CHICAGO, Ill. (Jan. 21, 2013) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Monday that Fire defender Arne Friedrich has received his U.S. Green Card, granting him permanent resident status in the United States. Friedrich will no longer occupy an International Player slot on the Fire roster.
Friedrich signed as a free agent on March 7, 2012 and made 23 MLS regular season appearances. He was selected as the club’s Defender of the Year for his efforts anchoring the Fire backline that held opponents to 41 goals during the 2012 regular season, tied for second best in the Eastern Conference.
The two-time German World Cup veteran re-signed with the Men in Red on Nov. 7, 2012.
Hailing from Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, Friedrich has represented the German national team 82 times since his first appearance in 2002. During that time, Friedrich helped Die Mannschaft to matching third place finishes at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups. He also represented Germany at the 2004 and 2008 UEFA European Championships, helping his country to a runner-up finish in 2008. Capable of playing centrally or on the right side of the backline, Friedrich helped his national side to a third-place finish at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany.
The Chicago Fire will host the New England Revolution for Opening Night at Toyota Park on Saturday, March 9 at 6:30 p.m. CT (NBC Sports Network). The Men in Red will begin their 16th season on the road the previous week when they visit two-time defending MLS Cup Champions LA Galaxy at the Home Depot Center on Sunday, March 3 at 4:00 p.m. CT (Univision).
Chicago Fire Season Tickets and #cf97withdrawals Winter Packs, which give fans the opportunity to witness the Men in Red in action on Opening Day while donning the four Fire hats and four pairs of Fire gloves included in the pack, are available by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE, via Ticketmaster or by heading to the club’s official website at www.Chicago-Fire.com.
