By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
The Chicago Red Stars have lit the Feuz.
The team, which is under new ownership, hired head coach Lorne Donaldson in December, and on Feb. 5 hired his boss.
The Red Stars named Richard Feuz the team’s general manager, after he served a stint as chief executive officer for Switzerland’s Servette Football Club.
“Richard has a proven record in building championship-level organizations, having led the Servette Football Club through years of success on and off the pitch,” Red Stars Executive Chairman Laura Ricketts said in a news release. “His experience will be invaluable as we begin this new chapter for the Chicago Red Stars.”
“I am very excited to join the Chicago Red Stars,” Feuz stated in the release. “I’d like to thank Laura for trusting me to lead the Red Stars’ soccer operation. I can’t wait to join the team this preseason and get to work on re-establishing the team as a championship competitor in the league.”
Feuz will lead all soccer operations of the club including managing the coaching, performance, training and administration staff as well as the construction of the team roster through player acquisitions, trades or releases.
Feuz served as the president and sporting director of Servette’s women’s team since 2017. During his time as sporting director, Servette finished at the top of the table in the AXA Women’s Super League, the top women’s league in Switzerland, four consecutive times (2019-2023), and won the Swiss Women’s Super League once (2021) and the Women’s Swiss Cup (2023). The Servette women’s team qualified for the UEFA Women’s Champions League three-consecutive times (2020-2022).
He has also proven to be a savvy businessman.
As the head of the club’s business operations, Feuz oversaw a 600% growth in merchandise revenue and a 120% growth in commercial revenue between 2020-2023. Feuz also spearheaded digital development of the club, which resulted in a 250% growth in engagement over the same period, making it the highest engagement in growth among all Swiss clubs.
Wood recalled
The Red Stars recalled goalkeeper, Mackenzie Wood, from her loan to Stade de Reims Féminines of the French D1 Féminine league. Wood rejoined the Red Stars for preseason training at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Wood first joined Chicago as a non-roster invitee during the 2023 NWSL preseason. Wood was previously signed to temporary injury replacement contracts in March and July 2023 before the Red Stars signed and loaned her to Stade de Reims Féminines Aug. 23.
Fire II ready for season
The Chicago Fire II will continue to call SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview home for a third straight season.
The team plays its Major League Soccer NEXT Pro games at the facility and there is no charge for patrons to see this group, which comprises Chicago Fire first-team players, players signed to MLS NEXT Pro contracts, as well as members of the Chicago Fire Academy.
Ludovic Taillandier returns as the head coach for Chicago for his third season and is joined by assistant coaches Patrick Nyarko and Gerson Pérez. Igor Dimov will serve as goalkeeping coach.
The team opens the season on the road March 17 at Cincinnati and the first home game will be March 22 at SeatGeek Stadium against Toronto.
FIRE II IN BRIDGEVIEW
The 2024 home schedule for the Chicago Fire II. Games are played at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview
DATE OPPONENT TIME
March 22 Toronto 6 p.m.
March 28 Philadelphia 6 p.m.
April 10 Crown Legacy 6 p.m.
April 19 Carolina 6 p.m.
April 28 Atlanta 1 p.m.
May 8 New York City 6 p.m.
May 24 Columbus 6 p.m.
June 7 Chattanooga 6 p.m.
July 5 Miami 6 p.m.
July 14 New York City 3 p.m.
July 21 New England 4 p.m.
Sept. 8 Cincinnati 1 p.m.
Sept. 13 Red Bull New York 6 p.m.
Oct. 6 Philadelphia Noon