The Miguel Navarro experience was once again a wild ride that saw the left back generate some of the best and worst moments of the 2023 Chicago Fire season.
Having just finished his fourth season in Chicago, Navarro, 24, held down the left back spot for most of the year despite competition from loanee Alonso Aceves. Navarro was able to keep his starting spot over Aceves for most of the year despite being paid less than the defender on loan from C.F. Pachuca. The Fire announced last week that they would not be exercising their loan-purchase option on Aceves, keeping Navarro entrenched as the starter at left back entering 2024.
On the pitch, it was a largely productive year for Navarro. He set a career-high for fouls drawn in MLS with 58, taking advantage of what former Fire broadcaster Tyler Terens describes as “Navarro-ing” or, more simply, falling down whenever there is someone on his back and winning the foul.
Say what you will about the aesthetics of “Navarro-ing” but it works. Navarro also set a career-high with four assists in MLS, although the Fire only won one of the four contests in which he registered an assist, per fbref.
Navarro has also been a fixture in Venezuela’s squad as they look to qualify for the 2026 World Cup through CONMEBOL, starting each of their last four qualifiers at left back.
Despite all of the positives that Navarro racked up during the 2023 season, the penalty he conceded against Charlotte in the home-finale was inexcusable and doomed the Fire’s season. Navarro clipped Enzo Copetti’s foot in the penalty area despite both of them being yards away from the action, earning Charlotte a PK in the 55th minute. This reporter has watched the play at least 50 times and still cannot figure out what Navarro was trying to accomplish with that challenge.
Navarro should enter the 2024 MLS season as the starting left back for the Fire but it would be naive to think that competition won’t be brought in at that spot in the offseason after Chicago was willing to sign Aceves and his large salary in ‘23. If Navarro can avoid the mistakes that plagued him at the end of the past season, he should be one of the better left backs in MLS. However, that is a massive “if.”
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