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MLS Chicago Fire FC

Training Begins as Trialists Report to Toyota Park; Logan Pause Named Fire Captain

January 31, 2011 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


After nine weeks of rest the Men in Red returned to the field Monday for the first leg of preseason training at the Bridgeview Soccer and Sports Dome. Head Coach Carlos de los Cobos started off the 75-minute training session with some ball work and light performance-based strength and conditioning routines before closing the first training of the day with some running and additional ball work. The Jan. 31 training session represents the earliest players have begun preseason training in the club's 14-year history.

Forty-two players participated in the club's first day of on-field training. Currently the club has 20 players signed to the first team roster, four draft picks (supplemental draft pick Sam Arthur has opted to finish his final semester at South Carolina before joining the club at a later date) and 18 foreign and domestic trialists.

The Fire will conduct two-a-days at the remodeled indoor facility with the focus on building fitness and endurance levels before departing for the second leg of preseason camp in Ave Maria, FL on Monday, Jan. 14.

CHICAGO FIRE WEEKLY TRAINING SCHEDULE: January 31 - February 6

Chicago Fire players and coaches will be made available to media at the Bridgeview Soccer and Sports Dome (8900 S. 77th Ave, Bridgeview, IL 60455) this Tuesday and Thursday following the team's first open training. Media are able to begin conducting interviews after training, which runs approximately 75 minutes.

Tuesday, Feb. 1: Training 9:00 - 10:15 AM PT / 5:00 PM FIRST SESSION OPEN TO MEDIA*^

Wednesday, Feb. 2: Training 8:30 / 2:30 - CLOSED TO MEDIA^

Thursday, Feb. 3: Training 9:00 / 5:00 - FIRST SESSION OPEN TO MEDIA*^

Friday, Oct. 8: Training 9:00 - CLOSED TO MEDIA^

Saturday, Oct. 9: Training 8:30 / 2:30 - CLOSED TO MEDIA^

Sunday, Oct. 10: OFF

*Training is open to the media. Fire players and coaches will be made available immediately following training, which runs approximately 75 minutes.

^Training times are subject to change. Please contact Becky Carroll at 312.350.5260 or Brendan Hannan at 708.496.6725 for media requests.

LOGAN PAUSE NAMED FIRE CAPTAIN

Coach de los Cobos introduced midfielder Logan Pause as the club's newest captain following a brief team meeting on Saturday morning at TOYOTA PARK. The stalwart midfielder will don the captain's armband as he enters his ninth season as a member of the Men in Red. The University of North Carolina product has racked up 198 career regular season appearances, sitting fifth all-time, and just two appearances shy of Jesse Marsch for fourth all-time.

Pause, who often pays homage to "Ring of Fire" midfielder Chris Armas, has been a consistent force in the middle of the park for the Fire, appearing in at least 21 matches since his debut season in 2003. The holding midfielder has tallied two goals and 11 assists, however, his contributions on the field and in the locker room are often not noted in the stat sheet.

The 2010 Fire MVP will continue to impress upon his teammates the club tenets of Tradition, Honor, Passion as he takes the reigns as Fire captain

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

In the months (76 days to be exact) leading up to preseason camp, the Fire's technical staff has been around the world to scout talent and build better relationships with foreign clubs ahead of the 2011 MLS season.

Since the end of the 2010 campaign, the Fire's technical staff has traveled to four continents and scouted talent in 11 different nations including, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Ecuador, England, Germany, Ghana, Serbia, Slovenia and Uruguay.

In addition to the global search, Klopas, Jeffries, de los Cobos and the rest of the technical staff spent countless hours scouting the collegiate game in the U.S. ahead of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft and Supplemental Draft. The Fire drafted six players; among them 2011 adidas MLS Combine MVP Jalil Anibaba.

PLAYERS COME PREPARED FOR PRESEASON CAMP

A number of the Fire players come in to camp after a busy offseason. Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson earned his first cap with the U.S. Men's National Team against Chile Jan. 22 at the Home Depot Center. The 21-year-old 'keeper impressed U.S. Men's National Team Head Coach Bob Bradley during the national team's annual January camp in Southern California. Johnson played 45 minutes in his national team debut as the U.S. played Chile to a 1-1 draw.

Johnson also spent a week in early December playing with the Generation adidas team that included fellow Fire teammates Corben Bone and Baggio Husidic. The youthful side went 3-0-0, earning the first perfect record on a Generation adidas trip, defeating Real Madrid reserves 2-1, Rayo Vallecano 1-0 and Athletico Madrid 4-1.

