2015 Chicago Fire season


The 2015 Chicago Fire season is the club's 20th year of existence, as well as their 18th season in Major League Soccer and their 18th consecutive year in the top-flight of American soccer.
Chicago Fire began the regular season on March 6, 2015 with an away match against the defending champions LA Galaxy. The Men in Red finished the regular season on October 25, 2015 with a home match against the New York Red Bulls. The club has missed the playoffs for the fifth time in the past six years.
For the first time in the franchise history Chicago Fire opened the season with three consecutive losses.
On September 20, 2015, entrenched in last place both in the conference and overall, with the playoff hopes out of sight, the club parted ways with head coach and director of soccer Frank Yallop and assistant coaches Marc Bircham and Clint Mathis. In two seasons with the Fire Yallop posted a 13-26-24 record. Fire named the technical director Brian Bliss as interim coach, while the vice president and former player Logan Pause took over as interim assistant coach. The club also hired Nelson Rodriguez, a former MLS executive, as new general manager.
On October 3, 2015, Ante Razov, the club's all-time leading scorer, became the eighth individual to be inducted into the club's Ring of Fire Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place during the halftime of the regular season home match against New England Revolution.
On October 14, 2015 Chicago Fire announced the end of a four-year run with the title sponsor Quaker and introduced Valspar as the sponsor starting with 2016 season. The three-year deal is worth between $2.5 million and $3 million per year.
For the first time in the club's history Fire finished the season with zero road wins. The club has finished the season with an overall record of 8 wins, 20 losses and 6 ties. Twenty losses in a season became the highest in the club's history. The club has finished the season in last place in the league overall, also another first in the club's history.

Squad at the end of the season

As of October 25, 2015. Source:

Player movement

In

Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed.
DatePlayerPositionPrevious ClubNotesRef
October 29, 2014 Lovel PalmerD Chicago FireRe-signed with the club
November 18, 2014 Patrick NyarkoF Chicago FireRe-signed with the club
December 2, 2014 Kennedy IgboananikeF AIKSigned as a Designated Player
December 3, 2014 Joevin JonesD HJK HelsinkiSigned with the club
December 9, 2014 Michael StephensM StabækSigned with the club
December 10, 2014 Eric GehrigD Columbus Crew SC
Orlando City SC		After being selected by Orlando City SC from Columbus Crew SC as the tenth pick in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft, Chicago Fire acquired his Right of First Refusal in exchange for the natural selection in the second round of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft; he was signed on December 16
December 19, 2014 David AccamF Helsingborgs IFSigned as a Designated Player
December 22, 2014 Patrick DoodyD Indiana University HoosiersSigned as a Homegrown Player
December 30, 2014 AdaíltonD Esporte Clube BahiaSigned with the club
January 6, 2015 Guly do PradoF Southampton F.C.Signed with the club
January 25, 2015 Shaun MaloneyM Wigan AthleticSigned as a Designated Player
January 25, 2015 AlexM Chicago FireRe-signed with the club, after initially having his contract option declined
January 27, 2015 Jon BuschGK San Jose EarthquakesSigned with the club
February 4, 2015 Matt PolsterD SIU Edwardsville CougarsSigned with the club after being selected 7th overall in 2015 MLS SuperDraft
March 24, 2015 Kingsley BryceM Saint Louis UniversitySigned with the club after being selected 28th overall in 2015 MLS SuperDraft
April 13, 2015 Jason JohnsonF Houston DynamoAcquired in exchange for Alex
June 26, 2015 Ty HardenD San Jose EarthquakesAcquired in exchange for Quincy Amarikwa
July 27, 2015 GilbertoF Toronto FCAcquired as a Designated Player after claiming him on waivers

Out

Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed.

In

Out

Technical staff at the end of the season

Standings

Eastern Conference table

Overall table

Results summary

Results

Match results

Preseason

Kickoff times are in CST
Simple Invitational

Major League Soccer

Kickoff times are in CDT, unless posted otherwise

U.S. Open Cup

Kickoff times are in CDT

Friendlies

Kickoff times are in CDT

Leading scorers

Italics indicate player who departed the club during the season.
Updated to match played on October 25, 2015.
Source:

Appearances and goals

Recognition

MLS Player of the Week

MLS Team of the Week

Team annual awards

Midfielder David Accam was named the Most Valuable Player, as well as was awarded the Golden Boot. In 23 matches this season Accam scored team-leading ten goals and added two assists.
First-year defender Eric Gehrig was named the Defensive Player of the Year.
David Accam was chosen Section 8 Chicago Supporters' Player of the Year.
Lovel Palmer's left-footed strike from over 30 yards in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 win over the Charlotte Independence was named the club's Goal of the Year.

Kits

TypeShirtShortsSocksFirst appearance / Info
HomeRed / NavyRedRed
AwayWhiteWhiteWhite

Primary kit

According to the league's bi-annual rotation of kits the primary kit carried over from the previous season. It was originally unveiled on March 4, 2014. The jersey design was inspired by the City of Chicago fire trucks which feature a dark top, a band and red throughout the bottom half. The light blue represents the primary color of the Chicago flag.

Secondary kit

On March 2, 2015 Chicago Fire unveiled the club's new secondary kit. The design and details were inspired by the City of Chicago flag.

Draft pick trades

Picks acquired:
Picks traded: