ISSA TO INDUCT FIRE'S KLOPAS

Chicago Fire technical director Frank Klopas is going to be inducted into the Illinois State Soccer Association Hall of Fame.

The ISSA will announce the induction this Saturday during the Fire's game against the Columbus Crew at Toyota Park. An official induction ceremony and banquet will take place Oct. 3 at the park.

"It's an honor to be a part of the ISSA Hall of Fame, among so many prestigious members," Klopas said in a release. "Illinois has such a rich tradition of soccer, and it's an honor to be recognized by the ISSA and included in the Hall of Fame."

Other ISSA inductees include Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek, and the director of coaching instruction for USASA and ISSA, Aleks Mihailovic.

Klopas has a rich soccer history in Chicago that included playing for the Sting in the mid- to late-1980s and the Fire in 1998 and 1999. Following his playing career, Klopas was an assistant coach for the Fire in 2000. In 2004, he was named the head coach of the Chicago Storm indoor team and also was inducted into the "Ring of Fire" Hall of Fame that year. In 2005, he was named to the Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame. In 2008, Klopas was named the Fire's first technical director.