matches started. The Fire acquired two players in the fourth round, midfielder Jokull Elisabetarson from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (4th round, 52nd overall) and Richard Jata (4th round, 58th overall) from Campbell University.

CHICAGO FIRE ACADEMY WEEKLY AGENDA

** Sites/times subject to change. Please call 708.496.6725 to confirm training schedule. All times Central.

Tuesday, Jan. 20 Village of Bridgeview Golf Dome 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Thursday, Jan. 22 Village of Bridgeview Golf Dome 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Sunday, Jan. 25 Village of Bridgeview Golf Dome 10:00am - 12:00pm

The Academy will continue to train through the winter and returns to action in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy League in March.

THREE FIRE PLAYERS WITH U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM

Three Fire players joined the annual U.S. Men's National Team camp on Sunday, Jan. 4 at the U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Jon Busch (1 cap), Chris Rolfe (9 caps) and John Thorrington (3 caps) are among the 25 players that are currently preparing for a friendly against Sweden on Jan. 24 at The Home Depot Center (7:30 p.m. CT, Fox Soccer Channel, Galavision). Busch earned his first cap with the U.S. Men's National Team on March 9, 2005, shutting out Colombia 3-0 in a friendly. Rolfe and Thorrington both appeared in three matches for the U.S. Men's National Team in 2008.

FIRE SET FOR 12th SEASON OF PLAY IN MLS

The Chicago Fire will begin their 12th season of play in Major League Soccer against FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Fire will host the New York Red Bulls for their home opener at TOYOTA PARK on Sunday, April 5 at 2 p.m. CT. The Fire's home opener will be televised nationally on TeleFutura. The full schedule for the 2009 MLS regular season, including the Fire's remaining 28 games, will be announced in early February. The Fire will announce individual game ticket information in the coming months, but fans can secure their seats for the home opening match against the Red Bulls by purchasing a 2009 Season Ticket Package. Season Ticket Packages, including a limited supply of full season packages starting at $99, are available now by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE or clicking on the TICKETS link on the club's official website, www.chicago-fire.com.

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Major League Soccer Stories from January 20, 2009


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