We polled Fire media, staff and former players to gather 30 semifinalists for our #Fire15 Greatest Players countdown to begin later this season. Now we leave the voting up to you to select the Top 15 players in Fire history…
See the qualifications for all 30 nominees below and select your 15 choices based on performance for the club and how they wore the badge once everyday through August 1 by voting to the right.
Fan votes will be tabulated along with player, media and technical staff votes to produce a Top 15 list to celebrate the club's 15th anniversary on October 8.
Who are your Top 15 Fire Players of All-Time? (Select 15)
Chris Armas – midfielder (1998-2007)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 272 GP (4th all-time), 13 goals, 53 assists (2nd all-time)
- One of only three players all-time to be part of all six domestic titles
- Club Captain (2003-07)
- 2003 Chicago Fire MVP
- Five-time MLS Best XI selection (1998-01, 2003)
- Four-time MLS All-Star (1998-00, 2004)
- Ring of Fire inductee (2009)
DaMarcus Beasley – midfielder (2000-2004)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 134 GP, 18 goals, 28 assists (tied for 7th all-time)
- Part of three domestic title winning teams (2000, 2003 U.S. Open Cup; 2003 Supporters Shield)
- MLS Best XI selection (2003)
- Three-time MLS All-Star (2001-03)
Cuauhtemoc Blanco - midfielder (2007-2009)
- Nationality: Mexico
- All Competitions: 77 GP, 19 goals (tied for 15th all time), 28 assists (tied for 7th all-time)
- Two-time MLS All-Star (2008-09)
- 2008 MLS Best XI
- 2007 Chicago Fire MVP
Carlos Bocanegra – defender (2000-2003)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 122 GP, 7 goals, 9 assists
- Won three domestic titles (2000, 2003 U.S. Open Cup; 2003 Supporters Shield)
- Two-time MLS Defender of the Year (2002-03)
- Two-time MLS Best XI selection (2002-03)
- Two-time MLS All-Star selection (2002-03)
- 2000 MLS Rookie of the Year
- Two-time Chicago Fire Defender of the Year (2000, 2003)
C.J. Brown – defender (1998-2010)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 372 GP (1st all-time), 5 goals, 15 assists
- Longest serving Fire player of all-time (13 seasons)
- One of three players to win all six domestic titles
- Club Captain (2008-09)
- Two-Time Chicago Fire Defender of the Year (2006, 2010)
- Three-time Chicago Fire Humanitarian of the Year (2001-03)
- 2001 MLS All-Star Selection
- 2012 Ring of Fire Inductee
Jon Busch – goalkeeper (2008-09)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 77 GP, 31-23-22 all-time record, 27 shutouts
- 2008 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
- 2008 MLS Best XI selection
- Led club to 2009 SuperLiga Final
Jim Curtin – defender (2001-2007)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 186 GP, 6 goals, 6 assists
- Winner of three domestic titles (2003, 2006 U.S. Open Cup; 2003 Supporters Shield)
- 2004 Chicago Fire Defender of the Year
- 2004 MLS All-Star selection
Ivan Guerrero – defender/midfielder (2005-2007)
- Nationality: Honduras
- All Competitions: 87 GP, 5 goals, 19 assists
- 2006 U.S. Open Cup champion
- 2005 Chicago Fire MVP
- 2005 Chicago Fire Defender of the Year
- 2005 MLS All-Star selection
Diego Gutierrez – midfielder (1998-2001; 2006-2008)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 197 GP, 10 goals, 34 assists (fifth all-time)
- Winner of four domestic titles (1998 MLS Cup, 1998, 2000, 2003 U.S. Open Cup)
- 2001 MLS All-Star selection
- 2008 MLS Commissioner’s Award
- 2007 MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year
- Three-time Chicago Fire Humanitarian of the Year (2006-08)
Frank Klopas – forward (1998-1999)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 50 GP, 8 goals, 5 assists
- Winner of two domestic titles (1998 MLS Cup, 1998 U.S. Open Cup)
- Scored game-winning goal in 1998 U.S. Open Cup final
- Scored first two Chicago Fire goals at Soldier Field (April 4, 1998)
- 2004 Ring of Fire inductee
Roman Kosecki – forward (1998-99)
- Nationality: Poland
- All Competitions: 58 GP, 15 goals, 20 assists
- 1999 MLS All-Star Selection
- Scored first goal in Chicago Fire history (76’ in 2-0 win at Miami)
Dema Kovalenko – midfielder (1999-2002)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 124 GP, 34 goals (4th all-time), 26 assists (10th all-time)
- 2000 U.S. Open Cup champion
- Two-time MLS All-Star (2001-02)
- One of only six Fire players all-time to score double-digit regular season goals (10 in 2000)
Lubos Kubik – defender (1998-2000)
- Nationality: Czech Republic
- All Competitions: 88 GP, 19 goals (14th all-time), 25 assists (12th all-time)
- All-time leader amongst Fire defenders in goals and assists
- Winner of three domestic championships (1998 MLS Cup, 1998, 2000 U.S. Open Cup)
- 1998 MLS Defender of the Year
- Two-time MLS Best XI selection (1998-99)
- Two-time Chicago Fire Defender of the Year (1998-99)
- Two-time MLS All-Star selection (1998-99)
- 2005 Ring of Fire inductee
