CHICAGO (April 10, 2014) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Thursday that the club has re-signed reigning MLS MVP Mike Magee to a new contract. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Mike is a proven winner,” said Chicago Fire Head Coach and Director of Soccer Frank Yallop. “He has shown throughout his time in Chicago and in MLS that he can score goals and consistently perform at the highest level. Mike has earned this new contract and we’re happy that we were able to reach a new deal.”
Magee returned to his hometown Fire in a trade on May 25, 2013 from the LA Galaxy. In 22 games with the Men in Red last season, Magee scored 15 goals and tallied four assists. Prior to joining the Fire, Magee scored six goals with the LA Galaxy, bringing his season total to 21 goals, just one shy of Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Camilo Sanvezzo, the 2013 MLS Golden Boot winner. Magee’s previous season-high was seven goals scored in his 2003 rookie season with the MetroStars.
“As a kid, I would have paid to play for the Chicago Fire, so as you can imagine, I’m beyond happy to have signed a new deal,” said Magee. “My only goal with this team is to win an MLS Cup.”
The twelve-year MLS veteran earned his first MLS All-Star nomination when he was named to the 2013 MLS All-Star Fan XI and faced Italian Serie A side AS Roma in July. Magee was also named to his first career MLS Best XI and on Dec. 5, 2013, the Chicago native became the first player in Fire history to win the MLS MVP award.
“Getting Mike a new contract has been a priority for the club,” said Fire Technical Director Brian Bliss. “We’re pleased that we were able to work out a new deal early in the 2014 campaign.”
After missing the first two matches of the 2014 season while rehabilitating a hamstring strain, Magee returned to the lineup on March 23, and has scored one goal and tallied one assist in three matches.
Unbeaten in their last four matches, the Fire next take on the Montreal Impact at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec on Saturday, April 12 at 3:00 p.m. CT (My50/TWCSC Wisconsin/La Ley).
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club will next return to Toyota Park when they host a doubleheader with the National Women’s Soccer League side Chicago Red Stars at Toyota Park on Saturday, April 19. The Fire will kick off against the New England Revolution at 3 p.m. CT (NBC Sports Network), followed by the Red Stars vs. Western New York Flash match at 5:45 p.m. CT. The first 5,000 fans attending the Fire match will be given a special commemorative Fire scarf. All tickets purchased for the Fire vs. Revolution match will also include a complimentary, General Admission ticket for the Red Stars game. Single game tickets for Fire matches are available via Ticketmaster and www.Chicago-Fire.com.
