Chicago Fire FC hire Nico Estévez as assistant coach

Chicago Fire FC have filled their lead assistant coach vacancy with a familiar face from Major League Soccer.

The Chicago Fire have hired Nico Estévez as their new lead assistant head coach and Estévez has already gotten to Chicago and begun helping the club as they prepare for MLS action to restart on July 16. Estévez replaces former Fire assistant coach Filipe Çelikkaya, who departed the club in June after accepting the head coaching job with ZTE FC in Hungary’s top division. 

Estévez, who was an assistant coach for current Chicago Fire FC director of football and head coach Gregg Berhalter with the Columbus Crew and the USMNT, was most recently the head coach of Austin FC until May of this year. Estévez was also the head coach of FC Dallas from 2022-2024 and was the caretaker manager of Valencia in Spain in 2013.

Estévez joins a staff full of MLS experience alongside Tom Heineman, Hector Jiménez, Ryan Needs, Zach Thornton and Joe Bendik. 

“We’re excited to welcome Nico to the coaching staff,” said Chicago Fire FC director of football and head coach Gregg Berhalter in the announcement from the club. “He brings a wealth of experience at the international and MLS levels, along with a deep understanding of player development and team dynamics.

“Just as importantly, he is an outstanding person whose values align with what we’re building at Chicago Fire. His knowledge, work ethic and collaborative approach will make our staff even stronger.”