Tonight at 8 PM CT, the Chicago Fire will announce the signing of a Designated Player. The announcement will be made directly after the Fire’s SuperLiga match against New England Revolution, which kicked off at 6 PM CT. A press conference will be held by head coach Carlos de los Cobos following the announcement.
By: Justin Mertes-Mistretta
The Fire’s last Franchise Player was Mexican forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco in 2007. In his first year with the Fire, he was a finalist for the M.V.P. and Newcomer of the Year awards. In 2008, he became the second-highest paid player in the MLS, once again finishing as a finalist for the M.V.P. award.
The Chicago Fire receive a strong Mexican following, which is huge reason why Blanco was such a fan-favorite. After Blanco left in 2008, the Fire’s attendance went by more than 2,000 per game. To gain back the interest of the largely Mexican fan base, it is widely believed that the Fire’s signing will be a Mexican player. Will it be Blanco coming out of retirement? Stay tuned.
Read more articles by Justin Mertes-Mistretta here.