As has become part of a number of local based player's offseason routine, impromptu training and workouts took place at an indoor facility in Palatine, IL in the weeks leading up to the Fire's preseason camp. Third round draft pick and Elmhurst native Jason Herrick joined Pause and Husidic for pick-up games ahead of the club's first official training session.

FIRE TO MEET SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC IN PRESEASON MATCH IN BRADENTON, FL

The Chicago Fire will wrap the second leg of their preseason camp with a match against MLS foe Seattle Sounders FC at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL on Saturday, February 26.

The exhibition match is scheduled to be the Men in Red's fifth game of the preseason and will pit the Fire against a team that defeated them in the waning moments of both matches in 2010.

The Fire fell victim to a 93rd minute header from Colombian forward Fredy Montero in a 2-1 defeat at Qwest Field Aug. 28 and a late winner from Blaise NKufo undid the hosts at TOYOTA PARK Sept. 28.

SECTION 8 TO HOLD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AT THE BRIDGEVIEW SOCCER & SPORTS DOME

Section 8 Chicago, the Independent Supporters' Association (ISA) of the Chicago Fire, will hold their Annual General Meeting at the Bridgeview Soccer and Sports Dome on Saturday, Feb. 5 at noon. The annual gathering brings together Fire supporters to elect the ISA Board of Directors.

All are welcome to attend and take part in the direction of Section 8 Chicago in 2011.

For additional information on the AGM, please visit www.Section8Chicago.com or click here .

HOUSTON DYNAMO JOIN EASTERN CONFERENCE

Major League Soccer announced last week that the Houston Dynamo will move to the Eastern Conference in 2011. Combined with the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC joining MLS as expansion clubs in 2011, the League now has two conferences of nine teams each.

Upon joining MLS in 2006, Houston became the easternmost club in the Western Conference. The two-time MLS Cup Champions are now the westernmost team in the Eastern Conference. Houston's average distance from its Eastern Conference foes is 194.6 miles shorter than its average distance to the nine Western Conference clubs. This year, every team will play each of the other 17 clubs once at home, once away, for a balanced, 34-game regular season.

FIRE MERCHANDISE SALE AT BRIDGEVIEW SOCCER & SPORTS DOME

The Fire will hold a merchandise blowout sale at the Bridgeview Soccer & Sports Dome (Bridgeview Sports Dome, 8900 S. 77th Ave, Bridgeview, IL 60455) from 11 AM - 3 PM CT on Saturday, February 5. 2011 Premium Season Ticket Holders (Club, Suites and FieldSide seats only) will have exclusive access to the sale from 11-noon CT and 2011 Season Ticket Holders Ten Game Plan Holders will be given advance access from noon to 1 PM CT, before opening the event up to the public at 1 PM CT. Savings of up to 75% off on Chicago Fire adidas merchandise, game worn jerseys, training gear and much more will be available.

All proceeds from game-worn items sold at the event will go to the Chicago Fire Foundation. Plus, donate a minimum of five non-perishable food items for the Greater Chicago Food Depository and you'll receive a coupon for an additional 10% off your entire purchase (valid only on 2/5).

Times (all times central):

11:00-12:00- 2011 Premium Season Ticket Holders (Club, Suites and FieldSide seats only)

12:00-1:00- 2011 Season Ticket Holders and Ten Game Plan Holders

1:00-3:00- Open to the public

SEASON TICKET HOLDERS ELIGIBLE FOR EXCLUSIVE WATCH PARTY AT TOYOTA PARK

All Season Ticket Holders that buy or renew for 2011 will be eligible for an exclusive Season Ticket Holder Watch Party at TOYOTA PARK for the Fire's MLS First Kick 2011 match on Saturday, March 19 at FC Dallas. Fans will get a tour of TOYOTA PARK, including the locker room, have the chance to meet Fire players, peruse 2011 merchandise all in the lead-up to the club's Brimstone Cup clash at Pizza Hut Park.

Chicago Fire Season Tickets are available by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473), via Ticketmaster or by heading to the club's official website at Chicago-Fire.com .FOLLOW THE CHICAGO FIRE 24/7 VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

Fans can follow the Chicago Fire on the web at Chicago-Fire.com, on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/ChicagoFire on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ChicagoFire or the Fire's blog EN FUEGO .

Check out the Chicago Fire FC Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from January 31, 2011


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