When the Chicago Fire visit the Vancouver Whitecaps Sunday
afternoon, there will be a small sideline reunion for Frank Klopas and Tom
Soehn. Teammates during the club’s double-winning inaugural season in 1998, the
two found themselves taking on a new role for their respective clubs on the
same day to start the summer.
Soehn, a product of the Windy City, took over as the
Whitecaps Director of Soccer Operations in January but was elevated to the post
of head coach on May 30 of this year as the first-year MLS side dismissed head
coach Teitur Thordarson. Just hours later, the same happened in Chicago as
Frank Klopas took over the Fire’s coaching reins on an interim basis when
Carlos de los Cobos was relieved from his post.
The meeting on the sidelines Sunday will bring together two
of the five current MLS coaches that have won MLS Cup as a player (the others
are Peter Nowak, Peter Vermes and Ben Olsen). Both Klopas and Soehn were
substitutes in the club’s 2-0 win over D.C. United in the 1998 Final at the
Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA but they can draw memories from long before that
triumph.
“I go way back
with Tommy to when we were young players. Both of us played for the Chicago
Kickers [in Lake Villa, IL]. We go way back and he’s a good guy, a good coach.
They’ve brought a lot of good players to Vancouver recently and I think they’re
going to turn things around, just not in this game.”
Soehn won’t be the only familiar face Klopas sees Sunday as
former Fire head coach Denis Hamlett is an assistant in Vancouver while
six-year Fire midfielder John Thorrington is available for selection in the
match after a long injury layoff.
Selected by the Whitecaps with the final pick of the 2010
MLS Expansion Draft last November, the oft-injured midfielder has appeared in
just one match for the Whitecaps this season, after fighting a chronic back
problem.
Defensive Depth
One positive to take away from yet another draw, a 1-1
result against Philadelphia on Wednesday was the depth the Fire have
defensively.
With the acquisitions of midfielders Sebastian Grazzini and
Pavel Pardo last month, captain Logan Pause slotted in at right back, pushing
regular starter Jalil Anibaba to the bench. The rookie defender didn’t stay
there long as a left groin strain saw Cory Gibbs subbed out of the match in the
sixth minute, forcing Klopas to slot Anibaba next to another deputizing center
back Josip Mikulic.
The stalwart Croatian defender began the season as a starter
next to Gibbs in the middle of the Fire backline, but lost his place in the
first 11 to Yamith Cuesta after biceps and clavicle injuries set him back in
mid-May.
With Cuesta serving a one-match ban for a red card he
received in the July 16 game against Portland, Mikulic returned to the starting
lineup Wednesday. The former Croatian youth international formed a great
makeshift partnership with Anibaba in the match, with both making last-ditch
stops on Union substitute striker Danny Mwanga to preserve a 1-1 draw.
“Jalil stepped in and did a great job and Josip again brings
a solid defensive presence,” said Klopas. “We feel good in that position,
obviously with Cory’s leadership and the qualities he brings, Josip’s
experience and ability, along with Yamith and Jalil’s skill and athleticism. We
have a good mix of youth and experience and have a lot of confidence at the
position.”
Mikulic, who
made just his third league start since May 7 was happy to be back on the field
in the match and echoed Kopas’ sentiments about the strength of depth at the
position.
“It was a
pleasure to be on the field again,” said Mikulic. “I’m happy and I was very
excited because my time out felt so long. Finally I feel great because I’m out
on the field again. We feel good about our defensive abilities. It’s our job.
It doesn’t matter who plays in the back. For me it’s the same if I play with
Jalil, Cory or Cuesta, there isn’t much left off from one to the other.”
Gibbs’ groin injury will keep him out of Sunday’s match and
with Cuesta returning from his suspension, it’s likely the Colombian will slot
into central defense next to Mikulic. Pause is expected to remain on the right
with Anibaba as the first defensive sub off the bench.
Jeff Crandall is the
Team Writer for the Chicago Fire. Follow him on Twitter @JefeCrandall.
