BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Chicago Fire technical director and current interim head coach Frank Klopas will be made Chicago’s full-time head coach for 2012, according to a Soccer By Ives report published on Wednesday morning.
The club would not confirm the report when questioned on Wednesday morning.
Chicago announced in a release on Wednesday afternoon that owner Andrew Hauptman and Klopas – who was listed on the release as technical director – will announce the team’s next head coach in a press conference on Thursday at 1 pm CT.
Klopas became Chicago’s interim head coach on May 30, taking over for former manager Carlos de los Cobos. The former Fire striker led Chicago to an 8-5-10 record in his 23 games in charge, finishing the year with a strong 7-2-3 run that almost put the Fire in the playoffs.
Klopas told reporters on Tuesday that he didn’t yet know if he’d be back on the sidelines in 2012.
“We’ve talked about it,” Klopas said. “This is a time that we’re evaluating everything and we’ll make a right decision, I think soon because I think it’s good from a player standpoint and for everyone to move forward.”
SBI's report does not mention whether or not Klopas, who has served as the Fire’s technical director since January 2008, will continue his duties in the front office next year or pass them on to someone else.
Sam Stejskal covers the Chicago Fire for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at sam.h.stejskal@gmail.com