Justin Mapp – midfielder (2003-2010)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 208 GP (6th all-time), 18 goals, 46 assists (4th all-time)
- Winner of three domestic championships (2003, 2006 U.S. Open Cup; 2003 Supporters Shield)
- 2006 MLS Best XI selection
- Youngest player to score a goal for the Fire first team at age 18 on May 25, 2003 vs. Colorado
Jesse Marsch – midfielder (1998-2005)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 259 GP, 23 goals (tied 9th all-time), 32 assists (6th all-time)
- Winner of five domestic titles (1998 MLS Cup; 1998, 2000, 2003 U.S. Open Cup; 2003 Supporters Shield)
- 2005 MLS All-Star selection
- Two-time Chicago Fire Humanitarian of the Year (2004-05)
Brian McBride – forward (2008-10)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 72 GP, 21 goals (12th all-time), 7 assists
- 2009 Chicago Fire MVP
- 2009 Chicago Fire Golden Boot winner (7 goals)
- Club Captain (2010)
Peter Nowak – midfielder (1998-2002)
- Nationality: Poland
- All Competitions: 147 GP, 29 goals (5th all-time), 60 assists (1st all-time)
- Winner of three domestic championships (1998 MLS Cup; 1998, 2000 U.S. Open Cup)
- First Club Captain (1998-2002)
- Three-time MLS Best XI selection (1998, 2000-01)
- Three-time Chicago Fire MVP (1998, 2000-01)
- Two-time MLS All-Star selection (1999-2000)
- 1998 MLS Cup MVP
- 2003 Ring of Fire Inductee
Patrick Nyarko – midfielder (2008-present)
- Nationality: Ghana
- All Competitions: 132 GP, 10 goals, 27 assists (tied 9th all-time)
- Led club in assists during 2010 (10) and 2011 (9)
Marco Pappa – midfielder (2008-present)
- Nationality: Guatemala
- All Competitions: 125 GP, 25 goals (7th all-time), 16 assists
- 2010 MLS All-Star selection
- 2010 Chicago Fire Golden Boot winner (7 goals)
- 2010 MLS Goal of the Year (4/10/2010 vs. SJ)
Logan Pause – midfielder (2003-present)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 290 GP (2nd all-time) 3 goals, 12 assists
- Winner of three domestic championships (2003, 2006 U.S. Open Cup; 2003 Supporters Shield)
- Club Captain (2011-present)
- 2010 Chicago Fire Goal of the Year (5/8/2010 at TFC)
- 2009 MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year
- 2009 Chicago Fire Humanitarian of the Year
Jerzy Podbrozny – forward (1998-1999)
- Nationality: Poland
- All Competitions: 69 GP, 12 goals, 26 assists (10th all-time
- 1998 assist leader (14)
- Only Fire player to score in two separate finals (1998 MLS Cup, 1998 U.S. Open Cup)
Damani Ralph – forward (2003-04)
- Nationality: Jamaica
- All Competitions: 66 GP, 28 goals (6th all-time), 12 assists
- Winner of two domestic championships (2003 U.S. Open Cup, 2003 Supporters Shield)
- 2003 MLS Rookie of the Year
- 2004 MLS All-Star selection
- 2004 Chicago Fire Golden Boot winner (11 goals)
- Scored game-winning goal in 2003 U.S. Open Cup final (1-0 W @ MetroStars)
- One of only two players to score double digit goals twice (11 in 2003 and 2004)
Ante Razov – forward (1998-2004)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 196 GP (8th all-time), 95 goals (1st all-time), 51 assists (3rd all-time)
- Winner of five domestic championships (1998 MLS Cup; 1998, 2000, 2003 U.S. Open Cup; 2003 Supporters Shield)
- 2003 MLS Best XI selection
- Five Chicago Fire Golden Boot Awards (1998-00, 2002-03)
- Five Double Digit goal scoring seasons (1998-00, 2002-03)
- 2000 MLS All-Star selection
Chris Rolfe – forward (2005-09; 2012- )
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 155 GP (11th all-time) 41 goals (2nd all-time) 21 assists (14th all-time)
- 2006 U.S. Open Cup champion
- Two-time Chicago Fire Golden Boot winner (2005, 2008)
Gonzalo Segares – defender (2005-present)
- Nationality: Costa Rica
- All Competitions: 192 GP (9th all-time), 11 goals, 15 assists
- 2006 U.S. Open Cup champion
- 2007 Chicago Fire Defender of the Year
Bakary Soumare – defender (2007-2009)
- Nationality: Mali
- All Competitions: 71 GP, 0 goals, 2 assists
- 2008 MLS Best XI selection
- 2009 MLS All-Star selection
- 2008 Chicago Fire Defender of the Year
Hristo Stoitchkov – forward (2000-2002)
- Nationality: Bulgaria
- All Competitions: 70 GP, 24 goals (8th all-time), 22 assists (10th all-time)
- 2000 U.S. Open Cup champion
- 2000 MLS Best XI
- Score game-winning goal in 2000 U.S. Open Cup (2-1 win vs. Miami)
Zach Thornton – goalkeeper (1998-2006)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 276 GP (3rd all-time); 145-82-38 all-time record, 79 shutouts
- One of three players to win all six domestic titles
- 1998 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
- 1998 MLS Best XI selection
- 2002 Chicago Fire Defender of the Year
- Club leader in nearly every goalkeeping category
Josh Wolff – forward (1998-2002)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 106 GP, 39 goals (3rd all-time), 19 assists
- Winner of three domestic championships (1998 MLS Cup; 1998, 2000 U.S. Open Cup)
- Double Digit goal scorer in 1999 (10)
Eric Wynalda – forward (2001)
- Nationality: USA
- All Competitions: 29 GP, 13 goals, 7 assists
- 2001 leading scorer across all competitions
