What Is 2017 Chicago Fire Soccer Club season

Overview

The 2017 Major League Soccer season was the Chicago Fire's 20th in franchise history and their second under head coach Veljko Paunović. After a rebuilding 2016 campaign, the club aimed to return to playoff contention with strategic signings and a more cohesive tactical approach.

This season saw the Fire remain at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois, before relocating to Soldier Field in 2018. Despite flashes of promise, especially from new striker Nemanja Nikolić, the team fell short of the postseason, finishing just outside the playoff line.

• Nemanja Nikolić joined from Legia Warsaw and led the team with 18 goals, earning MLS Golden Boot honors.
• The Fire finished with a 12–13–9 record, accumulating 45 points in the Eastern Conference standings.
• They placed 9th in the Eastern Conference, six points behind the 6th-place New England Revolution, the final playoff spot.
• Home games were played at Toyota Park, a 20,000-seat soccer-specific stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.
• Midfielder Diego de Girolamo and defender Jalil Anibaba were among key contributors across the season.

How It Works

The 2017 season structure followed Major League Soccer's standard format, combining regular-season performance with individual player awards and playoff qualification based on conference standings.

• Regular Season: Each team played 34 games; the Fire competed in the Eastern Conference, facing regional rivals and cross-conference opponents.
• Playoff Qualification: The top six teams in each conference advanced; the Fire’s 45 points were not enough to secure a spot.
• Home Venue: Toyota Park hosted all home matches, averaging 17,901 fans per game, ranking 19th in MLS attendance.
• Player Acquisition: The Fire used targeted allocation money to sign Nikolić, a key move that boosted offensive production significantly.
• Coaching Strategy: Paunović employed a 4-2-3-1 formation, emphasizing possession and transition play, though consistency remained an issue.
• Transfer Window: The secondary transfer window in July allowed mid-season adjustments, though no major reinforcements were added.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 2017 Chicago Fire season compares to other recent seasons in terms of performance and key metrics:

The 2017 season mirrored the 2013 campaign in record and points but underperformed in standings due to tiebreakers and conference depth. The emergence of Nikolić as a prolific scorer was a bright spot, though defensive lapses—39 goals conceded—limited overall progress.

Why It Matters

The 2017 season was pivotal in shaping the Fire’s future direction, highlighting both progress and persistent challenges in their quest to return to consistent competitiveness.

• The signing of Nemanja Nikolić proved successful, as his 18 goals were crucial in improving offensive output.
• Finishing outside the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year intensified pressure on management for structural changes.
• The team’s defensive record—39 goals allowed—showed improvement but still lagged behind top-tier MLS clubs.
• Attendance trends indicated stable fan support despite on-field struggles, averaging nearly 18,000 per game.
• The season underscored the need for deeper roster investment, especially in central defense and midfield.
• It set the stage for the 2018 relocation to Soldier Field, marking a new chapter in the club’s history.

Ultimately, 2017 served as a transitional year—showing promise with individual performances while exposing the gaps that would need addressing in the coming seasons.