By RYAN TOLMICH
The Chicago Fire have taken a much-needed step to bolster the team’s back line.
The Fire announced Tuesday that the club has added 31-year-old Brazilian center back Adailton from Bahia of Brazil’s Serie A.
“Adailton is a strong, powerful defender,“ said Fire Head Coach Frank Yallop. “This is a position we were looking to fill, so I’m pleased that we will be adding a player with his experience to our team.”
The 31-year-old has featured for eight teams throughout a 12 year professional career, most notably Switzerland’s FC Sion, Brazil’s Santos and France’s FC Rennes, for whom he featured in six UEFA Cup matches.
“It is with great satisfaction that I will continue my career with the Chicago Fire and play in Major League Soccer,” Adailton said. “I have been watching MLS closely over the past several seasons and ever since 2004 while in France, I made it a goal of mine to play in the United States. I had other opportunities to join MLS clubs in the past but the timing was not right until this challenge with the Fire.
“I look forward to working with my new teammates and Coach Frank Yallop and his staff to take on the challenge of returning the Fire to the playoffs and giving the Fire Supporters the trophies they deserve.”
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What do you think of the Fire’s new signing? What other moves do you expect the club to make this offseason?
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Not exactly Arne Fredreich …
At best the Fire will be competing for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The ownership has waved the white flag – there is no ambition to compete with the top MLS clubs. There are now two tiers in MLS: the elite clubs (LA Galaxy, Seattle, Sporting KC, Portland, Toronto, NYRB, New York, Real Salt Lake) and then the rest. It will be interesting to see where the new LA club and Orlando settle. The bottom clubs (Chicago, Columbus, Colorado, Vancouver, San Jose, Montreal, Philly) will have a good year now and again, but most years they will just be happy that relegation doesn’t exist in MLS.
…I’ve never been impressed with Frank Yallop. MLS carousel coach….
My hopes are so low for the upcoming season they’re practically nonexistent. Just gonna sit back and see if Yallop can form some sort of identity for this mess of a squad.
unfortunately yallop has not lead any sort of formidable team for some time now…now sure what fans in chicago expect…sub .500 record since his return to mls in 2006…another recycled manager for mls…
He’ll probably stink.
He’s not Polish!
I miss the days of Nowak!
Bradley!
Kilbasa!
Soldier Field!
Open Cups!
I WANT IT TO BE 1998 AND I WANT KILBASA!
I think it rather sane to prefer those days than these of the last few years.
Hopefully, he shores up our backline.
We were way too weak last year.