BRIDGEVIEW, IL - Chicago Fire Soccer has announced that forward Cuauhtémoc Blanco, the Fire's Designated Player signing, will soon return from his run in Copa America with the Mexican National Team to make his much-anticipated Chicago Fire debut on Sunday, July 22, when the squad takes on Scottish Premier League side Celtic FC at TOYOTA PARK. The 34-year-old attacker has been with the Mexican National Team after closing out his career with Mexican First Division side, Club América. Overall, the native of Mexico City, Mexico tallied seven goals and six assists through 1,530 minutes of action for the "Aguilas" through the 2007 Clausura regular season.
Less than two weeks remain before the Chicago Fire face one of the most storied clubs in Scotland, Celtic FC, with kick-off set for 3:00 p.m. CT at TOYOTA PARK (Fox Soccer Channel). Celtic FC clinched the 2007 Scottish Premier League (SPL) title, the club's 41st domestic title. "The Hoops" have won back-to-back championships; capturing five of the last seven league crowns. Celtic went unbeaten in an astonishing 31 of 34 games this past season, notching a 25-3-6 overall record in the SPL.
"Obviously Celtic is a great team and a very well recognized club throughout Europe and throughout the world," said Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio. "It can not be a better opposition for some of the guys here that haven't had experience at that level, hopefully for the younger players like Chris Rolfe, Chad [Barrett] and the rest. If we can have Cuauhtémoc for the game then I think we will have all the guys ready and hopefully have the team in place that will be basically be the starting lineup for the rest of the season."
Single game tickets for the Fire - Celtic FC match can be purchased through the TOYOTA PARK box office, other Ticketmaster outlets, or by phone at 312-559-1212 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. A special two-game package is also available, which includes the Celtic friendly and the Fire's August 25 game against the Kansas City Wizards at TOYOTA PARK. For more ticket information, call 1-888-MLS-FIRE or visit www.chicago-fire.com.
