Ten Best: Metros who played for Chicago
September 6, 2015
Have you noticed that our coaching staff is made up of Fire alums? Of course, this list is about Metro players, not coaches, who played for Chicago, but, still, it needs to be said...
10) Paul Dougherty: NY 1998; Chicago 1999
Zach Thornton? Manny Lagos? Billy Walsh? Orlando Perez? Andy Williams? Tenywa Bonseu? And a bunch of others... so many to choose from, but we'll go with Dougherty. The diminutive midfiedler's Metro stint was sadly cut short in midseason. The spark plug who ran the Metro midfield in the absence of World Cup "stars" Tab Ramos and Marcelo Vega was dealt to Tampa Bay. He would come to Chicago a year later.
9) Wilman Conde: Chicago 2007-10; NY 2012
"It is my desire to pursue my career with the New York Red Bulls starting this season" -- Wilman Conde, 2008. His beloved Juan Carlos Osorio was long gone when the defender made his switch in 2012. We're not sure what is his lasting memory, the last-second blast to tie the game in DC, or when he got arrested in the middle of the night for assaulting a policeman.
8) Jon Conway: NY 2006-09; Chicago 2011
While we're not exactly fans of Conway's work, it's hard to exclude a player who beat out two wily veterans (Tony Meola and Ronald Waterreus) to win the starting job in two playoff years. (And then, of course, how did those playoffs go? Let's not talk about it.) Conway's stint with Chicago came at the end of his career, as he bumbled his way into retirement. Still, beats Greg Sutton.
7) Mike Sorber: NY 1997-99; Chicago 2000
The Metro-Fire rivalry was at its apex in 2000, when the teams played memorable regular season matches (who can forget Nick Sakiewicz offering to pay all player fines incurred against Chicago?) and then a dramatic playoff series. Sorber, patrolled Metro's midfield for three years, switched to the other side for that lone campaign. In a strange twist of events, he was claimed off waivers by the Revs after 1999, then traded to Chicago. Couldn't Metro trade him directly?
6) Ante Razov: Chicago 1998-2004; NY 2005
When Bob Bradley switched over to Metro, Razov was on top of the list of former Fire players he wanted to acquire. But the Fire wouldn't deal with their former head coach. So Bradley had to wait for Razov to be shipped to Columbus, pout, and pounce. Absolutely despised during his time with Chicago, Razov put in a very solid half season with Metro, scoring six goals. After Bradley's ouster, the idiotic regime of Alexi Lalas and Mo Johnston didn't see the potential in one of the best scorers in league history. Now in charge of Chivas USA, Bradley pounced again.
5) Rodrigo Faria: NY 2001-02; Chicago 2003
When Metro wanted to sign Bradley away from Chicago, the Fire traded him for a player. Faria, who was the league Rookie of the Year in 2001 and scored 14 goals in all competitions a year later, didn't exactly pan out for Chicago. He went scoreless in four games, was shipped to San Jose, helped them to the league title, and stopped playing soccer.
4) Dema Kovalenko: Chicago 1999-2002; NY 2006-07
It's hard to find another player who was so disliked as an opponent (having a stint with DC Scum sandwich in there didn't help) and became so embraced as a Metro. Kovalenko was Bruce Arena's first acquisition when he took over in 2006.
3) Mike Magee: NY 2003-08; Chicago 2013-
What promise he showed as a rookie! Six up-and-down seasons with Metro saw Magee be one of few Bradley-brought players who survived into the Red Bull regime. After a successful title-winning stint in LA, he was sent to his hometown Chicago, where he immediately won league MVP. (Be it in 2013, when the Fire missed the playoffs.) He still whines a lot.
2) John Wolyniec: NY 1999, 2003-05, 2006-10; Chicago 2000-01, 2002
As everyone knows, Woly had four stints with Metro. He actually had two in Chicago: after his time with Metro in 1999, the Fire actually re-drafted him 2000. Early the following year, Woly was traded to New England for Eric Wynalda. He wouldn't last much with the Revs, and return to Chicago a year later for a two-game stint. The rest of Woly's 2002 was spent leading Milwaukee to the A-League's title. Bradley would bring him to Metro in 2003, and the rest is Staten Island Ronaldo history.
1) Joel Lindpere: NY 2000-12; Chicago 2013
Our least favorite part of the 2013 Supporters Shield? That Lindpere was playing by Chicago, when Metro dumped them 5:2 for the hardware. One of our favorite parts? That Lindpere was genuinely happy for his former teammates.
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