Chicago Fire FC dismisses head coach Ezra Hendrickson after struggling to a 2-3-5 record

The struggling Chicago Fire fired coach Ezra Hendrickson and replaced him with Frank Klopas for the rest of the season. The team also fired assistant coach Junior González on Monday.

The Fire (2-3-5) are 14th of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference with 11 points.

Only the New York Red Bulls (nine points, 1-4-6) trail Chicago, and New York parted ways with coach Gerhard Struber on Monday in what the team said was a mutual agreement.

Hendrickson led Chicago to a 12-18-14 score over two seasons. He spent 13 years coaching at national and international level before the Fire hired him in November 2021 to take over Klopas, who had replaced fired Raphaël Wicky on an interim basis.

Last season, the Fire finished 12th in the Eastern Conference and 24th overall in the league, with just 10 wins and 39 points.

Hendrickson took over from Raphael Wicky (L) and is replaced by Frank Klopas (R)

In two seasons, Hendrickson only managed a total of 12 wins and only 54 points in 44 games

Klopas played for the Fire from 1998 to 1999 and was their head coach from 2011 to 2013, leading them to the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs.

He has also spent time in the front office and worked as an announcer for the team.

“This was a difficult decision, but after careful consideration, we felt a change was needed at this time as we work towards our goal of progressing to the playoffs and competing for trophies,” said Fire sports director Georg Heitz in a statement.

Hendrickson was a defenseman in MLS with the New York MetroStars (1997), LA Galaxy (1997-2003), Dallas Burn (2003), DC United (2004), Chivas USA (2005-06), and Columbus (2006-08).