Rumor: News/Rumor: 2026 Chicago Fire Roster Speculation

Discussion in 'Chicago Fire' started by willydonc, Aug 17, 2025.

  1. overlap_old_coach

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    May 2, 2022
     
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  2. Mac97

    Mac97 Member+

    Jul 15, 2014
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Did anyone go by the event at Recess?
    Wondering what, and how, GGG said whatever he said.
     
    schroncar repped this.
  3. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    #2203 xtomx, Jun 14, 2026
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2026
    He has never played fewer than 40 matches (in all competitions) in a match in several years.

    Yes, he missed 15 league matches in 2021-2022 (hip injury),
    and 8 matches in 2024-25 (torn muscle).

    The most likely destination is that "retirement league" Serie A.
     
  4. Mac97

    Mac97 Member+

    Jul 15, 2014
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Mr. Leon just spent a few days at the training facility. That can't hurt.
     
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  5. Jake Roberts

    Jake Roberts Member

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    Mar 7, 2018




    :unsure:
     
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  6. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not to quibble, but Transfermarkt says he has experienced 47, yes 47, injuries during hie career. Most of them have been relatively short, say 5-10 days. Funny thing, the last couple years been better than earlier ones.
    A while back he was tabbed to go to AC Milan.
     
  7. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Yes, I saw that.
    My response is "So what?"

    He has played at least 30 matches (all competitions) for the last ten years or so and has ONE major injury and the was 2014.

    He played 48, 43, and 43 matches the last three seasons and played in the World Cup TODAY!
    He is healthy enough to play almost 50 matches for Bayern last season, clearly he is healthy enough to join the Fire.

    Hie health is not a concern.
     
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  8. overlap_old_coach

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    May 2, 2022
  9. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Yes, yes, please!

    (I doubt it, though. No sponsor)
     
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  10. overlap_old_coach

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    May 2, 2022
    Read hearsay that some of the new throwbacks will have the sponsor on the bottom of the back side.
     
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  11. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    I am even more in favor of that.
     
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  12. Mac97

    Mac97 Member+

    Jul 15, 2014
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    We're getting Honda back?

    (Still waiting for that Harold's deal to happen.)
     
    Pennsylvania Dave, xtomx and bunge repped this.
  13. Old Man!

    Old Man! BigSoccer Supporter

    Chicago Fire SC
    Mar 11, 2000
    I’ve seen throwbacks in past years not have the sponsor on them. Miami’s just said “Miami.”

    I think this is probably it, but I would’ve expected the trefoil logo and the original crest. If this isn’t the third jersey, then what is it?
     
  14. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #2214 schroncar, Jun 15, 2026
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2026
    Did not say it disqualified him. I just reported it.
    Just like his amazing versatility and his world-wide fame, his age, his salary and his injury history are objective facts about him.
    This is not a political discussion so it is not only bias, facts matter.
    Would love to see him in Fire red.
     
  15. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Do not think backside sponsorship is an appropriate topic for discussion.
     
  16. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    I agree. Only Zack Thornton has a butt big enough for backside advertisements.
    Chris Brady is too skinny.
     
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  17. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    follow-up- Lewy played 6,415 minutes last two seasons, Goretzka played 3,460. Does not prove anything but highlights Lewy fitness.
     
  18. plezercruz

    plezercruz Member+

    Sep 20, 2004
    I really think Sunday was supposed to be the announcement. Kinda disappointing that it didn't get done.

    Pete (did not attend)
     
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  19. Jake Roberts

    Jake Roberts Member

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    Mar 7, 2018



    If he chooses the 2 year contract, won't be be done at the 2027 season before the new stadium opens? I guess a championship before it opens is fine.:D
     
  20. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    correct. two year contract ending 6-28 would coincide with expected completion date. Might be why Fire rumored to be offering a three year deal, his choice.
     
  21. FireJuveChelsea

    Dec 7, 2012
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    I can tell you it was not supposed to be the announcement....take it for what you will as I've never broke any news or anything like that on here but I can tell you it was only going to be a quick stop by anyways on Sunday if it had happened.
     
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  22. lurak

    lurak Member+

    Aug 24, 2007
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    As long as Lewy signs with the Fire, he can take all (almost all) the time he wants.
     
  23. milicz

    milicz Member+

    Dec 2, 2001
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    Poland
    Over the weekend I was thinking to myself what pitch would I make to Robert Lewandowski if I got the chance to speak to him for a few minutes on Sunday? So this is where my head went.

    One of the underrated advantages of playing in the United States is that we do not treat age in sports the same way Europe does.
    Look at Luka Modrić. He did not get pushed out of Real Madrid because he suddenly stopped being elite. In my view Madrid was better with him on the field and suffered a subpar season because he left. But European soccer has this obsession with the idea that once a player reaches a certain age, the decline must be coming any minute, so clubs start forcing the transition before the player actually forces it. European player transfer economics probably force this, all they see is an expiring asset losing value.

    That is what would be refreshing for someone like Lewandowski in the United States. Over here, we don't obsess over whether Messi can play one more year. The mood is: enjoy him while he is still here, because when he decides he is done, that is his decision.

    America watched Nolan Ryan pitch into his mid-40s. We watched Michael Jordan come back at 38. We watched Tom Brady win a Super Bowl in his 40s. We are watching LeBron James make the call on whether to continue at 42. The greats retire because the passion has burned out or the body has broken down. Gordie Howe played until he was 52.

    We love watching legends empty the tank, and as fans, we are generally happy to trade a little bit of a player's peak efficiency for the privilege of watching them take a few more laps around the sun.

    If I had those few minutes with Robert on Sunday, here is the pitch I would have made:

    "If you go to Manchester United or stay in the European carousel, you are renting time until the next transfer window. If you come to the United States, you aren't just signing a contract; you are taking total ownership of your final act. You get a multi-year project where you are the undisputed focal point, a massive cultural community ready to embrace you, and the freedom to decide exactly when and how the boots get hung up. Let Europe stress over the decline that isn't coming. Come to a place that just wants to watch a master finish the job on his own terms."
     
  24. Very well stated. On the other side of the coin is the management axiom it's better to trade (release, etc.) a player a year too early than a year too late.
     
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  25. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I like your pitch-a lot. Americans are very willing to watch and worship aging sports heroes. However, to be objective, there is
    an age for every sport when physical performance declines and risk of injury increases.
     
    Pennsylvania Dave repped this.

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