CHICAGO, IL–Chicago Fire FC technical director and head coach Gregg Berhalter has filled out his technical staff for the upcoming season. Included are four assistant coaches and a new director of methodology and talent manager.

Felix Celikkaya comes in from Sporting Lisbon where he was coach of their B team for the past five seasons and was also an assistant at Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk.

Tom Heinemann joins the Fire as an assistant coach after coaching the US Under-15 Men’s Youth National Team since 2022. During his time with the US U-15s, they won the League A title in the 2023 Concacaf Boys’ Under-15 Championship after defeating Mexico 4-2 in the final. As a player Heinemann won league titles with Charleston Battery in the USL in 2010 and San Francisco Deltas in the second version of the North American Soccer League in 2017.

Hector Jimenez was a former player under Berhalter while at Columbus Crew from 2014 to 2020 winning an MLS Cup there in 2020 with two more while at LA Galaxy in 2011 and 2012. This is Jimenez’s first coaching job after retiring as a player after four seasons with Austin FC capping a 14-year career.

Another former MLS player, Joe Bednik joins as an assistant goalkeeping coach. Bednik recently concluded his 15-year playing career which included six different MLS clubs making 189 appearances in total.

Finally, the Fire hired Vincent Calvin as director of methodology and talent manager. In his role, Cavin will work closely with top talents at the club to help them reach their potential. He will also collaborate with the coaching staff to develop and execute the club’s game model. Cavin will report to Sporting Director Gregg Berhalter. Calvin was also an assistant for Berhalter’s staff while with the US Men’s National Team.