Raphael Wicky is out as Chicago Fire coach, ESPN television analyst Taylor Twellman has reported.
The decision came after one of the Fire’s better performances of the season in beating New York City FC 2-0. But with a record of 7-15-6, Chicago’s chances of reaching the postseason have long been slim, and the win still left the Fire in 12th place in the 14-team Eastern Conference, 12 points behind Orlando City for the seventh and final play spot.
Wicky is out. https://t.co/XKB79Gf6Fk
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) September 30, 2021
It’s unknown at the moment who will manage the Fire for the last six games of the regular season, though assistant coach Frank Klopas managed the team from 2011-13 and later managed Montreal from 2013-15.
Wicky was hired away from his post as the manager of the U.S. Under-17 national team prior to the 2020 campaign, and the Fire fell a point short of reaching the playoffs that year, even as the league expanded the postseason to include 18 teams due to the coronavirus pandemic. Overall, Wicky’s regular season record was 12-25-4.
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The decision will create more scrutiny on Chicago sporting director Georg Heitz, as the three Designated Players he signed ahead of the 2020 campaign — forward Robert Beric, winger Ignacio Aliseda and midfielder Gaston Gimenez — have largely failed to deliver. Both Aliseda and Gimenez were suspended for the Sept. 19 defeat to CF Montreal for violating undisclosed team rules.
Prior to managing the U.S. U-17s, Wicky rose through the coaching ranks at FC Basel, eventually managing the first team from Apr. 2017 to July 2018. He had previously coached youth teams with FC Thun and Servette.
As a player Wicky spent time with FC Sion, Werder Bremen, Atletico Madrid, Hamburg SV and now defunct MLS side Chivas USA. At international level, Wicky made 75 appearances for Switzerland, scoring one goal.