John Thorrington – The South African-born Thorrington began calling Chicago in 2005 home after beginning his career with Manchester United in 1997. Like his time in Europe, Thorrington’s first few seasons in Chicago were riddled with injuries as the former Red Devil appeared in only a combined 10 matches through his first two seasons.
Thorrington chips Cannon in 2007 playoff clincher
Waived at the beginning of 2007, Thorrington returned to the Fire at the end of that season, going on to score perhaps his most famous goal, a dramatic 93rd minute chip over Joe Cannon to defeat the LA Galaxy 1-0 and clinch an MLS Cup playoff berth on the last day of the season that year. Thorrington would go on to appear in 60 matches, scoring eight goals and two assists for the Fire through 2010.
Diego Gutierrez - Picked by the Fire from Kansas City in the 1997 Expansion Draft, Gutierrez (pictured above) memorably redirected Peter Nowak’s 45th minute effort to give the Fire a 2-0 lead (and eventual win) in MLS Cup ‘98.
Having tallied six goals and 26 assists in 89 appearances for the Fire through 2001, Gutierrez was traded back from whence he came in exchange for the Wizards’ first round selection in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft. Gutierrez returned to the Fire in January 2006 in a trade for Will John, helping the Fire to that year’s U.S. Open Cup title while racking up 68 more appearances, tallying two goals and five assists before retiring at the end of the 2008 season.
Amos Magee – Magee came to the Fire intermittently on loan from the A-League’s Minnesota Thunder during the 2001-02 seasons. The veteran forward appeared in six regular season matches, scoring both of his MLS goals in a wild 5-4 victory over Columbus on June 2, 2002.
He’s perhaps best known for his 111th minute “Golden Goal” scored with his chest in a 3-2 U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal victory over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on July 24, 2001. That goal earned him a cult following and new nickname among the Fire fan base as “Chesty Magee."
Stay tuned! A look at more two-stint Fire players is coming later this afternoon...
