It's happened. All hail Mr. Wicky. The Swiss invasion is complete. First Sporting Director Georg Heitz now Head coach Raphael Wicky So, are they "soul mates" or not? I hope that they are just professionals who share a basic philosophy on who to build a winning team. I vote for the latter. There are the obvious comparisons with Paunovic (decent player, ended career in MLS, youth international coach, almost exactly the same age-four months apart, etc.): but Wicky: was a regular Swiss international, has first team, top league head coaching experience, is, hopefully, less of douche. https://www.chicagofirefc.com/post/2019/12/27/chicago-fire-fc-names-raphael-wicky-head-coach He says "all the right things": Honored: “I am honored and proud to be named the head coach of Chicago Fire FC,” said Wicky. about the position: “This is a position that comes with a lot of responsibility and I can promise the fans and everyone at the Club that I will work hard and give my all. Vision: "During conversations with Joe Mansueto and Georg Heitz, I felt that we all shared a similar vision for the Club and how to move it forward. Chicago comments: That was important to me. Chicago is a world-class sports city and this Club has a bright future, both on and off the field. I can’t wait to get started.”
The obligatory "five fast facts": https://www.chicagofirefc.com/post/2019/12/27/fast-facts-head-coach-raphael-wicky
Damn you! You beat me by seven minutes to open this thread. He did reasonably well at Basel with 29 wins and 9 draws in 51 matches. Questions remain around why he took the demotion to US U-17 manager rather than finding another gig at the senior level. https://www.transfermarkt.us/raphae...id/26/datum_zu/2017-07-01/datum_ab/2018-07-26
I guess so; I’m guessing he enjoyed his time at Chivas USA and thought which team today most resembles them and decided to come to us!
He only played in 5 games for Chivas USA. Also, remember who ran Chivas USA into the ground just a few years later!
...or Nowak ...or Razov ...or Marsch ...or Bob Bradley ...or etc. Personally, while I would have been very happy to have a "Chicago Fire Original" as head coach (not you, Zak Ibsen), I am excited for Wickydom to begin. There are reservations, primarily the similarities between Heitz and Wicky with Rodriguez and Paunovic in 2015, but I hope we see the opposite.
Ah the obligatory Career Death Thread! And SOME people think Tradition is dead? Pish posh! "Oh Wicky you're so fine...."
I’m not too fond of hiring a former player as head coach unless they grow as the assistant coach and we have a great read on the guy. Would hate for #RazovOut to be a thing if he were to fall short of expectations for example.
I guess it is a good thing that you are not owner of the team, since we just hired a former player as a head coach. Also, all of the former Chicago Fire players I mentioned have significant coaching experience (not you, Zak Ibsen). Finally, I would be way, way more patient with a former Fire great as a head coach than just about anyone else.
Yes, I figured that was what you meant, but not what you said. The only coach of the Hauptman Era who was not a complete failure was Frank Klopas. Any of the players I listed would have been great as head coach for the 2020 Chicago Fire (FC).
Chris Armas would be awesome. There was nothing "convenient" about his omission. It was not a complete list, obviously