Schweinsteiger played most of 2018 at center back due to lack of options for the Fire. File Photo by Don MacGregor
German legend returns to Fire for 2019.
BRIDGEVIEW, IL–On Wednesday, the guesswork ended and the Fire re-signed Bastian Schweinsteiger for the 2019 season. Schweinsteiger’s signing means that all three of the Fire’s Designated Player slots are accounted for along with Nemanja Nikolic and Aleksandar Katai.
“Let’s raise a trophy. I believe in this Club and I believe that we can be champions,” said Schweinsteiger in a press release. “This American journey has been very special for me and my family. I love being a part of the Chicago Fire and we appreciate how the city has embraced us with open arms. To the Fire fans, from my family to yours, I wish you a happy and safe holiday season and I will see you in Chicago next year.”
Since joining the Fire in March 2017, Schweinsteiger has scored seven goals and 12 assists in 55 regular season appearances. Last season saw him score four goals and register a club-leading six assists. All of this despite being placed at center back for a majority of the season due to a lack of options in that position after the departure of Joao Meira before the 2018 season and the lack of impactful signings overall by the Fire apart from Katai.
“In a lot of ways Basti has come to embody our Club, the prototypical Fire player and the spirit of Chicago: industrious, intelligent, enthusiastic, talented and world-class,” said club president and general manager Nelson Rodriguez. “His return demonstrates our continuing effort to build a championship program, both on and off the field.”
THOUGHTS: Yeah, about that. There should be a huge impetus on building a winner after the Fire regresses so badly both on and off the pitch in 2018. Schweinsteiger was one of the few highlights of that season. However, he is better when deployed as a defensive midfielder and not as a center back. With all three of the DP spots filled, Rodriguez needs to find a way to upgrade at every position, especially center back, absent moving one of the DPs.
Schweinsteiger was a real trooper despite all that happened in 2018. Now, the front office needs to put up similar effort in building a real team around him.
