Success in sports isn’t always measured in trophies. Sometimes, there are other factors, other metrics you can look at. How many overall wins, playoff appearances, even attendance figures and general fan demeanor can be different parts of the puzzle to determine club success. For the Chicago Fire, no matter what angle you take, this past decade has been a complete and utter failure.
After their last playoff win in 2009, the Fire have seen a sharp decline from one of the most formidable teams in the country to the laughing stock of MLS. With the 2010s coming to an end, this is a good moment to take a look at the past decade and try to see what it tells us about the next one.