The Chicago Fire Soccer Club selected five new players today during the 2010 MLS SuperDraft held at the in Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Convention Center, including first round pick and Generation adidas player, Corben Bone, during the four round, 64-pick draft.
"I am so grateful to be joining a great club like the Chicago Fire," said midfielder, Corben Bone. "I look forward to joining the team right away and start contributing in any way I can in 2010. I'd like to thank Coach de los Cobos and Frank Klopas for giving me this opportunity."
Bone, a Plano, TX native, is a 2009 Hermann Trophy finalist, two-time NSCAA All-America First Team, Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Year, Two-time First Team All-ACC and 2009 ACC Offensive Player of the Year.
"Corben is a strong and consistent player and is a great pick for the Fire," said head coach Carlos de los Cobos. "Frank Klopas and the technical staff spent a lot of time evaluating players before and during the combine, so we were well prepared heading into the draft today and we're fortunate to have Corben join the club."
"We did very well in today's draft and are bringing a strong group of talented, young players with us to Chicago," said Fire technical director Frank Klopas. "We can now focus on preparing for spring training and bringing an MLS Cup back to Chicago in 2010."
Corben Bone - 13th Overall (First Round)
Position: Midfielder
Born: 9/16/1988 (21)
Height: 5-9 Weight: 160
College: Wake Forest University
Hometown: Plano, TX
Citizenship: USA
Kwame Watson-Siriboe - 26th Overall (Second Round)
Position: Defender
Born: 11/13/1986 (23)
Height: 6-3 Weight: 196
College: University of Connecticut
Hometown: Chino Hills, CA
Citizenship: USA
Drew Yates - 29th Overall (Second Round)
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Born: 5/14/1988 (21)
Height: 6-1
College: University of Maryland
Hometown: Severna Park, MD
Citizenship: USA
Steven Kinney - 45th Overall (Third Round)
Position: Defender
Born: 10/28/1987
Height: 6-0 Weight: 175
College: Elon University
Hometown: Norcross, GA
Citizenship: USA
Sean Johnson - 52nd Overall (Fourth Round)
Position: Goalkeeper
Born: 5/31/1989 (20)
Height: 6-3
College: University of Central Florida
Hometown: Lilburn, GA
Citizenship: USA
In 2009, the Fire came within one game of making the MLS Cup, falling to MLS Cup champs, Real Salt Lake, during the Eastern Conference championship before a sold-out crowd at home. On Monday, January 11, the Fire announced Carlos de los Cobos as its new head coach.
Tickets are on sale for the Fire's Opening Night on April 10th at 7:30 PM CT. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE or by visiting www.chicago-fire.com
Check out photos from today's draft by visiting the Fire's blog, En Fuego, by clicking here: http://chicagofiresoccer.blogspot.com/
ABOUT CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER CLUB
Chicago Fire Soccer was founded on October 8, 1997 as a Major League Soccer expansion team. The Fire won the MLS Cup in its inaugural season in 1998 and was crowned the champion of U.S. Soccer's national tournament, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006. In June 2006, the Fire moved into its world-class home of TOYOTA PARK, located in Bridgeview, IL.
ABOUT TOYOTA PARK
Located 15 minutes from downtown Chicago and minutes from Midway airport off of I-55 on Harlem Avenue, TOYOTA PARK is the Midwest's preeminent outdoor live entertainment and sporting facility. Opened in 2006, TOYOTA PARK not only serves as the home of the Chicago Fire, but also hosts a variety of sporting events, special events and concerts by national and international artists. In 2009, artists ranging from Jimmy Buffett to Phish performed live at TOYOTA PARK.
