One of the most prominent storylines of the 2022 Chicago Fire season was the signing, arrival, and level of play displayed from veteran center back, Rafael Czichos.
Acquired from German Bundesliga side FC Köln in early January, Czichos landed in Chicago with 15 years of experience under his belt. His steady play on the Fire back line, along with his cool and confident demeanor, provided security for head coach Ezra Hendrickson’s squad throughout the course of the season.
Making his MLS debut against Inter Miami CF on Feb. 26, Hendrickson gave Czichos the responsibility of captaining the team in the first game of the season. With Czichos donning the Chicago flag armband, the Fire recorded their first result of the 2022 campaign -- a 0-0 tie on the road against a promising Miami side.
A “rock-solid” performance showcased how strong the Fire back line could be. With goalkeeper Gaga Slonina recording three saves, the underlying statistic that people ignored were the five blocks the Fire defense provided in front of young Slonina.
That would be a trend all season long.
“He's a communicator and he's a leader on the field and he's what we needed," Slonina said about Czichos following the Inter Miami CF match, “He's a presence in the locker room and guys are comfortable around him. He's a monster on the field and he wants to win, and off the field he’s comforting. He wants to teach you and make you better. I think he's an incredible player and an amazing person to work with.”
At the helm was Czichos, who captained the Fire for 26 games of the 2022 regular season. Alongside him were Wyatt Omsberg, Boris Sekulić, Miguel Navarro, who were all bright spots for Chicago Fire FC early on in the season.
Five games into the campaign, the Fire had recorded two victories and three draws. In those five games, four results were clean sheets.
As the season progressed, the focus was on Chicago’s lack of offense. However, the consistency of the Fire defense deserved attention. Czichos’ composure and leadership helped give the Fire defense the confidence that they could keep every game within reach.
For Czichos, making the adjustment from Bundesliga to Major League Soccer was quite the internal battle. Czichos was not used to the style of Major League Soccer, calling it “physical and quick” following his MLS debut, but you would never tell based on his performances.
In the 34 games played by Chicago this season, Czichos made 26 appearances - all of them starts and all of them with the captain’s armband on his left arm.
Czichos’ debut season successes also showed up on the stat sheet – which included a success rate of over 64% in tackles, and 57% of his duels won this season. On top of that, he contributed 20 blocks and 106 clearances throughout the course of the season. Those totals put him near the top in all categories amongst all Fire defenders as well as in all of Major League Soccer this season.
Later down the stretch of the season, amid a stagnant period for the Fire attack, Czichos decided to take matters into his own hands. He recorded his first goal in MLS against Columbus on July 9 - the first of three header goals that would spark the Fire during the dog days of the regular season.
In an incredible stretch of the season where the Fire found themselves well out of a playoff spot, Czichos captained the team to a five-game unbeaten stretch. Of those five games unbeaten, the team’s four victories over the stretch catapulted them into the playoff conversation. At one point, the Fire found themselves in sixth place in the Eastern Conference - a glimpse into the capabilities of the roster when healthy and at full force.
Czichos would record goals in back-to-back matches, including the lone goal in the 1-0 victory against Seattle Sounders FC on July 16, as well as tallying another in the 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps FC the following weekend.
The season would progress, and the Fire would eventually find themselves out of the playoff hunt. However, the competitive play and steady leadership from Czichos continued, citing that every game was important for this young team.
His presence would rub off on the younger defenders that stepped into the lineup, including Carlos Terán, who took over responsibilities in central defense when Wyatt Omsberg suffered a season-ending leg injury.
Czichos’ impending return for year two should ease any concerns for the Fire on the defensive end in 2023. Getting key players like Omsberg back - as well as the continuing development of players like Miguel Navarro and Terán - show that defense might be the team’s deepest unit when it comes to the current roster.
Should Czichos and the Fire remain healthy, the defense will aim to provide consistent and steady play in Major League Soccer, as some stretches of the 2022 season would suggest.
The future has always been bright in Chicago, but Czichos’ addition might’ve been the spark the Fire needed on the backline to lead the team back into the playoff conversation next year and beyond.