The Fire have turned to a familiar name to help new coach Raphael Wicky. And perhaps they’re getting closer to filling out their roster.
On Tuesday, the Fire announced they’ve hired Frank Klopas as an assistant coach. Klopas, 53, has served in multiple capacities with the Fire. He finished his playing career with the Fire and was part of their 1998 MLS Cup/U.S. Open Cup champions. After retiring, he was an assistant coach (2000), technical director (2008-11), head coach (2011-13), and broadcaster (2016-19).
Klopas also spent most of two seasons coaching the Montreal Impact (2014-15) and led them to the final of the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League.
“My heart has always been with the Fire,” Klopas said in a news release. “I’m honored to join Raphael’s staff and I’m excited for the future of the club.”
Klopas will provide more familiarity to the Fire and MLS as a whole. Unlike Klopas, Wicky and sporting director Georg Heitz haven’t spent much time in MLS and North American soccer. Wicky’s MLS experience consists of five games in 2008 with Chivas USA, and Heitz’s role with the Fire is his first brush with the league.
Klopas is also a well-known figure in Chicago soccer, and popular with Fire fans.
“I’m very pleased to have Frank join our coaching staff,” Wicky said in a news release. “He has been an integral part of the Fire since its very beginning. His passion for the club and his knowledge of the league will be extremely valuable for our staff and players. I look forward to working with him.”
Who else Wicky and Klopas are working with this season is still in question.
With training camp beginning Saturday as players report for medical testing, the Fire have not announced a goalkeeping coach or a support staff. Their roster also stands at 17 players and features no Designated Players.
However, the Fire have been connected to numerous players from the soccer world. One example is Saint-Etienne striker Robert Beric, with reports in France linking the Fire to the 28-year-old. Beric has made 20 appearances for the Slovenian national team and could be a replacement for Nemanja Nikolic. The Fire’s second all-time leading scorer, Nikolic left after the 2019 season.
The Fire declined to comment on Beric, who is still under contract with he French first-division club.
NOTE: Without Klopas and former play-by-play announcer Dan Kelly, the Fire broadcast has two openings. The Fire have not announced replacements in the booth for either Klopas or Kelly.
