Chicago Fire sack Ezra Hendrickson - Coach a victim of roster construction?

The Chicago Fire have released head coach Ezra Hendrickson with immediate effect. The Major League Soccer club announced that decision on Monday morning. Additionally, the club also announced that Frank Klopas will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2023 season. 

“This was a difficult decision, but after careful consideration, we felt that a change was necessary at this time as we work toward our goal of advancing to the playoffs and competing for trophies,” Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director Georg Heitz said in a club statement. “We’d like to thank Ezra and Junior for their efforts during the past two seasons, and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”

Hendrickson took over the club in November 2021 and, in 46 games in charge, averaged 1.15 points-per-game. The Chicago Fire collected just 39 points last season and finished 12^th in the Eastern Conference to miss the playoffs. The start to this season has not been much better, with Hendrickson’s side collecting just 11 points from the first ten games, winning just two of those games, and drawing five with three losses. 

Hendrickson let go by Chicago Fire – Agent lashes out on Twitter 

While Hendrickson’s record has not been stellar, questions will also have to be asked about Chicago’s roster construction. On Monday, Apple TV commentator Taylor Twellman commented on the firing by tweeting: “If you think Ezra Hendrickson is the reason for Chicago Fire’s struggles on and off the field within MLS right now, then you are not paying attention. The coach/manager always is the scapegoat, but the roster makeup isn’t?! The lack of production from DPs?!” 

That tweet was retweeted by CAA Stellar agent Damani Ralph with the following comment. “We know who isn’t being held accountable here,” Ralph tweeted. “When you lead DP had 0 goals and 0 assists, what is your head coach supposed to do.” That lead DP would be Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri, who earns $8.153 million a season, making him the second highest-paid player in the league behind Lorenzo Insigne ($14m per MLSPA).

Shaqiri was acquired by Swiss sporting director Heitz from Olympique Lyon for €7m ahead of the 2022 season and has been mostly a bust. The 31-year-old scored seven goals and six assists in 29 games last year and has zero goals and assists 358 minutes played for the club this season.