Georg Heitz returns as Fire Sporting Director
Georg Heitz will return as the Chicago Fire’s Sporting Director in 2024, the club announced in a statement today. The 53-year-old was rewarded with a new contract extension despite leading the Fire to four playoff-less seasons since he took over in 2019. Technical Director Sebastian Pelzter will also continue in his position.
“As we continue working toward building a world-class organization deeply connected to the community, Georg and his team have created a strong foundation that will lead to sustained success,” owner Joe Mansueto said via a press release. “Our fans deserve to support a team that is a consistent contender for trophies, and heading into the 2024 season, we are all committed to taking the necessary steps to bring more success to the Chicago Fire.”
The news that Heitz will be returning comes as something of a surprise to many fans of the club. In his four seasons, the Fire have come up short of almost every on-field expectation and have given the supporters very little to cheer about. Investment from Mansueto has pointed the organization in the right direction from the top down, but that has not yet been rewarded in a successful season in MLS. Poorly constructed rosters and ineffective Designated Players brought in by Heitz, someone with no prior MLS experience before he was hired, were one of the main reasons for the Fire’s shortcomings, but Mansueto has kept faith in him nonetheless.
“I’m excited to continue leading the Chicago Fire, and I’d like to thank Joe Mansueto for his trust and support,” Heitz said Tuesday. “Despite falling short of our collective goal to qualify for the playoffs, we have made improvements and professionalized the organization in multiple areas to be consistently competitive in the coming seasons and over the long term. We are confident that by adding the right pieces, we will be a strong contender in the Eastern Conference next season and become a team that brings more success and joy to our fans each week.”
Rightly or wrongly, Heitz now has another chance to prove he’s the man of the job. Only time will tell if he can repay Mansueto’s loyalty.
Read More about Heitz's tenure in our four-part series, looking back at the last four seasons.
