2023 Chicago Fire in Review: Maren Haile-Selassie

Maren Haile-Selassie exceeded all expectations during his first season with the Chicago Fire, leading the squad with six goals as he adjusted to Major League Soccer in 2023.

The Swiss winger joined the Fire just before the end of 2022 on loan from fellow Joe Mansueto-owned club FC Lugano, with Chicago holding an option to purchase Haile-Selassie’s contract at the end of the MLS season. After he racked up 20 league starts and a club Golden Boot for his goal output, Chicago exercised that purchase option and then signed him to a new contract that keeps him in Chicago through the 2026 MLS campaign.

Haile-Selassie had an instant impact for the Fire in their season-opening 1-1 draw against NYCFC at Soldier Field. After coming on as a substitute in the second half, he won the foul that led to Chicago’s lone goal of the evening and had a goal of his own waved off after VAR determined that Haile-Selassie was barely offsides in the build-up to his finish. He then started in most of his appearances through the summer before being utilized as an option off the bench in Chicago’s final five matches of 2023.

Though Haile-Selassie primarily occupied a central midfield or left winger spot during his stints with Zürich, Xamax, and Lugano, he played exclusively on the right side of the formation under Ezra Hendrickson and then Frank Klopas.