| 2016 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Chairman | Andrew Hauptman | |||
| Head coach | Veljko Paunović | |||
| Stadium | Toyota Park (capacity: 20,000) | |||
| MLS | Conference: 10th Overall: 20th | |||
| MLS Cup Playoffs | Did not qualify | |||
| U.S. Open Cup | Semifinals | |||
| Brimstone Cup | Did not win | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: David Accam (9) All: David Accam (14) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 18,976 (Oct 16 vs New England Revolution) | |||
| Lowest home attendance | League: 12,073 (Apr 2 vs Philadelphia) Open Cup: 3,666 (Jul 20 vs Fort Lauderdale) | |||
| Average home league attendance | League: 15,602 (regular season) Open Cup: 5,133 | |||
| Biggest win | MTL 0-3 CHI (8/20) CHI 3-0 PHL (9/3) | |||
| Biggest defeat | DC 6-2 CHI (8/27) | |||
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The 2016 Chicago Fire season was the club's 18th year of existence, as well as their 19th season in Major League Soccer and their 19th consecutive year in the top-flight of American soccer.
On November 24, 2015 Veljko Paunović, coach of the 2015 World Cup champions Serbia U-20 team, was announced as the Chicago Fire's new head coach.[1]
Chicago Fire began the regular season on March 6, 2016, with a home match against New York City FC. The Men in Red finished the regular season on October 23, 2016, with an away match against Toronto FC. The club has missed the playoffs for the sixth time in the past seven years.
The loss on the road to Vancouver Whitecaps on May 11, 2016, was the Fire's 28th straight match (19L, 9T) without a road win. This surpassed the New York Red Bulls for the longest road winless streak in MLS history.[2] With the away loss to Real Salt Lake on August 6, 2016, the streak extended to 36 matches (27L, 9T). The two-years and 28 days long streak finally ended when the Fire defeated Montreal Impact, 3–0, on the road on August 20, 2016. It was the first victory away from home since the Fire beat the New England Revolution, 1–0, in Foxborough, MA on July 12, 2014.[3]
Chicago Fire became the first team in MLS history to finish last in the overall table two years in a row.[4]
- ^ "Chicago Fire Soccer Club Hires Veljko Paunovic as Head Coach". chicago-fire.com. November 24, 2015.
- ^ "Vancouver Whitecaps 2, Chicago Fire 1 - Match Recap". mlssoccer.com. May 11, 2016.
- ^ "Chicago Fire road victory "feels like something came off our shoulders"". August 20, 2016.
- ^ "Toronto FC 3 Fire 2 - recap and ratings". Chicago Fire Confidential. October 24, 2016.