BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – The Fire aren't done shopping for Designated Players.
Team technical director Frank Klopas – who announced the arrival of current DP Nery Castillo on Saturday – indicated that he’d like to bring at least one more Designated Player to Chicago before the end of the season.
WATCH: Fire announce Nery Castillo signing
“We’re very actively looking [for a second DP],” Klopas said in a press conference following the Fire’s Saturday night SuperLiga loss to New England. “I know that from [team owner Andrew Hauptman] all the way down, we’re committed to bringing in a second – possibly even a third – DP to make this team stronger.”
But Klopas won’t bring in a DP merely to make a splash. He understands that any new acquisition – DP or not – needs to be a good fit for the Fire both on and off the field.
“There are a lot of names that pop out there,” Klopas said. “But you can’t just get excited and say, ‘this guy, that guy.’ It’s got to make sense for our organization. It’s got to make sense not only with what he does on the field, but off the field as well.”
So what does make sense for the Fire? On the field, the team is in need of a creative player who can effectively bridge the gap between the defense and the forwards. An attack-minded central midfielder would seem to do the trick.
Off the field, the Fire’s needs aren’t unique. They’ll be looking for a charismatic player able to spark fan interest, create media buzz and avoid Chicago’s numerous distractions.
“We don’t want players that just want to come here to have a great time in the city of Chicago,” Klopas said. “It is a great city. It’s great to visit. We always invite them to come. But when they put that jersey on we want guys that really understand what it means to [play for the Fire]. We want guys who really come out on the field and compete and help this organization win championships.”
Sam Stejskal covers the Chicago Fire for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached at sam.h.stejskal@gmail.com.
