2008 Chicago Fire season

The 2008 Chicago Fire season marked the club's 10th anniversary and their 11th consecutive season in Major League Soccer (MLS), solidifying their position in the top tier of American soccer. The season began with an impressive 3-1 away victory over Real Salt Lake on March 29, 2008. Under the leadership of Denis Hamlett, who was promoted to head coach for the first time, the Fire delivered a strong campaign, finishing 2nd in the Eastern Conference and 3rd overall in the league standings. The season concluded with a narrow 2-1 defeat to the Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference Final on November 13, 2008, ending their hopes of a fourth MLS Cup Final appearance.

Roster

Squad

• Players in bold have had senior international caps for their respective national squads.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
0	GK	Template:Fba/core	Tyler Kettering
1	GK	Template:Fba/core	Jon Busch
2	DF	Template:Fba/core	C.J. Brown (Vice-captain)
3	FW	Template:Fba/core	Calen Carr
4	MF	Template:Fba/core	Bakary Soumare
5	MF	Template:Fba/core	Brian Plotkin
6	DF	Template:Fba/core	Brandon Prideaux
7	MF	Template:Fba/core	Logan Pause
8	MF	Template:Fba/core	Diego Gutiérrez
9	FW	Template:Fba/core	Tomasz Frankowski
10	MF	Template:Fba/core	Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Captain)
11	MF	Template:Fba/core	John Thorrington
12	FW	Template:Fba/core	Patrick Nyarko
16	MF	Template:Fba/core	Marco Pappa
17	FW	Template:Fba/core	Chris Rolfe

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
18	MF	Template:Fba/core	Mike Banner
20	FW	Template:Fba/core	Brian McBride
21	MF	Template:Fba/core	Justin Mapp
22	DF	Template:Fba/core	Wilman Conde
23	MF	Template:Fba/core	Líder Mármol
24	DF	Template:Fba/core	Daniel Woolard
25	DF	Template:Fba/core	Gonzalo Segares
26	FW	Template:Fba/core	Andy Herron
28	GK	Template:Fba/core	Nick Noble
29	MF	Template:Fba/core	Peter Lowry
32	DF	Template:Fba/core	Dasan Robinson
33	MF	Template:Fba/core	Stephen King
34	DF	Template:Fba/core	Austin Washington
36	MF	Template:Fba/core	Kai Kasiguran
70	MF	Template:Fba/core	Saad Karim Hadji

Transfers

In

• Template:Flagicon Patrick Nyarko Drafted 7th overall in 2008 MLS Superdraft
• Template:Flagicon Dominic Cervi Drafted 12th overall in 2008 MLS Superdraft
• Template:Flagicon Peter Lowry Drafted 26th overall in 2008 MLS Superdraft
• Template:Flagicon Dwight Barnett Drafted 38th overall in 2008 MLS Superdraft
• Template:Flagicon Stephen King Drafted 40th overall in 2008 MLS Superdraft
• Template:Flagicon Austin Washington Drafted 54th overall in 2008 MLS Superdraft
• Template:Flagicon Andy Herron Rights acquired from Columbus Crew for 4th round pick in the 2010 Superdraft
• Template:Flagicon Tomasz Frankowski Signed from Template:Flagicon Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Template:Flagicon Brandon Prideaux Acquired in waiver draft from Colorado Rapids
• Template:Flagicon Líder Mármol Signed as free agent.
• Template:Flagicon Brian McBride Free agent
• Template:Flagicon Saad Karim Hadji Free agent

Out

• Template:Flagicon Matt Pickens To Template:Flagicon Queens Park Rangers
• Template:Flagicon Iván Guerrero Lost to San Jose Earthquakes in the Expansion Draft
• Template:Flagicon Jim Curtin Traded to Chivas USA
• Template:Flagicon Chris Armas Retired
• Template:Flagicon Paulo Wanchope Retired
• Template:Flagicon Jeff Curtin Waived, later signed with D.C. United
• Template:Flagicon Osei Telesford Waived, later signed with Template:Flagicon Puerto Rico Islanders
• Template:Flagicon Chad Barrett Traded to Toronto FC in Brian McBride deal
• Template:Flagicon Brian Plotkin Waived, later signed with Columbus Crew

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Last updated on June 5, 2008.

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		MLS Season
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
0	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Tyler Kettering	0	0	0	0
1	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Jon Busch	30	0	30	0
2	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	C.J. Brown	3	0	3	0
3	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Calen Carr	9	2	9	2
4	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Bakary Soumare	28	0	28	0
6	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Brandon Prideaux	27	0	27	0
7	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Logan Pause	27	0	27	0
8	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Diego Gutiérrez	20	0	20	0
9	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Tomasz Frankowski	17	2	17	2
10	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Cuauhtémoc Blanco	27	7	27	7
11	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	John Thorrington	23	5	23	5
12	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Patrick Nyarko	9	1	9	1
16	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Marco Pappa	6	0	6	0
17	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Chris Rolfe	26	10	26	10
18	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Mike Banner	11	0	11	0
20	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Brian McBride	11	5	11	5
21	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Justin Mapp	30	2	30	2
22	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Wilman Conde	22	1	22	1
23	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Lider Marmol	2	0	2	0
24	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Daniel Woolard	8	1	8	1
25	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Gonzalo Segares	23	2	23	2
26	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Andy Herron	17	0	17	0
28	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Nick Noble	0	0	0	0
29	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Peter Lowry	0	0	0	0
32	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Dasan Robinson	2	0	2	0
33	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Stephen King	20	2	20	2
34	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Austin Washington	1	0	1	0
36	Template:Football squad player/role	Template:Fba/core	Kai Kasiguran	0	0	0	0

Competitions

Overall

Competition	Started round	Current position / round	Final position / round	First match	Last match
				March 29, 2008

Updated to match played July 21, 2009
Source: Competitions

Matches

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